Playing Sports, Especially In College, Linked To Better Grades

Signing your kids up for soccer in the fall and lacrosse in the spring may do more for them than build social skills or turn them into athletes. A study by researchers at Michigan State University shows that playing sports can also lead to improved academic performance, particularly for college students.

The study found that playing recreational sports in college improved the grade point averages (GPA) of students and increased the likelihood for them to return for another term.

The researchers analyzed almost 1,800 freshmen at MSU. The students who played intramural sports averaged a 3.25 GPA at the end of their first year, compared to a 3.07 GPA for freshmen who didn’t play recreational sports.

The findings also showed that playing intramural sports was linked to lower odds of students dropping or failing classes their first year. In fact, those who played recreational sports were 40% more likely to return for their sophomore year, and 2.5 times more likely to come back to the university overall.

================

About Dr. Huber
Dr. John Huber (www.mainstreammentalhealth.org) is the Chairman for Mainstream Mental Health, a non-profit organization that brings lasting and positive change to the lives of individuals that suffer from mental health issues. A mental health professional for over twenty years, Dr. Huber is a Clinical Forensic Psychologist, and he is a practitioner with privileges at two long term acute care hospitals. Dr. Huber has appeared on over three hundred top tier radio shows (NBC Radio, CBS, Fox News Radio) and thirty national television programs (ABC, NBC, Spectrum News). Dr. Huber is Law Newz's go to Clinical psychologist and appears regularly on America Trends National Television show. In addition Dr. Huber is the host of "Mainstream Mental Health Radio" which is heard nationwide and features interviews with today's top mental health professionals.