Helping Boys Succeed in School by Terry Neu & Rich Weinfeld

Author:Terry Neu & Rich Weinfeld [Neu, Terry W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: school
ISBN: 978-1-59363-525-1
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2010-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

THE BENEFITS OF ATHLETICS

Although boys can find outlets to express their needs for movement in competition other than organized sports, many still opt to join an athletic team or club at some point in their lives. However, athletics has many more benefits than just allowing a boy to release his energy. In Randy’s case, athletics allowed him to express himself physically and competitively, while giving him a means of finding male mentors who encouraged him to succeed on and off the football field.

Randy looked like a stereotypical football player. At 6’3” and 245 pounds, he was an imposing figure. By his own admission, he credits football with saving his life, and he would add the word literally to that admission. Randy was a typical boy with academic difficulties, but he found civics and government fascinating. Many of his other academic subjects had little meaning for him. Randy had a tough home life and again, freely admitted to us that he needed an outlet for his aggression and anger toward his abusive father. In high school, Randy was recognized for his athletic abilities on the football field as a middle linebacker. In the classroom, Randy was recognized as unmotivated, yet capable of doing the academic work. Teachers reported that he was either constantly moving or not moving at all.

Randy was highly competitive in everything he did, with the possible exception of his academic work early in his high school career. Although he enjoyed demonstrating what he could do athletically, Randy also had a sense of the importance of teamwork. He was known for setting up competitive challenges for his teammates, such as mini agility and endurance contests. For Randy, this was not an exhibition of his strength; it was a method to motivate his teammates to train a little harder.

Two of his coaches were not just instructors in the game, but also confidants and mentors off the field. Randy is very clear that these two men became his role models and surrogate fathers. These older men specifically reminded Randy that school is crucial to life; the head coach was also Randy’s American government teacher, while the assistant coach taught health. The role of older men as a guidance toward continuing education is a common finding (Gurian, 2005). Randy made a commitment to work to his fullest ability. This included making the academic grade to attract college recruiters. (Many of the athletes interviewed for this chapter reported a similar realization: In order to continue in their athletic passions, they would also have to make sacrifices that ensured their academic success.)

Randy was recruited to play for a major college football powerhouse in Texas. After a distinguished football career, he returned to coach at his former high school. As a coach, he excelled in teaching techniques using movement. As a classroom teacher, Randy used competition and movement to involve students in his American government classes, incorporating simulations and role-plays.

So, what are the benefits of athletics to a boy’s life? There are several personal qualities

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