CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Student-athletes are often looked up by people within the school community. They are

expected to be role models, the decisions they make are not only for them, but also for the entire

school. There are benefits of being a student-athlete, however, there are also expectations and

responsibilities that they must follow (Stankovich, 2017).

Student-athletes tend to have different experiences than the average student because they

have little to no leisure time, travel frequently for sports, and must maintain their academic

standing (Bennett, 2024). Being a student-athlete tends to be more challenging than being a

student. As a student, one has to deal with the demands of academics, like attending classes,

dealing with homework, and participating in activities. As an athlete, one also needs to attend to

athletic responsibilities, such as attending daily practices, participating in inter school meets, and

balancing their studies. Balancing these roles is quite challenging and can cause stress to the

students (Ines, 2021). Student-athletes must balance the roles of being students and at the same

time being athletes (Gerdy, 2000).

Student athletes experience time management problems, excuses from classes, fear of

failure, burnout, dealing with team mates, anxiety, and self-esteem issues (Wilson and Pritchard,

2005). Also, one of the struggles student-athletes face is fatigue and lack of sleep from the

demands of both their academics and athletics. (Thomas, 2019) Furthermore, student-athletes

often worry about injuries, pressure, and conflict during the actual game (Abedalhafiz,

Altahyneh and AlHaliq, 2010).

 The relationship between educational institutions and sports has been controversial since

the 1930s. Student athletes often face challenges, including balancing their time. The struggles

that student athletes have encountered throughout time are: student athletes must allocate time

for practice which can make it difficult to engage their academic works. Financial pressures:

athletic contributions, creating financial challenges for some individuals. Overall, the history of

the struggles of student athletes reflects broader societal debates about amateurism, equity, and

the commercialization of sports in high school. Despite progress in some areas, challenges

persist, and ongoing efforts are needed to ensure the well-being and rights of student athletes.
Statement of the Problem

This study focuses on the issue that revolves around the struggles faced by student-

athletes that are often unnoticed and dismissed by others. These challenges include time

management problems, balancing their sport and school, training schedules, performance

pressure, physical and mental health issues, etc. Despite the acknowledgement of these struggles,

there is still a gap in understanding the needs and consideration of student-athletes.

Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions:

1. What are the primary challenges faced by student-athletes that are often unnoticed or

unaddressed?

2. What are the perceptions and experiences of a student-athlete within their household?

3. What are the perceptions and experiences of a student-athlete within the school

community?

4. What affects a student-athlete’s performance in and out of school?

Purpose of the Study

The study aims to identify the unseen struggles of student athletes, by determining the

succeeding rate of primary challenges that are often unnoticed, perceptions, and experiences

within their household and the school community, and the possible variables that may affect the

student athlete's performance in and out of school. By exploring these struggles, the study aims

to provide insights that can inform support systems and policies to enhance the well-being and

overall performance of student-athletes. Moreover, this research will guide the community to be

more understanding to student-athletes and foster a supportive environment that would be helpful

to their personal and academic growth.

Significance of the Study

This study will be undertaken to find out the struggles faced by the student-athletes of

Tanauan National High School. The findings of study may provide insights on the different

challenges and experiences of student-athletes within the school. Understanding these struggles

is crucial for the benefit of all. This research aims to promote awareness, advocacy, empathy,

support, and enhancing the overall experience and maximizing the potential of student-athletes

both on and off the field.

The result of the study will benefit the following:

Students. Through this in-depth investigation, it will become clear to the students that

the life of an athlete is far from simple because, unlike regular students, athletes face more

challenges in balancing their studies and their daily practices. This study will serve as an avenue

for the students to be aware and knowledgeable on how hard it is to be an athlete as they face

many challenges.

Administration and Staff. By providing resources for mental health, academic support,

and coping strategies can help alleviate the pressure they face. Creating a supportive

environment where athletes feel comfortable discussing their struggles. Regular check-ins and

open communication channels can also ensure their needs are addressed effectively. It allows

decision-makers to make informed choices based on data and evidence.

Teachers. This study may guide them to be more considerate and work with student-

athletes to accommodate their training, competition, and travel schedules by providing flexibility

with deadlines, assignments, and class attendance requirements.

 Parents and Guardians. The results of the study may serve as a guide to help their

children to prioritize their academic responsibilities while also pursuing their athletic goals, not

to discourage them. They may also offer guidance on time and stress management strategies.

Future Researchers. This study may serve as a reference or base for the students who

will intend to conduct related research.

CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Definition of terms

1. Academics - anything relating to school and studying

2. Academic Success - a set of educational and personal goals and achievements of a

student

3. Responsibilities - certain duties and standards set by their educational institution

4. Role Models - are students admired within the school community for their behavior,

achievements, and leadership qualities.

5. Struggles - various challenges such as time management issues, pressure to perform well

academically and athletically, fatigue from balancing multiple responsibilities, fear of

failure, injuries, and conflicts during competitions

6. Student-athlete - A student who participates in organized sports activities alongside their

academic studies. These individuals are often looked up to within the school community

and are expected to fulfill both academic and athletic responsibilities, representing their

school in competitive events.

Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
 CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

This chapter covers the methods and procedures to be used in the conduct of the study. This

includes Research Design, Population and Sampling, Instrumentation, Procedure and Time

Frame, Validity and Reliability, Assumptions, and Scope and Limitations.

Research design

The researchers used a qualitative research, specifically phenomenological research design.

Wilson (2015), Phenomenological approaches are often characterized and differentiated by the

degree to which it is accepted that an investigator can achieve objective descriptions of, or

interpret, lived experience. The approach investigates the everyday experiences of human beings

while suspending the researchers' preconceived assumptions about the phenomenon.

(Delvetool.com)

According to Bhandari(2023),Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-

numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It

can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research. It also

focuses on the "why" rather than the "what" of social phenomena and relies on the direct

experiences of human beings as meaning-making agents in their everyday lives.(UTA

Libraries,2023).
Population and Sampling

Instrumentation

The data collection instrumentation consist of one section: the survey questionnaire as the

instrument for the study. A questionnaire is a research tool composed of a list of questions used

to gather data from respondents. A survey is a research technique used to gather information

from a pre-selected set of respondents in order to learn more and obtain new perspectives on a

variety of interesting topics. (How many questions will be asked sa research paper) survey

questions will be provided to the respondents to elicit their insights on the topic. During the

questioning, the researcher adhered to a consistent procedure for presenting the question to the

student athletes.

Procedure and Time Frame

This study will involve the student athletes within the Tanauan National High School

premises, which will be the source of data gathering and the key to achieve the researchers’

objectives. The study will be conducted for (how many month/s). To gather data, the researchers

will conduct survey questionnaires. This will be done during the participants' free time and in a

safe and private setting to encourage the participants to openly share their experiences and

insights.

Validity and Reliability

 There are various ways that a researcher can ensure reliability and validity in their studies. To

increase reliability, researchers should apply methods carefully and consistently, and standardize

the procedures of the study. If multiple researchers are conducting a study, the methods must be

clearly outlined to each researcher so the study is consistently performed, it is important that

their assessments are standardized to avoid bias. Keeping the conditions as uniform as possible

will lead to decreased variation, and higher reproducibility of the results. Using high quality and

specific methods of measurement is important. Methods of assessment or measurement that have

been shown to be effective in previous studies should be considered, as there's a higher

likelihood that those methods will measure what researchers intend to measure.

Assumptions

Male athletes did not want to appear vulnerable and felt any emotions such as crying or would

make others think they were a less capable competitor. Women athletes also expressed the same

sentiments, but often privately expressed emotions. Both men and female felt they had to strong

despite their various schedule pressures and to always “push through.”

The student-athletes in this study expressed that they typically sought informal

supports, rather than more formal supports such as the counseling center. They often spoke to

their assistant coaches, graduate assistants, physical trainer, and the sports psychologist for

support about mental health issues. Mostly they suggested they discussed performance issues,

but also confided in them about their anxiety, episodic depression, and interpersonal

relationships.

Scope and Limitations

 The study will be implemented in Tanauan National High School (TNHS) at Imperio Street,

Brgy. Canramos, Tanauan, Leyte during school year 2023-2024. Wherein, the struggles of being

a student athlete is a familiar topic to every

Individual such as the student athletes and especially to the coaches. The study will be beneficial

to the student athletes, to the individuals of Tanauan National High School, and the school's

image. The total number of student athletes operating their sports in TNHS is (number of student

athletes), and the study will use the population as respondents. Advantageous to the researchers,

the needed medium to be used will be the survey questionnaires to gain knowledge and gather

information for this research topic.