Student-athletes have a lot that they manage throughout the day. Athletes are expected to manage their grades, schedule and extracurricular activities, while also trying to keep their grades up to be eligible to perform. On top of this, there is a discussion at North Polk High School that athletic weights will soon become required for all student-athletes.
If the student has a full academic schedule they would be expected to go in early to lift before school. It is not realistic to have high school students come in early to lift considering their busy schedules and late nights doing homework, at sporting events, etc.
Student athlete, Frankie Huether, expressed, “[she] [does] not think weights should be required because if they have more academic classes, they do not have time for a weights class.”
Coaches always preach that being a student is a priority before being an athlete. However, taking out a core class to have a weights class for one’s sport does not reflect the coach’s words.
“Weights should not be required because many may feel uncomfortable working out in front of other classmates and/or teachers. I also feel like the lifts are only focused on football.” Simon Houser contributed to the concern.
Many students may find themselves not wanting to exercise due to these concerns and may form negative connotations around working out, the opposite effect the class aims to achieve. There are multiple issues with this requirement like one workout assigned for all students, not benefiting everyone or every sport and the class may make students feel uncomfortable with people around them observing.
Having this class in the morning if one’s schedule is full also affects student’s sleep schedule and their daily routines. They have to adjust their plans to fit in the class and still be able to get the eight to 10 hours of sleep that professionals recommend.
Huether added, “[t]here have been many nights that [she] has been up late trying to get [her] homework done for school after a late track meet.”
Having to come in early for a class will take away from their sleep, and both coaches and teachers agree sleep is necessary to perform well. If this class is expected, teachers and coaches should also be held to the expectations of not assigning homework on activity nights and keeping sports activities within a certain time frame. Teachers should help to this expectation because if students are expected to wake up early to take the weights class then teachers should stop assigning homework that keeps them up late.
In an article by The Lance, Emily Webb indicated, “[f]orcing students to take a gym class won’t ensure they continue the habits they are taught. Instead, students should be given the choice what to do with their time.”
