Issues In College Sports Essay

Whether or not an athlete should continue their sports career in college is a difficult decision that every athlete comes across. High school athletes go into their senior season with three main mindsets: knowing it is their last season, knowing they will continue their career in college, and trying to decide which decision is best for them. Sometimes, athletes in their senior season know it is their last, have potentially been burnt out, do not meet the skill level, and try to avoid being overworked. Others are fortunate to continue their careers, get the chance of new friends, better themselves, and receive scholarships to lower the price of college. However, this leaves the rest on the border, debating their decision, torn between whether

In a student athlete's career, they come across many benefits and drawbacks of being involved in a sport. College athletes' successes and failures are easily determined by whether or not they can adjust to the rigorous schedules and overcome the challenges they face; it is vital to examine their lifestyle before choosing to play a sport in college.

College sports tend to place challenging obstacles in front of athletes, making them susceptible to mental illness. These obstacles have a lasting effect on the player and can change their outlook on things in many ways. Depending on the way an athlete overcomes and reacts to the obstacles placed in front of them can determine how it affects their mental health and can determine how prone they are to developing a mental illness. The number of college athletes who struggle with mental illnesses is continuously growing, “An NCAA study found 30% of surveyed athletes feeling extremely overwhelmed, with nearly 25% feeling mentally exhausted” (Lindberg). College athletes are at high risk of depression and anxiety due to all the pressure and what is expected. No matter the sport all athletes experience these struggles making it hard for them to have a

When an athlete comes to the decision that they want to play in college, they are already benefited as a student and are more likely to succeed. College sports do many things for an individual including keeping them healthy, “playing sports benefits your body and mind – it strengthens your bones, lowers cholesterol, and decreases your risk of stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes,” therefore they will maintain being healthy and are at less risk of becoming mentally or physically ill (Wiederspahn). With college sports keeping an athlete active, physical exercise also helps them “burn off steam and redirect excess energy,” which helps improve their mental health (Great College Deals). With good mental health athletes will perform better in class. Due to athletes being surrounded by a good support system, “college athletes graduate at a higher rate than the general student body”(Sports group). To add on, college athletes are less likely to drop out of college, and “more than eight out of 10 (82 percent) Division I student-athletes are earning their degrees” (NCAA). Not only does being involved in college sports help increase how a student does in school, but for some athletes throughout their childhood college is not in the picture, and playing a sport may just be their way to college. In fact, “NCAA research shows 15 percent of Division I student-athletes are