The Student-Athlete

The purpose of NAFBF is to recognize and awaken academic potential, as well as physical and intellectual perseverance, in today's Student-Athletes who seek to achieve successful careers outside of athletics and thus make lifelong contributions to society.

20.5 million students are projected to enroll in United States (U.S.) high schools this Fall. Nearly eight million of these young people are formally involved in team sports.

This article recognizes the need for Student-Athletes to tap into skill-sets they already possess, but need to develop, in order to successfully complete their education and attain meaningful and fulfilling careers.

NCAA-regulated team sports in the U.S. bring young athletes together on campuses, requiring a basic level of academic achievement while teaching them to socialize, solve problems, resolve disputes, work-hard, gain self-confidence, and understand differing personalities from various cultural perspectives.?These invaluable traits are fully appreciated, understood and integrated in academic and athletic programs.?

Yet, ?the current higher education system still largely perceives academics and athletics as polarized, unequal, and separate entities. This societal attitude is driving a spirit of virtual animosity between academics and athletics on many U.S. campuses, which is creating a rift that is especially acute and growing in higher education across the U.S.

As a result, the fundamental integrity of higher education continues to be threatened by students whose sole incentive is to become an elite athlete. This issue is creating a damaging rift between academics and athletics. In reality, both academics and athletics are complimentary and mutually supportive endeavors.

It is not easy for the student-athlete to fully commit to the dual role of student and athlete. It takes a person's full dedication for each of those roles. Talent is not only found in sports, but also comes in effective scheduling for classes, study time, work-outs, events, and rest. This ability to juggle everything becomes an asset when the student-athlete proceeds toward a career after they are finished playing their respective sport.

Collegiate coaches and administrators are always searching for an athletic edge, while faculty and admission offices are actively searching for the same type of academic excellence—prowess in the field is not only for sports, it is also for academics which takes many hours of mental agility, study, and hard work, skills not thought of in reference to Student-Athletes.?

This contentious mindset starts with a limited and distorted view regarding what young people see as the pathway to success.

NAFBF is a creative approach to recognize and reward academic achievement by student-athletes. The program directly addresses the challenges of balancing participation in sports with academic progress toward attaining a degree. The aim is to send a message to young athletes that success should be equally strived for in both athletics and academics. NAFBF ?program principles, include identity, competitive spirit, purpose, vision, mission, and goals.

The NAFBF vision for the future is to connect the Student-Athletes universal skill-sets of teamwork, work ethic, commitment, leadership, time management, emotional and physical health with solving some of the planets more complex problems.

www.nafbf.com? ?