Category: Athletics

Introduction

In July of 2019, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan announced a £1m investment into sports projects around the most impoverished areas of the city, with the particular purpose of targeting youth crime and supporting those at risk of it (Mayor of London, 2019). Youth crime is a serious issue in a megapolis such as London, particularly in wards with high levels of crime rates. With this announcement, and the creation of the mayor’s Steering Group to address the issue in the urban center, the role of sport in combatting the youth crime epidemic was thrown into the spotlight. There is general consensus and anecdotal evidence suggesting that sport-based interventions, particularly those that are competently designed around the needs and wants of young people, are effective. This paper will explore the connection between youth crime and athletics, and then seek to develop the ‘Street Games’ athletic intervention based on themes promoted by the Sport England strategy and theories of change in improving communities.

Background

Youth crime in the context of this paper will be defined as egregious violations of the law and violence against the person acts by people aged 10 to 24 years. Youth crime is a serious social issue in London, affecting in particular the poorest areas of the city. Between 2012 and 2017, the number of under 25-year-olds has doubled to 64 annually. The number of stabbing fatalities has been going up year over year since 2014 to approximately 81 fatalities in 2018. Deaths linked to criminal gangs is steadily increasing reaching 44 in 2018 (BBC News, 2019). Last few years have also shown other crimes becoming an issue such as drug offences and robbery, accounting for more than 41% of charged offences while violence against the person is only at 20% (Clarke, 2021). Urban youth crime in London has been associated with poverty, with Richmond upon Thames having the lowest levels of crime while being affluent, while Tower Hamlets maintains one of the highest rates as on of the poorest boroughs in all of England (Bentham, 2019).

While no association has been found between youth crime and gender or ethnicity, there are risk factors that are positively associated with youth and gang violence. These include personal factors such as adverse childhood and troublesome mental health, as well as community and societal risk factors such as discrimination and economic inequality (Haylock et al., 2020). Another study points out while the relationship between race and crime in the UK over the last decades is exaggerated, there is evidence of over-representation of African-Caribbean and Mixed Heritage, who identify as Black, in the gang crime in London (Pitts, 2020). In the development of interventions and solutions, this factor may be important to consider from a cultural perspective.

Connection Between Athletics and Youth Delinquency

Participation in sports activities is highly popular and frequently encouraged among youth, with various psychosocial health benefits attributed to this. With adolescence, youth become more autonomous, with influence shifting from the home environment to that of peer and leisure setting. At this point in time, there are ongoing changes in behavior, leading to peaks of delinquent behavior. Therefore, scholarly research focuses on the relationship between sports participation and juvenile delinquency, particularly during the period of adolescence. Various theories support the ideology that sports participation can lead to lesser juvenile delinquency. For example, Hirschi’s social bond theory suggests that individuals with bonds to society are less likely to engage in criminal behavior. As part of the theory, also support by other scholars, there are four elements where sports participation has a positive impact. These include attachment (team), commitment (to sports and avoiding activities that may jeopardize it), involvement (no time for delinquency), and beliefs (in social values within context of the sport) (Spruit et al., 2016).

Sport-based interventions for prevention of delinquent behaviors in at-risk youth have been utilized by local and governments and institutions around the world. The interventions do not assume that the sports participation itself prevents delinquency, but rather it provides opportunities for learning, social bonds, and value-building in the context of athletics which then can contribute to positive behavior and a decrease in delinquent behavior. For example, scholars have presented that when youth participate in sports, they are learning to obey rules and authority, attaining values such as morality, self-control, conflict resolution, and cooperation (Spruit et al., 2017). There is a popular belief that “sport builds character” and that is supported by the positive traits, skills, and virtues. Athletes learn judgment of what is right and wrong based on rules of the sport. There is also commitment to internal goals and standards, as well as the lesson of competing honestly and fairly (Spruit et al., 2016). Sports programs have been successful in improving social outcomes for youth and the community. Participation in sports programs decreases risks factors for youth crime while increasing protective factors for positive development as seen in the graphic below (Eugene Civic Alliance, 2018).

In conclusion, there are mixed findings on whether sport activities have a concrete impact on reducing youth crime and delinquency. However, even if does not fully do so, interventions aimed at engaging at-risk youth has some benefits. First, it provides some element of engagement and competition, keeping the youth off the streets for at least part of the time with ongoing practices and competition. Furthermore, character building along with positive role models in the forms of coaches and professional athletes supporting such initiatives can potentially positively influence, even if a minor percentage of the youth. In either case, such social interventions are universally supported by public and experts as better alternatives than incarceration in reforming troubled youth.

Proposed Intervention

The proposed intervention is named Street Games, an appealing marketable title which encompasses the spirit of athletics but reflects the nature of their location. Street Games is proposed to be an extensive league of competition between various boroughs of London in different types of sports and athletics (both individual and team-based). Based on a league-type format, each London area (the city will be split into 4 or 5 areas) will have several teams overseen by a coach. These teams compete against each other bi-weekly. The best teams then go to a city-wide competition held by-annually (one indoors in winter, and one outdoors in summer) sponsored by the city and commercial sponsors. Both participants and winners receive different variations of prizes based on their success.

Street Games will focus on the most popular sports and athletics among London youth, but also ones that are easily adaptable and can be practiced in neighborhoods that may lack the infrastructure. These may include basketball (streetball), skateboarding, track, street variations of football, table tennis, stickball, dodgeball, street hockey, and even chess, among others for which there is demand. Teams will be recruited through schools, community centers, public advertising, and of course, word of mouth. Anyone can participate and bring others. Youth can participate in several sports if time allows. Each sport will have a volunteer or paid coach. However, to continue participation, youth will be encouraged through various means to maintain attendance both in school (if applicable), job (if applicable) and practice sessions as well.

Street Games will attempt to position itself as a ‘street-friendly’ and ‘cool’ athletic engagement promoting friendly competition. The aim to make it appealing and offer a wide variety of options for many sports and all skill levels. The premise is that youth seeing their friends participate and general approval from the community will wish to participate as well, especially with the opportunity to win prizes such as cash, iPhones, or brand name sneakers among others that are actually attractive to the age group. Furthermore, those with athletic talent and that achieve some success can also earn the recognition of their peers, filling a fundamental need for fitting in that would have otherwise been filled by crime. The appeal of Street Games is that can also bring youth and communities together. Even those who do not participate or are on lower-tier teams, can still cheer on and attend for free the local and citywide competitions. Therefore, for example, boroughs can compete with each other in a sport-related environment rather than engaging in gang-related turf violence.

Overall, Street Games are meant to be a version of mini-Olympics. Ever since the Olympic Games in London of 2012 there has been increased exposure of London youth to athletics and the meaning of professional competition. The intervention is highly beneficial as it covers many elements of the Sport England strategy discussed below as well as contributing to engagement, community building, and promoting healthy and legal lifestyles. Due to its format, it can be used to promote various other programs and values, ranging from coach interactions with athletes to parental involvement to offering opportunities in both athletics and education for this youth. Through these various avenues, the potential for youth involvement increases while theoretically, youth delinquency should decrease.

Sport England Strategy Themes

The Street Games intervention touches on all themes of the Sport England Strategy, but relates particularly well to two pillars: connecting communities and positive experiences for children and youth.

According to the Sport England Strategy, sports are vital to “develop confidence and self-worth, and help create more resilient, inclusive, and connected neighborhoods. The organization notes that athletics can contribute to the local economy, providing jobs, aid in integration of social groups, address antisocial behaviors, and respond to common threats such as climate change. Sports allow to create a network of trusted sports clubs and community organizations which improve lives and strengthen communities (Sport England, 2021). Meanwhile, for positive experiences, the organization argues that such at an early age can build foundations for an active, healthy life. It contributes to sense of confidence as well as mental and physical wellbeing, being highly profound for some children. Active positive lifestyles contribute to happiness, social trust, and resilience (Sport England, 2021).

The Street Games highly resonates with these pillars. First, for positive experiences, the program is aimed at providing access and opportunities for youth to participate in various athletics in safe, organized environments with their peers. It provides the responsibilities of physical and skill development during practice combined with the thrill and resilience of competition. It is a league that is both competitive but open to everyone. It prioritizes positive social experiences and the spirit of the sport. Youth are introduced to organized sports within contexts where it is safe, and they have the opportunity to engage in consistent athletic activities outside of home and school.

Meanwhile, community building is a critical aspect of Street Games as emphasized in the description. One of the major aims, is through the power of sport to bring people together as athletes, fans, supporters. If the scale of the intervention grows, it will have an economic impact in the community as jobs will be created with coaching, refereeing, and organizer positions as well the involvement of local sponsors with advertising and business revenue. Overall, through the competition, neighborhoods will be able to support their teams, empowering youth and presenting the unique identity and cultures of each borough. Street Games is an intervention inherently based on creating a network of community sport teams which target troubled youth, and through such helping communities to be more active and connected.

Theory of Change

The Theory of Change is a comprehensive description of how and why a desired change is expected to occur in a specific context. Below is a basic logic model outline for the Street Games intervention.

Expected Mechanisms of Change

The issue of youth crime in urban London is inherently complex, stemming from a range of economic, societal, political, and cultural issues. Therefore, a solution is not simple, and neither would an intervention, even one as comprehensive as Street Games, likely bring about massive change. However, if effective, even in a small minority of youth and communities, it can bring about meaningful reform. Street Games as an intervention relies on various mechanisms of change, some of which were already discussed, to implement change. Two major ones are increased social support and the community capacity building that are expected to be strengthened by youth participation in the league athletics. The created social bonds and the general support of the community in participating in an athletic program will result in psychosocial wellbeing, knowledge of protection systems, and resilience in the adolescent. Furthermore, general community attitudes may shift towards embracing and supporting youth instead of prosecuting and alienating them further. It will create a positive framework of engagement and interaction through the lens of sport. Street Games will also aim at providing youth with personal skills that serve as mechanisms of change to their behavior, such as stress management, emotional regulation, problem solving, and communication, among others. It may be able to fill the various psychosocial needs and controls necessary to avoid delinquent behavior.

Discussion

Sport is a powerful tool for peace and community building. As part of its efforts in the Doha Declaration, the UNODC has launched global initiatives for using sport as a means of youth crime prevention. Meanwhile, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the contribution of sport to building peace because it can promote tolerance and respect, while empowering both individuals and communities as a whole. Sport also serves as a critical gateway to other important societal aspects such as health, education, and social inclusion (UNODC, n.d.). Since youth are the primary participants in the proposed Street Games intervention, they also serve as inherent agents of change in their local communities. Not only are they able to acquire knowledge and life skills that potentially positively influences them and prevents anti-social behavior, but they demonstrate responsibility which can serve to raise awareness and promote civic values in others. The intention is that it has a domino effect, with youth inspiring one another, thus creating a cohesive and safe community that reduces delinquency at all levels.

Conclusion

Youth crime is a serious rising issue in London, with seemingly no effective solution. However, scholarly evidence points to some effectiveness of sports-based community programs in addressing youth delinquency, either at the personal or community levels. An intervention is proposed under the name Street Games which offers a league-based approach to various street-based athletics. It encompasses two pillars of the Sport England Strategy, which are positive experiences and community building. The approach is thought to be effective due to various mechanisms of change that it can influence the community. Overall, there are opportunities for Street Games to influence communities and reduce youth crime in London boroughs.

References

BBC News. (2018) ‘Poverty link’ to youth violence – London mayor.BBC News. Web.

Bentham, M. (2019) ‘Children and teenagers behind half of London knife crime, police figures reveal.’Evening Standard. Web.

Clarke, N. (2021) ‘London youth crime figures have fallen over the last five years.’SWLondoner. Web.

Eugene Civic Alliance. (2018) Preventing juvenile delinquency through sports. Web.

Haylock, S., Boshari, T., Alexander, E.C., Kumar, A., Manikam, L. and Pinder, R. (2020) ‘Risk factors associated with knife-crime in United Kingdom among young people aged 10–24 years: a systematic review.’BMC Public Health. Web.

Mayor of London. (2019) Mayor invests £1m in power of sport to tackle serious youth violence. Web.

Pitts, J. (2020) ‘Black young people and gang involvement in London.’ Youth Justice, 20(1-2), pp.146–158.

Sport England. (2021) Uniting the movement. Web.

Spruit, A., van Vugt, E., van der Put, C., van der Stouwe, T. and Stams, G.-J. (2015) ‘Sports participation and juvenile delinquency: a meta-analytic review.’ Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 45(4), pp.655–671. Web.

Spruit, A., van der Put, C., van Vugt, E. and Stams, G.J. (2017) ‘Predictors of intervention success in a sports-based program for adolescents at risk of juvenile delinquency.’International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 62(6), pp.1535–1555. Web.

UNODC. (n.d.) Crime prevention through sports. Web.

Most people have developed a reliance on caffeine and tend to depend on it to give them the energy they need. Caffeine is a prevalent additive ingested by a diverse group of individuals. One’s attentiveness and focus are considerably improved with a cup of caffeine in the early hours. Caffeine significantly lessens tiredness in individuals who work late, allowing them to keep going. Caffeine is thought to fight fatigue and operate as an energy stimulant.

Pickering (2018) claims that caffeine, an ergogenic aid, has been demonstrated to increase productivity across a wide range of abilities through various pathways. Caffeine is a legal substance, so it may be used to enhance athletic performance within the bounds of the law. Therefore, this essay focuses on how caffeine affects athletic performance. The literature review will be conducted from the previous five years and reveal the most pertinent data to perform a comprehensive research paper on the above subject to comprehend its physiological effects on athletic performance.

Research Question

What are the effects of regular caffeine consumption on workout and athletic effectiveness?

Null and Alternative Hypothesis

Null Hypothesis

H₀: Caffeine consumption regularly does not affect exercise or athletic performance.

Alternative Hypothesis

H_a: Caffeine consumption regularly improves exercise and athletic productivity.

Literature Review

According to Pickering & Kiely (2019), 80 percent of people around the world regularly ingest the common drug caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine). The benefits of caffeine on wakefulness, mental focus, reducing fatigue, and discomfort awareness account for its widespread use. The possibility of performance enhancement has inspired considerable research on the subject. Caffeine is a well-known ergogenic aid that has demonstrated performance enhancement in various exercise modalities, according to Pickering and Grgic (2019). Caffeine intake prior to exercise improved subjects’ output in the research in terms of endurance training, power productivity, and vertical jump height. Despite disparities in each study participant, they saw a noticeable increment in their athletic productivity.

Caffeine raises dose-dependent stimulation, improving hedonic demeanor and possibly reducing anxiety. However, a high dose can exacerbate tension or anxiety, shakiness, and nervousness symptoms (Guest et al., 2021). Additionally, caffeine has indirect effects on how well athletes perform. High caffeine intake raises anxiety, which is a crucial determinant of performance in sports. Pickering and Grgic (2019) say caffeine consumption harms sleep quality. Athletes who do not get enough sleep may have trouble recovering and performing later (Pickering & Kiely, 2018). The research asks if the performance benefits from caffeine consumption are valuable if the drug inevitably impacts recovery.

Methodology

Randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled research methodologies were used. Male athletes who compete in several sports are the participants. Including participants from stamina, strength, and mixed sports made it possible to assess caffeine’s influence across various exercise disciplines (Saunders, 2018). Prior to enrollment in the study, participants had to train and compete in their chosen game for a minimum of 8 hours per week, for a minimum of 9 months each year, and for a minimum of 3 years (Spineli et al., 2020).

Prior to the recommended intervals visits, respondents were advised to follow their everyday routines for eating and resting, refrain from consuming caffeine, and refrain from engaging in vigorous exercise. Throughout the visit, participants were given either anhydrous caffeine at 2 or 4 mg/kg or a placebo (Saunders, 2018). The control experiment pill was a dextrose capsule with no flavor that was the same size and color as the caffeine pill. Before beginning the physical assessments, the participants took a 25-minute break.

Dependent and Independent Variables

The amount of anhydrous caffeine given to study participants is an independent variable. The medication dosage is 2 or 4 mg/kg body mass or a placebo. The quantity of caffeine given to the study participants affected the dependent variables. Thus, the dependent parameters were the vertical jump height, VO2 peak, and cycling time trial (Saunders, 2018). The Shapiro-Wilk test was used in the statistical analysis of this study to determine whether each parameter was uniformly distributed. In addition, a Student’s t-test was run on each of the multivariate standard dependent variables to compare the caffeine group to the placebo group.

Statistical Test Description

Microsoft Excel was utilized to evaluate the user statistics, and the mean is shown throughout the results in table 1 below. Age, height, body mass, and VO2 peak were all summarized with qualitative statistics. Chi-Square was used to make comparisons across sports, while analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to draw comparisons of caffeine consumption for sports (Saunders, 2018). The study’s two-tailed p-values are all two-tailed, and the threshold for significance was set at p 0.05.

Results from Hypothetical Data

Table 1: Participant’s Descriptive Characteristics.

Discussion

This research looked at how caffeine affected physical activity and athletic performance. One of the most popular drinks in the US contains caffeine. A cup of coffee in the morning drastically improves one’s attentiveness and focus. Caffeine significantly lessens exhaustion in individuals who are working late, allowing them to keep going (McLellan et al., 2016). Caffeine’s health benefits have sparked cultural and societal movements that have improved the reputation of coffee and other caffeinated beverages in the US. Caffeine’s energizing effects can boost productivity in the short term (Martins et al., 2020).

Caffeine may help athletes and other sports professionals perform better during practice and competition. Sports organizations strictly regulate performance-enhancing drugs. Caffeine is a legal substance, so it may be used to enhance athletic performance within the bounds of the law (Guest et al., 2021). Users may have a competitive advantage over their peers through controlled use.

Therefore, the 10-kilometer biking time trial is the main focus of the outcome assessment (Saunders, 2018). Respondents’ output improved as their caffeine intake rose. The findings show that caffeine improves performance by enhancing stamina and endurance. Given that various individuals digest caffeine at varying rates, genotypes must be considered in the assessment. The fastest caffeine metabolizers are those with the genotype AA, whereas the slowest are those with the genotype CC (Spineli et al., 2020). After consuming caffeine, respondents were permitted to rest for 25 minutes before the physical assessments began.

The assumption is that people with fast metabolisms are more likely than people with slow metabolisms to profit from caffeine’s ability to improve effectiveness. The findings demonstrate that people with the AC and CC alleles do not exhibit caffeine effects (Spineli et al., 2020). Caffeine consumption in the former genotypes had no impact on athletic effectiveness, whereas it did in the latter. These results show that although caffeine is a performance-enhancing drug, its effects vary depending on the genetic makeup of the human gene involved in caffeine metabolic activities. Reduced caffeine concentrations are preferable to enhance an athlete’s productivity, given the mitigating conditions (Martins et al., 2020). High caffeine doses linked to a greater incidence of adverse reactions, like sleep disruption, are preferable to this premise.

Conclusion

The research supports the hypothesis that caffeine enhances exercise and athletic performance by influencing several variables, including endurance and aerobic capacity. Sports coaches could use caffeine to increase performance without using illicit substances. However, these coaches should be aware that the magnitude of caffeine’s performance-enhancing effects depends on an individual’s rate of caffeine metabolism. Caffeine is metabolized more quickly, resulting in more significant performance gains in people with the AA genotype. Hence, exercising caution when using caffeine to enhance performance is essential.

References

Guest, N. S., VanDusseldorp, T. A., Nelson, M. T., Grgic, J., Schoenfeld, B. J., Jenkins, N. D., Arent, S. M., Antonio, J., Stout, J. R., Trexler, E. T., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Goldstein, E. R., Kalman, D. S., & Campbell, B. I. (2021). International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Caffeine and Exercise Performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18(1). Web.

Martins, G. L., Guilherme, J. P., Ferreira, L. H., de Souza-Junior, T. P., & Lancha, A. H. (2020). Caffeine and exercise performance: Possible directions for definitive findings. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2. Web.

McLellan, T. M., Caldwell, J. A., & Lieberman, H. R. (2016). A review of caffeine’s effects on cognitive, physical, and occupational performance. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 71, 294–312. Web.

Pickering, C., & Grgic, J. (2019). Caffeine and exercise: What next?Sports Medicine, 49(7), 1007–1030. Web.

Pickering, C., & Kiely, J. (2017). Are the current guidelines on caffeine use in sports optimal for everyone? Inter-individual variation in caffeine ergogenicity, and a move towards personalised sports nutrition. Sports Medicine, 48(1), 7–16. Web.

Pickering, C., & Kiely, J. (2018). What should we do about habitual caffeine use in athletes?Sports Medicine, 49(6), 833–842. Web.

Saunders, P. R. (2018). Caffeine, genotyping, and athletic performance. Natural Medicine Journal. Web.

Spineli, H., Pinto, M. P., Dos Santos, B. P., Lima‐Silva, A. E., Bertuzzi, R., Gitaí, D. L., & Araujo, G. G. (2020). Caffeine improves various aspects of athletic performance in adolescents independent of their 163 C > a cyp1a2 genotypes. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 30(10), 1869–1877. Web.

Annotated References

Martins, G. L., Guilherme, J. P., Ferreira, L. H., de Souza-Junior, T. P., & Lancha, A. H. (2020). Caffeine and exercise performance: Possible directions for definitive findings. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2. Web.

Martins et al. (2020) examined whether elite athletes and physically active people intentionally use caffeine to enhance performance. According to the findings, factors such as caffeine effects, daily routines, physiological variables, and genetic factors may impact whether caffeine has ergogenic or ergolitic effects. Caffeine can thus improve exercise performance in doses ranging from 2 to 9 mg/kg, which is an unusual feature because it is unknown what physiological processes increase the dosage. Caffeine’s benefits may or may not fade over time and depending on when it is consumed, but this does not account for some people’s performance issues.

Saunders, P. R. (2018). Caffeine, genotyping, and athletic performance. Natural Medicine Journal. Web.

In this study, Saunders (2018) investigated whether variance in the caffeine metabolism-related CYP1A2 genotype alters the effects of the ergogenic, athletic strength, and stamina caffeine during a 10-km cycling trial. The study used a split-plot, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled experiment. The findings revealed that caffeine at both doses enhanced genotype AA effectiveness had no impact on genotype AC performance, and decreased genotype CC efficiency.

Spineli, H., Pinto, M. P., Dos Santos, B. P., Lima‐Silva, A. E., Bertuzzi, R., Gitaí, D. L., & Araujo, G. G. (2020). Caffeine improves various aspects of athletic performance in adolescents independent of their 163 C > a cyp1a2 genotypes. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 30(10), 1869–1877. Web.

This study aimed to determine whether differences in genotypes AA, AC, and CC affect how caffeine (CAF) affects adolescent athletes’ resilience, strength, muscular perseverance, agility, and tolerance. The findings demonstrated that CAF boosts adolescent athletes’ muscular endurance and aerobic efficiency irrespective of their 163 C > A CYP1A2 genetic makeup.

Introduction

To begin with, it is necessary to mention, that students who usually do poorly during their studies should have an additional chance to complete their education. In most universities all over the world, these opportunities usually mean active participation in the university’s public life. This usually involves self-government institutions, arrangement and partaking in various celebrations, active research activity, and surely sports life of the university.

Arranged athletics suggests the university an opportunity to promote the physical, mental, emotional, social, and moral increase of each partaker. Throughout circumstances that arise throughout arduous practice sittings, and sporty competitions, student sportsmen must not only study how to respond to their abilities and restrictions, but how to suitably respond to the actions of others. These responses outline corporeal and intellectual expansion and change. Due to the spirited, emotional origin of athletic challenges and the player’s apparent interest in the outcome, they are more vulnerable to modification than in many instructive adjustments. To ensure that these modifications are optimistic, all stages of sports should be skillfully arranged and performed.

To attain triumph in athletics, the partakers are required to train their brains and bodies to counter immediately and efficiently the different challenges that happen throughout the itinerary of play. This, surely, corresponds to studies to efficiently deal with challenges that happen later in life. The world of competence is often neither gentle nor overly kind. In this world, however beneath effectual course, the person (student) may grow toward societal adulthood by studying:

1. Endurance to get the desired outcome;
2. Sacrifice and common goal setting;
3. To deal with minor physical and mental difficulties;
4. To control emotional outbursts;
5. To deal with fear;
6. To be more self-reliant.

Effectual course

Some people regard participation in athletic programs as a privilege, and consider, that students who do not have enough grades should not be allowed to be involved in sports life. The fact is that these people do not take into account the fact that physical activity improves brain activity, as it is known, that combining of physical and mental activities positively impact the all-round development of the personality: to relax the brain it is recommended to engage oneself in sports or other physical activity and vice versa.

Some educators consider, that students will be able to play sports forever and that they will need a good education to be able to find a job when they are finished playing sports. In this case, it is supposed, that the privilege of doing sports would encourage students to improve their academic achievements. Some students believe that university sports are more important than academics as they suppose that if they do well in athletics they will not require education to get into university, all they would require is an athletic scholarship.

It is necessary to mention, that both these views are extremely wrong. Physical and mental activity should be balanced, as different parts of the brain are activated while combining activities. One of the greatest examples may be the sample of education in Europe until the 20th century: children of noble people, we’re taught to fencing, shooting, riding (as it empowered the body) alongside general education and arts (music, drawing, dancing), as en educated person should have all-round erudition and training.

Luckily, lots of colleges recognize that inner- and intercollegiate sports and various competitions for students are an essential part of the overall educational practice and aim of the college. The intercollegiate athletic agenda at Miami Dade College strives to enrich the lives of participants by offering quality coaching, facilities, and sustain services, with equal action and resources obtainable to all partakers, despite race, gender, religious conviction, marital status, age, nationality or ethnicity, difficulties or financial resources.

The intercollegiate sports program will work incorporation with its energetic, multi-cultural society to provide reachable and high-quality control and bearing by maintaining the requirements of the student-athlete in the middle of decision-taking. Only the uppermost averages of sportsmanship and demeanor are expected of students, coaches, staff, and administrators linked with the intercollegiate athletic and club sports program colleges and universities.

Students are often interested not only in sports or athletic programs. Some kind of adrenalin affairs like skydiving, diving, banjo-jumping, rafting, and so on, or something calm like hiking, backpacking, or just an open-air picnic is extremely adored by youth. Thus, these activities should be supported, as young people should be occupied with something, to prevent them from smoking, drinking, or drug-using. Collective activity improves friendly relations among the members of the group, and any physical activity stimulates the improvement of brain activity as it has been stated above, and also as a healthy way of life improves the functioning of the whole organism.

The general aim of the sport at High School

The general aim of the sport and athletic program at High School is to offer student-athletes pleasant and challenging athletic surroundings which underline the achievement of both physical abilities and strong nature expansion. The program intends to enhance the students, outstanding sportsmanship, strong workability and sense, spirit of collaboration, leadership skills, and such individual feature attributes as honesty, devotion, modesty, and adulthood.

The basis for the athletic programs is the view that trainers are teachers and role replicas of the averages are expected from the student partakers. Participation is open to all students who make a serious promise to their team.

University students study a great deal from their contribution in inter-university sports, involving lectures in sportsmanship, cooperation, competition, healthy way of life, and how to win and lose stylishly. The programs usually play a significant part in helping a student to enhance a healthy self-thought as well as a healthy body and mind. Competition adds to the university and society spirit and inspires all students, observers, as well as partakers to develop arrogance in their school and society.

Aims of sports programs

• To propose a wide-ranging program that is adaptable enough to meet the requirements of the apprentice contestant, yet strong enough to arrange the skilled sportsman for superior stages of the competition.
• To offer the highest quality sports agenda staffed with the most capable workforce obtainable.
• To enhance the notion of team character among all members of teams and also coaches.
• To train the essentials and technologies of each sport in a progressive, intended succession that is suitable for student-sportsmen at the high school level.
• To promote the optimistic features of competitive sports (enhancing the approach that determined to win is significant), while avoiding the unhelpful features of aggressive athletics.
• To offer a well-rounded program of intercollegiate rivalry designed to hearten contribution by a division of the student body which complements the enlightening aims;
• To promote corporeal strength and the expansion of physical skills and emotional control;
• To promote good sportsmanship, university courage, and devotion;
• To offer opportunities to join a high level of competition;
• To offer an opportunity for the undergraduates, facility, and staff to the spectator and admire good sports competition;
• To suggest to the students, power, and staff a rallying tip to help enhance pride.

Conclusion

Participation in athletics at university should be completely voluntary and without any restrictions.

References

Goff, K. G. (1999). Does Athletic Equity Give Men a Sporting Chance?. Insight on the News, 15, 38.

Gray, S., Mozafarian, S., Titelbaum, M., Kail, K., Morgan, D., Dalrymple, M., et al. (1998). What Do Students Want?. The Nation, 267, 11.

Reeves, K. (2006). Sports at Any Cost? to Fund Athletic Programs, Districts Find Corporate Sponsors and Reluctantly Expand Participation Fees. School Administrator, 63, 28.

The Event

On July 20th a meeting with a representative from the National Collegiate Athletic Association will be held at the campus auditorium. The meeting will be held from 3 pm to 5 pm. The representative will give a presentation to the student-athletes and their families about the potential prospects for their career in college sports, the assistance that NCAA provides to the athletes, and the standards for eligibility. Athletes and their families will be able to gain additional information by questioning the representative after the presentation is complete.

The Organization

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a non-profit association aimed at the administration of athletes for over 1120 institutions across the United States. It is dedicated to ensuring the athletes’ well-being and the long-term success of college athletes. It operates utilizing seven core values. The first is the collegiate model of athletics which accentuates the balance between student athletics, studies, and social experiences. Integrity and sportsmanship are highly valued within the organization.

Students must pursue excellence in both academics and athletics. Another core value lies in the supporting role that athletics provides by creating a sense of community and enhancing the identity of member institutions. NCAA is focused on creating an inclusive culture that creates equal opportunities for athletes, coaches, and administrators that come from diverse backgrounds. Institutional autonomy and philosophical differences of the members are respected and do not affect the work of the organization. Finally, the presidential leadership of intercollegiate athletics is established at the campus, conference, and national levels.

Since its official formation of 1910, the organization has been awarded championships in more than 20 sports including Baseball, Football, Soccer, Ice Hockey, and various athletic challenges. The sports have been represented across three divisions with varying requirements for eligibility. The number of sports is often updated to reflect the current interest in the given sport. NCAA provides scholarships to athletes who participate in Division I and Division II, allowing a great number of students access to high-level education based on their athletic prowess. Currently, the organization includes almost half a million athletes who benefit from the actions of the organization. The organization manages programs that help student-athletes, organizes championships, and supports member legislation.

Eligibility

Initial-eligibility requirements for Division I of NCAA include 16 core-course requirements: four years of English, three years of math with Algebra 1 or higher, two years of natural/physical science, one year of additional English, math, or natural/physical science, two years of social science, and four years of additional courses in any previous areas, foreign language or comparative religion/philosophy. Student’s test scores such as the ACT and SAT must be presented based on the sliding scale outlined by the organization. For SAT scores, the best subscores from each section are used to determine the combined SAT score for initial eligibility. For ACT, the best subscores from each section determine the sum score for eligibility. The types of courses may vary depending on whether the athlete is considering competing.

Division II requirements differ from Division I in several ways. It also requires 16 core courses but they consist of: three years of English, two years of mathematics, two years of natural/physical science with one year of lab if it was offered by high school, three years of additional English, math or science, two years of social science, and four years of additional courses in any area above, foreign language or comparative religion/philosophy. Division II currently requires a minimum SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68 but from August 1, 2018, it will utilize a sliding scale. SAT scores include only critical reading and math sections, while ACT scores consist of a sum of English, mathematics, reading and science scores. Currently, minimum GPA for eligibility is 2000.

Introduction

Universities and colleges in the United States benefit from athletics more than the student-athlete does. Although the students get an opportunity to explore their talents while they are still young, they end up benefiting the colleges more than they benefit themselves.

This topic is important because from the studies undertaken by the researchers, it has been confirmed that colleges benefit more from athletics at the expense of student-athletes who in addition to paying school fees, for those not sponsored, bring revenue to the institution and get no pay.

The first part of the essay discusses the benefits the institutions of higher learning derive from the student-athletes in the United States. The second part shows why the student-athletes should be paid in the United States Universities by discussing the negative impacts in their lives when they participate in the college athletics. At Idaho State University, a football coach who abused a player and went unpunished is used as an example to show how student are abused at the time of bringing revenue to the college.

Benefits of college athletes to the institutions of higher learning in the United States

Michael Martin, the chancellor of Louisiana State University pointed out the benefits of the college athletics to the institutions of higher learning in the United States.

He said that despite the fact that they lost to the University of Alabama at the college football championship, the school gained a massive exposure because the event was aired in the national and international television stations. He was arguing that one of the benefits that the college derives from the college athletics is the marketing of the college to the potential students, sponsors and any other form of assistance to the college (Robe, 2012).

Martin also argued that the televised college athletics events contribute to the full achievement of the academic mission. He responded by saying that during the breaks where the players rest, advertisements about the school’s mission, vision, core functions and the principles will boost the academic performance of the school because the viewers of the game will get a chance to know about the academic programs offered by the participating college. Some may decide to enroll in the school from the programs they have seen during the resting time (Robe, 2012).

The good performance by the student-athlete is attributed to the University and not the student athlete. When a company approaches the institution to advertise their products through the student-athletes, all the revenue obtained goes to the university and not to the student.

This is corruption because the students do not earn money even after generating much income for the college. This scandal in the United States was alleged to be done by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), two of the former United States Olympic Committee and the various universities’ heads (Branch, 2012).

Several United States universities’ administrators believe that the college’s success in athletics amounts to the university’s ability to attract high quality people in both academics and athletics. Due to the larger market they reach during the college athletics championship, a well performing college will stand a higher chance of recruiting many good performing students in both academics and athletics because many potential students will admire to be part of the successful college.

This success will not be attributed to the student-athlete but to the hosting institution. According to Allen, Boston College recorded an increase by 33 percent of the applicants to the college when Doug Flutie became a football star in the early 1980s (Mixon, 2004)

Negative effects of college athletics to the student-athlete

The male students who participate in the college athletics is less recognized compared to the females who participate. Research shows that male students tend to engage in alcohol, partying and drug abuse more than they study during the college athletics. This effect is more pronounced in the lowly performing students and those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. They argue that the sports, which take a considerable time in America, threaten the performance of students in institutions of higher learning (Robe, 2012).

Title IX is the gender-equity law that was passed by the congress and was meant to bridge the gap between men and women, which was increasing rapidly. In lieu of this law, many colleges and universities of higher learning in the United States established so many recreational sites and playing grounds for women to participate, which was not heard before enforcement of the law. College athletics have been used as an avenue through which this law is broken.

A survey conducted showed that many institutions claimed that the participants were women while in the real sense they were men. The best example is at Cornell, where it was not realized that out of the 34 participants who wore the masks on the women’s team, 15 of them were men. This was until they removed their masks (Katie, 2011.) In this regard, college women rights are undermined through the college athletics.

Through the college athletics, the coaches and the game organizers have abused many students-athletes. Mike Kramer, the Idaho university football coach pushed the player during the basketball practice. Kramer stopped in front of a player and yelled at him. Matters got worse when the attorney defending the coach threw this case away claiming that there were no enough medical records to show that the player was injured and no evidence from the other players and assistant coaches (Leonnig, 2012).

Despite the benefits drawn by the institution from the student-athletes and the challenges faced by the students who participate in the college athletics it is possible to assist the student-athletes to explore the talents bestowed upon them during their early stages of life. At the end, they might excel in the field and gain income from the sports. If student-athletes realize their full potential while at school, they may perform excellently in their field of expertise.

Conclusion

There are more disadvantages than there are advantages for a student athlete studying in the United states Universities and colleges. Student-athletes benefit the institution they are enrolled in more than they benefit themselves. This argument has been supported by the benefits that accrue to the institution when a student participates in athletics and the negative impacts on the participating student.

Therefore, it is important for every student athlete to be paid in proportion to the revenue that he or she generates for the college. However, despite these challenges, the student will have a chance to explore the talent at the early stages supported by the college funds set aside for sports and discover the sporting activities that he or she can perform best.

References

Branch, T. (2012). The Shame of College Sports. Boston: The Atlantic Monthly Group.

Katie, T. (2011). College teams, relying on deception, undermine gender equity: Gender game. New York. The New York Times.

Leonnig, C. (2012). Idaho State football coach Kramer will not face charges for pushing player. Washington: The Washington Post.

Mixon, F. (2004). Touchdowns and test scores: Exploring the relationship between athletics and academics. London: Routledge.

Robe, J. (2012). Rethinking the benefits of college athletics. Washington: Forbes.

Introduction

High school students should not be allowed to participate in athletics until they attain a certain age. Education and in particular college education not only plays an important role in ensuring that students are self-reliant in the future but also aid in their emotional, psychological and social growth. Athletics also serves the same purpose however it is unreliable especially due to the enormous resources they consume about time and likelihood of injury.

The reasons for the restriction

The reason put forth for the restriction of students from participating in athletics is the uncertainty associated with this sport especially as a result of the high frequency of occurrence of injuries. It is therefore important to draw a comparison between the security offered by education and that offered by athletics. Education is an abstract accomplishment as seen in its provision of knowledge and skills critical for life. These values are attained as a result of continuous development furthermore they can not be erased within a short period unless death occurs. It is therefore concluded that education is a permanent source of livelihood as long as an individual is of sound mind. Athletics can offer students high levels of income such an amount of money is considered high and cannot match the amount obtained through the educational process. The question that needs to be answered is what happens in case a person gets injured yet his livelihood solely depends on athletics? This highlights the need to restrict participation in athletics by high school students (Bae, Islam 1).

Physical stamina and strength

High school students do not possess the necessary physical stamina and strength required to effectively participate in sports this is attributed to the fact that they are still young thus not fully grown. It is, therefore, necessary for regulations to be drafted to limit the participation of such students in athletics. This aspect calls for the exploration of the likely repercussions in case such a process is allowed to continue (Rutstein, Jeff 94). First, such students will be forced to take supplements to attain the physical strength required to carry out to participate in athletics especially by avoiding injuries this will derail their educational process as much as it affects their physical growth. To ensure that they maintain the right psychological state such students may also engage in taking illegal drugs to be in the right state of mind. This will be disastrous to their health (Rutstein, Jeff 94).

A sporting event is seasonal

A study of the most famous athletes in the world indicates that this sporting event is seasonal. There are times when an athlete is in the best form as characterized by winning trophies and cash prizes. The contrasting scenario is also evident when an athlete is in his worst form as characterized by redundancy and inability to win trophies thus cash prizes. This may be attributed to the occurrence of injuries. What if such a stage of dismal performance continues for an indefinite period, will it hamper the livelihood of an individual? In contrasting this to the educational process it is important to appreciate the fact that once individuals gain knowledge and skills required to carry out certain tasks the issue of low season and the high season becomes nonexistent. Individuals supporting the drafting of athletes from high school insinuate that all careers experience risks of different kinds. It is however necessary for such persons to appreciate that a set of variables are assumed constant in the two careers. It is only a definite factor that brings about the difference.

Athletics and the educational process

Decision-making is a factor to put into consideration in determining the extent to which high school students are capable of making an appropriate choice regarding athletics and the educational process. The average age of high school students in the United States is fourteen; it is difficult for an individual at such a tender age to understand the impact of certain policies regarding sports and education on their lives. It should not be left to them to decide whether to participate in sports or not. This issue highlights the role played by the government, educationists, parents, and other members of the general public in determining whether athletics and education can supplement each other. It is my view that high school students are in the process of growth thus the need for relevant authority to help them through this process. It is quite difficult for a majority of them to balance between issues of the curriculum and extra curriculum activities. It is therefore in the interest of the student, community, and stakeholders in the educational and sports arena to disengage high school students from participating in sporting events till they attain a certain age (Bianchi, Greg 1). This age comes with the maturity and wisdom required to effectively balance between athletics and education. An opposing viewpoint highlights athletics as a talent that needs nurturing thus the limitation of such a process will ultimately lead to the inability of an individual to participate productively in the sporting event in the future.

Conclusion

The negative aspects associated with high school students engaging in athletics outweigh the positives. It is however necessary to acknowledge that a considerable percentage of such students are capable of achieving a perfect balance between education and athletics however it would be appropriate to cater to the needs of a majority of the students who are not capable of achieving such decision-making abilities.

Works cited

Bae, Islam. “High school athletes should go to college, not the pro level.” Silver chips. 2004. Web.

Bianchi, Greg “Age Requirement in Professional Sport.” Sport Journal. Web.

Rutstein, Jeff. The Steroid Deceit: A Body worth Dying For? 94. Custom Fitness Publishing, 2006 (1). Print.

While arguing about the effects of sports and athletics on the academic achievements of students, the outcome is usually against the sports and athletic interests of students. It is believed that students who are more inclined towards sports and athletics seldom perform better in their academic pursuits.

I strongly oppose this argument. In my opinion, students who participate in sports and athletics are better than those who don’t. But there are certain limitations that sports and athletics enthusiasts should adhere to. It is a well-known fact that in order to survive in today’s world of technology and competition, studying is a must. At the same time, there are certain benefits of being a sportsman or an athlete.

First of all, sportsmen and athletes have better health (and as such, they live longer) that can be counted as a plus point for the nation because that way, the nations can invest more in human assets. Secondly, apart from the skills of any particular sport or activity, sports and athletics also inculcate special qualities in the performers like the ability to lead, to take and follow orders, to work as a team, to perform in a systematic manner, and to mingle with people and the society. Thirdly, a sportsman or an athlete will learn such habits that might be helpful to him/her in his/her future life.

Habits such as moral conduct, determination, competitiveness, belief in one’s self, feeling of pride, and motivation are bound to be found more among sportsmen and athletes than the regular students. It is noteworthy that such qualities can be developed or acquired more easily during adolescence. Moreover, such qualities will instigate a student to perform better in academics as well.

But in spite of the entire aforementioned plus points, the fact remains that academic performance is also equally important. Sports and athletics should not be mixed up. I will try to provide an option to this in the ensuing paragraphs.

I believe that being a sportsman or an athlete can affect academic performance only if the time allocated to the sports or athletics coincides with that of the school. But if a student doesn’t interfere with the school timings and indulges in the sport of athletics after the school hours, there isn’t any chance of his/her academic performance being hampered in any way.

The after-school recreational activities should be divided into two parts, good ones, and bad ones. Sports and athletics come in the good ones whereas the bad ones include viewing television programs, indulging in bad habits such as smoking and drinking, attending parties, playing online games, etc. The bad recreational activities undoubtedly have a bad impact on academic performance but keeping in mind the benefits discussed earlier in this paper the good ones help in developing the personality of a person.

Another point to be discussed is the scholarships awarded to student-athletes. The scholarship scheme started by the governments of different nations to help student-athletes is an encouraging gesture. But it should not be forgotten that such schemes come with certain conditions and academic performance is one such condition. A student has to attain the desired level in order to avail of the scholarship. So it becomes all the more important for student-athletes to perform better in their schools.

I would like to suggest to all those students who are sports and athletics enthusiasts that they should not mix their studies with their passion for sports or athletics. Or more significantly, they should not pursue their passion for sports and/or athletics at the cost of their studies.

It has been observed that girl students are usually not encouraged to follow any sport or athletics. Some kind of fear engulfs the parents. I would also like to suggest that this is a wrong notion. Parents should encourage their daughters also to take part in active sports and/or athletics. This will help the girl students in developing the aforementioned qualities and they will be able to perform better at school. Parents should understand that if their daughters have such qualities in them, their position in the male-dominated societies will be stronger and they will be able to face the world more confidently.

Introduction

Colleges in the United States usually set out a number of vacancies for individuals who may not be academically gifted but are talented when it comes to sports (Mauro 10). The practice started in the 1870s as college sports and tournaments gained popularity. At the time colleges gave financial support and other incentives to non-students to have them play in their teams. Later, in a bid to regulate the administration of college sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was set up.

The NCAA came up with a set of rules which were shaped around the fact that for individuals to play for college team, they must be registered students. It is this rule that drove colleges to start embracing the idea of offering scholarships to individuals who were average academically but played well in particular sports. This essay argues that athletic scholarships should be done away with. To this end, the discussion shall provide all reasons in support of the scholarships before contrasting them with reasons against the sponsorships.

Reasons for maintaining sports scholarships

With college leagues and tournaments gaining popularity, there has been a need to maintain professionalism. This has for a long time been attained by drafting sports men and women into college teams, using scholarships as incentives.

The idea is noble to a certain extent because it helps individuals who may not be strong academically get good platforms to showcase their sporting talent. With scouts for professional clubs and national teams attending the college games seeking fresh talent, sports scholarships by extension help create a good resource pool for professional sports persons (Medic et al. 303).

In addition, there are some individuals who join college on sports scholarships but ended up taking a keen interest in academics and eventually graduate with distinctions. These are individuals who would not have made the cut had they depended on their academic strengths from high school but end up appreciating the need for academic work once they enter the institutions of higher learning (Johnson and Acquaviva 13).

Finally, colleges that have flourishing sports departments usually get grants and other forms of financial support from corporate entities. These grants, when received, can be used to support some of the students who joined the institutions on academic merit but do not have the financial capability to sustain their stay in school. In this way, there is a mutually-beneficial relationship between individuals who are talented in sports and those who are strong academically.

Reasons against sports scholarships

Colleges are institutions of learning and their primary purpose of existence is to equip individuals with the necessary academic knowledge to help them serve in different professional capacities once they graduate. Entry into these facilities of higher learning should be on academic merit only because this encourages students in high school and junior academic levels to concentrate on their studies (Pitts and Rezek 1).

Providing athletic scholarships tends to give some students the reason not to study hard believing that they would get an easy pass into colleges. Unfortunately for some of them, their talent may turn out not to be good enough or they may pick a permanent injury before getting the scholarship (Mitchel 1). This ends up leaving them with nothing to fall back on. Offering scholarships to sports-gifted individuals ultimately ends up professionalizing the college tournaments and events providing a bigger allure to students than academics.

The best way to ensure that colleges continue to be centers of academic excellence and still act as a hub for the maturation of sporting talent is to scrap off all forms of athletic scholarships, and have students compete for college entry by academic merit. While in college students can showcase their ability in tournaments and those who are lucky can join professional clubs if given the chance.

This arrangement will help give the students whose talent cannot be absorbed into professional sports a good landing ground. In addition, the cancellation of sports scholarships releases the funds for academic scholarships. The primary reason as to why the number of academic documents being published has gone down over time is because of lack of funding for research. By channeling funds from sports to research, the world stands to gain more than it would have from the entertainment value of sports.

Conclusion

This essay had set out to show that sports-scholarships are negatively influencing the academic purposes that colleges were set up for. For this purpose, the first section of the essay provided an explanation of the benefits that sports scholarships bring to colleges. It has been indicated that athletics scholarships help give individuals who are not very gifted academically a chance to attend college. This is in addition to the fact that sports departments attract grants which can be used to support academic objectives.

The essay then progressed to give the reasons for banning of sports scholarships. It has been indicated that these scholarships lower the bar for admission to college, while discouraging high-school students from putting in the necessary effort needed to qualify for college. In addition, it has been shown that banning sports scholarships also helps free financial resources for academic research. The weight of the points raised above clearly shows that there is more to be gained from cancelling athletic scholarships than retaining them.

Works Cited

Johnson, Dennis and John Acquaviva. “Point/Counterpoint: Paying College Athletes.” The Sport Journal. 15.1 (2012):13-15. TSJournals. Web.

Mauro, Bob. College athletics scholarships: a complete guide. USA: McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub, 1988. Print.

Medic, Nikola, Diane Mack, Philip Wilson & Janet Starkes. “The effect of athletic scholarships on motivation in sport.” Journal of Sport Behavior. 11.2 (2007):292-303. Selfdeterminationtheory. Web.

Mitchel, Heidi. “Competing for Scholarships on the Field and Online.” Wall Street Journal 7 August 2012: 1. WSJ. Web.17 Apr. 2013.

Pitts, Joshua and John Rezek. “Athletic scholarships in intercollegiate football.” Journal of Sports Economics. 13.5 (2012):515-535. SAGE Journals. Web.

This paper will examine the decision-making process that had to make Papua Hochinoa a student of the University of Nevada. Papua is faced with the choice of continuing his football career or investing more time in his studies. A rational decision-making model was chosen as a model for solving this problem. The purpose of this paper is to offer the decision on how Papua should handle coaches and studies.

Description of the Problem

The first step in making a decision is defining the problem. Papua Hochinoa studies New Media & Graphic Design at the University of Nevada and plays on the college football team. He is not doing well in academic study as he devotes all his free time to training to fulfill an athletic scholarship’s requirements. In his third year, he got the opportunity to get into the National Football League (NFL). He is expected to enter the second or third round of the NFL Draft. Thus, there are two possible problems. The first is how Papua should succeed in a football career and get into the NFL league. The second is passing the final exams and gaining knowledge in the chosen profession.

A good decision depends on more than just the correct object. It is necessary to determine the ultimate goal to which the decision leads (Paul & Elder, 2019). Papua loves football, but he loves art and creativity more than anything else. He hoped to get a good education and eventually create his comic book about Polynesian heroes to tell the world about the rich history of his people. The creation of comics can be defined as Papua’s goal. Thus, the problem to solve is successfully passing the final exams while maintaining the athletic scholarship.

Data Collection and Analysis

Papua must collect all available data about their studies and football at this stage. Information may include the number of exams, written assignments, hours of training, and days that will be completely missed due to competitions. Analysis of information will help to identify various alternatives for solving the problem (Paul & Elder, 2019). The more alternatives are found, the better the future solution will be. Using tools such as tables and graphs is recommended to conduct a better analysis.

Evaluation of Alternative Solutions

Papua has to conduct a thorough and unbiased evaluation of each alternative at this stage. For example, he should evaluate a possible solution that involves not changing his training and class schedule but improving his time management to increase efficiency. Another alternative would be not playing the December Bowl Game and investing more time studying. This decision will favor the final goal, but it may not please the coaches and reduce his chances of making it to the NFL. Thus, all invalid arguments are eliminated from the list of alternatives (Black, 2018). Valid arguments serve as a base for the final decision.

Determining the Best Solution

The best solution to reach Papua’s final goal is to reduce training hours and invest more time in his studies. To achieve this goal, Papua should talk to the coaches and refuse to participate in some competitions and training. He also needs to determine the strategy for preparing for the final exams. After making the decision and activity, it is necessary to evaluate the results.

Conclusion

The decision-making process is based on a rational approach but does not exclude intuitive and subjective factors. A good decision must always meet the ultimate goal of an individual or group. In addition, the decision-making process includes collecting information, analyzing, generating alternative solutions, evaluating them, and making a final decision. Using a rational model, monitoring and eliminating biased and imposed conclusions is necessary.

References

Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2019). The miniature guide to critical thinking concepts and tools. Rowman & Littlefield.

Black, M. (2018). Critical thinking: An introduction to logic and scientific method. Pickle Partners Publishing.

Building a new athletic facility requires many resources in terms of both labor and material capital. To avoid wastage and loss of these resources, effective management is of utmost importance. As well, it is essential to prepare adequately on paper for the project before deploying on the ground. Every project starts with defining and refining the user requirements. Here, one engages the various stakeholders on what they expect from the new athletic facility. After which, one does a trade-off between cost and requirement. Other considerations in designing such a project include local laws and regulations, the project’s environmental impact, and the amount of available capital. With this, one can establish the project scope, determine the budget for the project, and estimate the project duration. The consulting firm for the project should be able to integrate all these considerations into a feasible master plan (Sawyer, 2009).

There are three basic considerations while choosing a consulting firm. To start with, the consulting firm must have the capacity to deliver in terms of technical know-how and experience. In evaluating tenders for such a facility, each bidder must demonstrate a proven ability to deliver on such a high-end project. The appropriate consultant should be able to come up with a viable blueprint for the facility. Here, the consultant will help define the user requirements, define the project scope, and come up with a tentative budget for the project. The consultant should also help in pre-qualifying contracting companies who will deliver on the project. Through experience, the consulting firm can determine the best-suited persons to take on the project, and bring it to the next level. The consulting firm, thus, makes the work easier for the client. On this line, the consultant should also work with the client or his appointed representative, throughout the entire phase of the project and continuously refine the operational requirements (Glenn, 2010).

Secondly, the consultant must exhibit timeliness and due diligence in executing past projects. An ideal project should not last for long periods since this has an impact on not only cost but also, on the quality of work. From research, it is evident that every project that goes beyond its desired period ends up spending more while delivering poor-quality work. The consulting firm must envisage future delays in the execution of the project either due to weather, political or climatic conditions. A project might end up spending much more merely on the fact that, during the duration of the project, there was a change in the political class bringing about new taxation regimes (National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association, 2009).

The last thing to consider in choosing a consultant for such a project is cost. Many projects end up costing way above the estimated budget due to such reasons as inadequate planning, poor workmanship, and poor supervision. In worst cases, consultants may end up colluding with the contractors to inflate the project cost. This poses various risks to the viability and success of such projects. The appropriate consultant of such a project must envisage future variations in prices and factor them within the budget for the facility. In determining this consideration, it is, therefore, important to measure the consulting firm for honesty and work ethics. Since the ultimate goal of the project will be to get the best value for both time and money, the consulting firm should also demonstrate high levels of integrity, and firms with integrity scandals should be debarred (Woodward, 2000).

References

Glenn, M. (2010). Essentials of sports law. San Francisco, CA: ABC-CLIO.

National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (2009). Campus recreational Sports facilities: planning, design, and construction guidelines. New York: Human Kinetics.

Sawyer, T. (Eds.). (2009). Facilities planning for health, fitness, physical Activity, recreation, and sports. Boston, MA: Sagamore Publishing.

Woodward, J. (2000). Countdown to a new library: managing the building project New York: American Library Association.