Sports Participation and Academic Performance of Elementary School Athletes

This study examined the profile, sports participation, academic engagement, relationship between sports participation and academic engagement, and issues encountered by public elementary school athletes. Anchored on Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 022, s. 2025, Kumar’s Theory of Participation, and Sun’s Theory of Engagement, the study employed a descriptive-correlational research design. Data were gathered from public elementary school athletes. The findings revealed that most respondents were older elementary learners, male, in the higher grade level, and involved in team sports. The athletes demonstrated a very high level of sports participation and a very satisfactory level of academic engagement. Female athletes demonstrated particularly strong academic performance, while individual athletes showed higher sports participation. The analysis revealed no significant relationship between sports participation and academic engagement, indicating that participation in sports does not necessarily affect academic performance. Among the issues encountered, time management emerged as the most prominent concern, while support systems were reported as the least problematic. The study recommends strengthening time-management support, coordinating academic and athletic schedules, and providing flexible academic interventions to promote the holistic development of student-athletes.

Education

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