Physical Education is a class that is required to take in your high school career, but should it be required for athletes? Getting a physical education credit for playing a sport could be a way for student-athletes to balance their academic and athletic commitments.
Freshman Maveah Asbury commented that she plays basketball for the school and that she does Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). She spends four and a half hours at AAU per week, not including training time with her dad and coach. During the school season, she spends one and a half hours each school day except for game days.
Sophomore Connor Ross, a football player, shared that he spends 20 hours per week playing football, whether it is at home or at practice.
Ross said, “Yes, sports should be counted as a physical education credit. I spend too much time on football for it not to be counted. P.E. isn’t as fun as what you signed up to do, which is your sport.”
Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach has a system where if the students do play a sport, then it counts as their physical education credit for the year.
Savannah Sancilio, a senior at Christian Academy, shared,” It was nice that all I had to do was cheer or be on the swim team and I didn’t even have to worry about P.E. I liked doing cheer for four years; it gave me exercise, friendships, and made me more involved with the school. ”
Chris Rutenberg, a junior, plays on the tennis team here at CF. He has been on the team since he was a freshman.
Rutenberg said, “If sports were counted as P.E. credits, then it would get way more people involved with the school.”
Physical Education is good exercise as well as sports, but I personally think if a student participates in a sport, he/she shouldn’t have to take P.E. For instance, if a student runs cross country has a meet the same day that he/she has to run a mile in P.E., it can could negatively affect performance.
Being able to count a sport as a physical education course not only frees up time in a students schedule but also acknowledges the hard work and discipline required to compete in athletics.
