Role of Athletics at Community Colleges
Introduction
Most people nowadays engage themselves in sports or athletic activities. This is not only considered as a hobby, but is done, for a person to become physically fit and healthy. In connection to becoming physically fit and healthy is exercise and training. In participating in athletic programs or sports, persons become equipped with a healthy mind and body, alongside with education. The person becomes disciplined in terms of having a proper diet, rest and exercise to become a fully developed individual. Engaging in these activities will also help in the decrease in the susceptibility of sickness such as coronary heart disease.
For that matter, sports or athletic activities are also being encouraged and promoted in different community colleges in the United States. Not only for the advantages and benefits of the individual athlete who will participate in it, but also for the benefit of the community college as well.
It has been reported that most people join a team out of sheer enjoyment of playing the game (“”, 2006). For sure, most athletes are aware of the exercise benefits of sports, but team play has many other advantages as well. In fact, many advantages go unnoticed because playing a sport is enjoyable and fun. In addition, not only does physical exercise help build the body up, reduce body fat and keep a person physically fit and looking good, endorphins or “feel good” chemicals are released into the body.
Funding Athletics
(2006) reports that most community colleges are not resource rich, with over half of their funding coming from state and local government sources, these campuses often face budget challenges, particularly during recessionary times. Tight budgets disproportionately affect student affairs programs, and one potential source of funds is higher student fees, though administrators hesitate to impose fee increases to avoid creating barriers to open student enrollment. Constrained budgets present many challenges, but despite these, community colleges operate from a position of strength.
(2003) suggests the benefits of an institution in funding athletics in a community college. He points out that a university is expected to offer an intercollegiate athletic program as part of tradition. However, he adds that it is not merely tradition that compels institutions to sponsor intercollegiate programs. Institutions of higher learning in America are highly political entities, and schools have learned that they must compete in the marketplace for the hearts and minds of the public. Instead, institutions compete for students, State favor and funding, as well as research money. Essential to competing is a marketing effort, and key to that marketing effort is the establishment of “the brand” (, 2003). A brand is the pervasive concept of who you are, constantly reinforced in the mind of the public you deal with. In line with this, successful athletic programs have been linked to enrolment increases and an increase in SAT scores of the applicants (as cited in , 2003). If athletics is an effective marketing tool, and it is also an expectation of the institutions, it is no wonder it continues to exist on university campuses ( 2003).
The athletics funding somehow must be increased to ensure the happiness of the students in the community colleges. The administration must realize the importance of directing funds to projects that benefit student life, as cutbacks include reducing, in some cases, halving, and the number of members on varsity teams. This leaves many students without options, to compete in much less rigorous intramural sports program rather than in intercollegiate sports. This should somehow be noticed by the school administration, not only for the good of the students but to the good of the college as well.
Roles of Athletics
(2003) points out that intercollegiate athletics is major news these days, on the front page as well as the sports page. In an environment where debates are ranging over issues from admissions standards to the length of playing seasons, it is very important to be clear about the community college’s goals and aspirations for athletics. The author states that participation in athletics has long been an important component of a liberal arts education, to have the opportunity to engage in the highest quality educational experiences inside and outside of the classroom. As the community college focus on the individual student, athletics provides a unique and worthwhile learning experience, builds community and loyalty, and brings balance to life.
Taking for example Cornell University, it sponsors athletic programs for the benefit of the students, as they do not award athletic scholarships, and their coaches recognize that studies come first. The coaches encourage the players to give utmost importance to academics, at the same time performing excellent in athletics.
(2003) reports that student-athletes learn valuable life skills, including, but not limited to, self-discipline, teamwork, self-knowledge, resilience, persistence, sportsmanship, and integrity. Traditionally, athletics has been viewed as giving students the opportunity to compete, develop physical skills, achieve goals (which depend on positive coaching), test and learn life lessons, handle adversity, and learn to work with others (as cited in , 2003). It is a challenging and rewarding experience for both the student and the school, and adds to the richness of an academic experience. In addition, the role of athletics is to provide the opportunity to compete, achieve, fail, examine one’s inner self, but in the end have a good time.
3. Athletics brings balance to life.
Physical exercise is an important component in maintaining health and bringing balance to life, and athletics instills it (, 2005). Athletics, which involves engaging with teams and making friends is also fun, and provides for the participants a way to sharpen human ability in the physical realm, which is essential to a well-educated person (as cited in , 2005). In addition, the author adds that connecting the playing field to the total experience is very constructive and it provides one of many lasting contacts that students have his or her institution; and on top of that, athletic competition is fun, it is uplifting, and it demands great preparation.
The author also emphasized participation over achievement in athletics. Sports should be organized so more students can participate; those who want to do multiple sports can, and academic achievement and participation in other campus activities do not suffer. Sports must be seen as more for its ‘means’ and ‘journey’ than ‘end’ and ‘results’.
Furthermore, each activity should be supportive of the other; physical activity plus education yields a long, fruitful life. As for the specific role of athletics, it should encourage participation, lifetime support, physical fitness, volunteerism in coaching youth, and officiating as a part of life rather than a way of life ( 2005).
It is undoubted that athletic play and rivalries build community and spirit. Team sports encourage the bonding that is so important to the whole college experience, whether participating or watching, the college students are together in their support for their teammates. There is value for non-participants as well, who often know many of the players personally, take pleasure in watching them compete, and learn to see and value talents in others. The future of a community college depends on having not just first-rate academics, but fine extracurricular programs that enable the college to meet the student’s desire for rich opportunities outside the classroom. This is the reason why community colleges should continue to promote athletics, toward the goal of providing the best possible educational experience for its students.
5. Athletics promotes gender equity.
Having athletic programs in community colleges lifts gender insensitivity and discrimination in terms of sports. It has been reported that Title IX basically made it constitutional law that educational institutions in the United States fund, support, and promote women’s sports and athletic teams (“2006). Since the birth of Title IX, more and more sports have been made available to women in different community colleges and universities.
Studies have shown that participation in sports offers psychological, physiological and sociological effects, and historically, males were able to take greater advantage of such opportunities than females, who often found themselves excluded from many of these positive experiences (“, 2000).
In addition, the hearing emphasizes the advantages that participation in sports and athletics can bring to girls and young women are many. Moreover, studies have shown that regular physical activity in the lives of girls reduces the risk of disease in adulthood, and can increase self-esteem and lower depression (“”, 2000). In addition, participation in sports and athletics is believed by some to reduce sexual activity and unwanted pregnancies. In addition, changes in attitudes and policies have begun to expand athletic opportunities for girls, although gender equity is still a goal and not an achievement. Many believe that the progress that has been made would probably not have been made as quickly but for the passage of Title IX and the starter gun it sounded (“”, 2000).
Following the enactment of this important piece of legislation, community programs began to create opportunities to enable females to play sports. Moreover, increasing athletic opportunities for women at the college level has resulted in a trickle down effect, which increased such opportunities for females at other levels. Today, a new generation of female athletes has grown and is vying for the college level spaces created by Title IX (“”, 2000).
Another advantage in involvement in athletic programs would be giving importance of students to their education. Education, above anything else must be prioritized. With this, academics must be valued more importantly than athletics, but giving athletics necessary time and importance is also beneficial. Giving time to both at the same time would take much effort, but all it takes is time management and determination.
(2001) reports that excelling both at academics and athletics at the same time is not impossible. A freshman at Arizona State University and a 2000 graduate of Streamwood High School, is pursuing his goal of becoming an architect while keeping his dream of playing baseball alive ( 2001). has always excelled in sports at all levels, and played both for the and for , traveling baseball teams and even participated in the Junior Olympics for swimming. In addition, has accomplished many awards in his academics. His awards include the Academic All-Conference selections in both football and baseball his senior year while posting a 5.19 grade point average and graduating with high honors, and a member of the National Honors Society (2001).
The achievements of have proven a lot. From his story, we can say that one of the advantages of being involved in athletics programs is trying to excel also in different aspects of education.
Conclusion
Education matters a lot to anybody. Nevertheless, alongside education and academics is sports or athletics education. Through education, many ideas and skills are being developed and learned by an individual. Athletic programs help an individual test and improve his or her ability to develop physical endurance and skills. These programs help also an individual to overcome self-centeredness and learn to rely on other people as well, such as his or her teammates.
Offering athletic programs in community colleges also promote equality among gender. Engaging in athletic programs develop camaraderie between males and females and help in the smooth sailing relationship towards each other.
If more students will be joining athletic programs then it will contribute to the improvement of the school and its facilities. With this improvement, athletic programs will also improve and become beneficial not only to the athletes but to the whole institution.
As stated, getting a complete education means different things to everyone, but involves gaining experience in a chosen field through classroom learning, through professional and academic student organizations, and through professional experience (“”, 2006). It also involves exposing yourself to fields of study in entirely new areas, and being on your own, but despite the challenges, getting a quality education is the best experience ever. It does not only enhance critical thinking because of academics or physical endurance and skills because of athletics, but it provides the opportunity for each individual to experience some real adventure.
Through team play, athletes also gain self-confidence, discipline, critical-thinking skills and sharper cognitive abilities. Through engaging into sports, attitudes can be corrected, and different values can be learned such as sportsmanship, which is applicable on and off the field. The value and the concept of competition will also be inculcated in the minds of the athlete, the appreciation of the sport, dealing with friends and teammates, and giving importance to education.
References:
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment