University Students’ Participation In Sports And Its Implications For Academic Perfomance

ABSTRACT

The study was on university students‟ participation in sports and its implications on academic performances. The study had four following objectives; firstly to explore rationale of introducing sports among university students, secondly to investigate the perceptions of university about participation in sports ,thirdly to find out the extents to which university students participate in sports and lastly to establish contributions of students‟ participation in sports on academic performances. The study was conducted in selected universities in Dodoma, Kilimajaro and Arusha region.In addition the current study was built around the Astins‟(1984) Theory of Student Involvement and Drive theory in sports psychology by Hull (1943).Moreover the study employed mixed approach both quantitative and qualitative approach under descriptive survey design and methods. Besides the study used questionnaire, interview schedule as well as likert scale for collecting data. The sample of the study included, 200 university students, 2 deans of students and 4 college sports tutors. Random sampling and purposive sampling strategies were used during the study. These two sampling strategies were employed for selecting the university students as well as college sports tutors and deans of students. The study mainly found the followings: firstly, it was reported that sports in the university were introduced for positive academic achievements to university students‟ welfare. The responses from university students, college sports tutors and deans of students affirmed that sports in the university plays an important role in fostering students‟ mindset career, for socializations, to maintain disciplinary actions, in attaining good health and sports is for academic wellbeing of students.