Play By K Article Swipe
YOU?
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· 2020
· Open Access
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· DOI: https://doi.org/10.17918/rnmg-md79
· OA: W4205100915
The intersection of athletics and academics have been a focal point of numerous research studies since schools began sponsoring sports teams and competing against local rival districts. Many recent high-profile scandals that have exposed the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and other national governing bodies brought to light an unfortunate by-product of education-based athletics: winning at all costs. This "need to win" mentality is negatively impacting our scholastic athletic programs, which are beginning to lose their focus. The purpose of this qualitative, collective case study is to examine perceptions of district-level athletic administrators on successful models of scholastic athletics in urban schools. Urban school districts, which are chronically under-resourced when it comes to scholastic athletic opportunities for students, are disorganized across the K-12 grade span. In schools that lack programming, students are often shuffled to their local playground or community center - facilities that typically do not have the capacity to operate quality programming. This study aims to address the central research questions on developmentally appropriate programming, leadership development in scholastic athletics, and the impact of scholastic athletics on student outcomes. The research analyzed common themes among the urban school districts and the scholastic athletic programming they offer at different levels of a student's educational experience. "Play By K" is used as a benchmark initiative to ensure all students have the opportunity to engage in open play by the time they start kindergarten - and to be able to continue with their love of sport through their high school years and beyond. The researcher explores models of successful scholastic athletic programs in urban schools by conducting individual interviews with district-level athletic administrators in order to better support opportunities for all students-athletes through construction of an inclusive and comprehensive K-12 model.
