Effects of Sports Participation on the Academic Performance of Senior High School Students in Mathematics

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of engaging in sporting activities on the academic performance of students in mathematics at the senior high school level in the Cape Coast Metropolis. To ascertain the main objective of the study, descriptive survey design was employed. The study used 100 senior high school students comprising 59 student-athletes and 41 non-student athletes. For data collection, each respondent was presented with the research questionnaire designed for the study. The study revealed that, there is no statistically significant difference between the performance of studentathletes and non-student athletes in mathematics. The study, however, concluded that, sports participation has no negative effects on students-athletes’ academic performance in mathematics. What this finding implies is that, parents and mathematics teachers should not seize students from participating in sporting activities with the fear that participating in sports worsens academic performance.