Charlie Clarke Source 3

Thesis Question: How would paying revenue-creating student-athletes influence their academic motivation and performance?

Entry Question: Does athletic participation impede on academic success?

Source: Richards, Shaunette, and Elizabeth Aries. "The Division III Student-athlete: Academic Performance, Campus Involvement, and Growth." ProQuest. N.p., May-June 1999. Web.

This source argues that athletic participation actually doesn't impede on academic success. Richards and Aries covered the topic of student-athlete perception. They followed by embarking on a study at a small, division three northeastern school in the U.S., and surveyed 219 students, coming back with results that focus on lives of student-athletes in comparison to regular students. The results showed little difference as far as academic performance and involvement between the student-athletes and regular students.

My first issue with this article is the fact that they surveyed division three athletes at a smaller school. When discussing student-athletes and academic success, the focus tends to shift to division one men's football and basketball players. Therefore, I disagree that we can immediately draw a conclusion that athletic participation doesn't impede on academic success from this text. Another fault of this text was its date. When discussing the perception and academic reputation of these athletes, it's inaccurate to take opinion from 1999 in current light. Over the last decade, we have seen improvement in student-athlete test scores and further advertisement of student-athlete success by the NCAA. In addition, schools are becoming stricter with GPA requirements. However, one thing this source changed my opinion on was how being a student-athlete can influence your personal well-being. Through evidence, this piece displayed that athletes' personal growth was positively influenced by spending time with teammates at practices and games. Again, with the focus being on division three athletes, I'm not entirely sure how relevant this is.

Shaunette Richards and Elizabeth Aries would disagree with my second source, the NCAA. Richard and Aries would use their evidence to argue that athletic participation doesn't hurt academic success. However, through more updated records, the NCAA could argue against that. I think I would say that depends on how seriously your athletic program takes it's teams. Clearly, division three schools care more about academics, when it can be argued that D1 schools see the profit of athletics and find that to be their priority.

This has led me to further my question into money-based. I want to look at the impact that money has on student-athletes. I think I've covered enough about how playing the sport effects academic motivation and success.