Young athletes realize they're not defined solely by their academic performance.
Participating in a sport gives kids the opportunity to develop skills that they couldn't develop in the classroom.
Getting a high-five from a coach does wonders for a child who's not used to compliments. And success in sports breeds success in the classroom. Students become more willing to take risks, such as answering questions in front of peers. They also begin to realize that they are not defined solely by their classroom performance.