•Research varies from correlational studies to longitudinal studies showing improved academics after physical activity.

•Higher participation in sports over lower participation athletes means better overall GPA, math GPA and class rank in both middle school and high school levels.

•Sport participation related positive feelings about school such as looking forward to core curriculum and decrease in school related social conduct problems such as fighting and misbehaving.

Syracuse University

-Within the past century sports popularity has grown in size.
- There is evidence that sports provide both challenge and motivation which relates to one source of self-efficacy which is "mastery experiences" (Bandura 1997).


Self Efficacy on Sport and Academic Achievement Background Literature 

Cole,A. (2014).Sports Participation and Academic Achievement: Does Self- Efficacy Play a Role? The University Of Arizona University Libraries 

-Disproportionate representation among groups. 

-Participation is correlated negatively with socioeconomic status. 

-Certain groups under perform academically and also participate less in sports.

-The environment around sports is dynamic and undergoes big changes in adolescent years.


Demographics and Sports Participation

Sports Participation and Academic Achievement

Sports offer all Bandura's 4 main sources of efficacy including mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, social persuasion and somatic/emotional states.  Young athletes who practice mastery imagery have higher livels of self-confidence and self-efficacy as well as social support from their teammates and coaches. 

Sports Participation and Self-Efficacy 

There are medium sized correlations between academic efficacy and GPA among high school students. Most specific was performance self-efficacy in relation to GPA and the highest GPA in which they believe they can attain. There have also been similar findings in college as well.

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