The impact of extracurricular athletic activities on academic achievement, disciplinary referrals, and school attendance among Hispanic female 11th grade students

Abstract

The study examined the impact of participation in extracurricular athletic activities on GPA, reading and mathematics achievement scores, attendance rate, and disciplinary referrals among Hispanic female 11th graders. The ex post facto study employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. The 11th grade female Hispanic participants consisted of a characteristic-present group (n=544) who had participated in extracurricular athletic activities and a comparison group (n=244). Analysis of the quantitative data showed an association between involvement in extracurricular activities and GPA, reading and mathematics achievement scores, and attendance rates. Analysis of the qualitative data resulted in three themes, namely, emotional support, managerial support, and an intrinsic drive for excellence for those who had participated in extracurricular athletic activities; and two themes of extrinsic influences and negative high school experience for the comparison group. The quantitative and qualitative results were synthesized and discussed. Theoretical and practical implications were presented.