Studies and evidence have a nasty habit of turning conventional wisdom into superstition.

It’s hell when we’ve always done it that way becomes- the wrong way. It’s great when the evidence comes in on your side.

Many boarding schools have required some level of student athletic participation for as long as most us can remember.

The majority of boarding schools require students to participate in team sports at least one season a year; more traditional schools require two seasons of interscholastic athletics of their students. Many schools also offer a substitution system whereby a student can replace an athletic team commitment with participation in the term’s drama or musical production- a time, team and commitment equivalent.

Why does the athletics/sports requirement persist?

The nebulous idea that exercise and physical activity contribute to health and well being with the additional benefits of learning to work and compete as a team member. At its simplest- mind, body, and spirit- a balance, and health, of all three.

Tara Parker-Pope’s “As Girls Become Women, Sports Pay Dividends” in the New York Times Well blog is required reading for those of us in positions to promote and require athletics of our students.

Parker-Pope highlights the work of Betsy Stevenson (Wharton School) and Robert Kaestner (Illinois Chicago)- “…separate studies from two economists offer some answers, providing the strongest evidence yet that team sports can result in lifelong improvements to educational, work and health prospects.” (NYT)

Stevenson proposed a straightforward question, “‘I (Stevenson) looked to see what it means to add sports to girls’ lives…How does it change things for them?’” (NYT)

Parker-Pope writes, “…Using a complex analysis, Dr. Stevenson showed that increasing girls’ sports participation had a direct effect on women’s education and employment. She found that the changes set in motion by Title IX explained about 20 percent of the increase in women’s education and about 40 percent of the rise in employment for 25-to-34-year-old women.”

“’It’s not just that the people who are going to do well in life play sports, but that sports help people do better in life..While I only show this for girls, it’s reasonable to believe it’s true for boys as well.’” Stevenson told Parker-Pope. (NYT)

Kaestner’s work examined the effects of Title IX.

Comparing “rates of obesity and physical activity of women who had been in high school in the 1970s — as Title IX was taking effect — with similar women from earlier years. Controlling the results for other influences, like age and changing diets, Dr. Kaestner was able to tease out the effects Title IX had on women’s health.

“He found that the increase in girls’ athletic participation caused by Title IX was associated with a 7 percent lower risk of obesity 20 to 25 years later, when women were in their late 30s and early 40s.” (NYT)

Athletics, exercise, team sports- whatever you want to call them- are important.

I’ve been in the faculty meetings. “Why do we devote so much time for athletics? Why do we continue with an athletic requirement for students? They’d rather be doing something else. Shouldn’t we let students substitute music, art, movie making, club meetings, etc.?”

No. The benefits of athletics, regular exercise, and their establishment as long term habits are too great.

We must instill healthy habits in our students. Nothing confirms the importance of an endeavor in a boarding school more than a place in the schedule. We keep athletics in our boarding school daily routines because they provide long term benefits to our students. We’re beginning to understand just how great the benefits are.

Photo credit: friendscentralschool