1. Organized Sport and Exercise: Required in Schools BY: AURORA MAGER

2. Thesis  To improve our nation as a whole, students should be required to play interscholastic sports because of the benefits exercise can bring.

3. Why would we want to do this?  Children who play sports earn higher grades than those who are not physically active  It promotes overall wellness and health  Limits weight gain and decreases obesity

4. Higher Grades  Counter argument: sports will take time away from studying and homework  Students who participate in sports are twice as likely to receive A s than inactive students  Exercise produces blood flow to the brain  Promotes memory, concentration, listening skills which are vital to the classroom  Student athletes must strive for higher grades in order to remain in a sport  Typically a student must maintain at least a 70% or higher

5. Promotes overall wellness and Health  Endorphin production ( makes a person feel happy and peaceful)  Can reduce the amount of depression and low self-esteem  Decreases risk of type 2 diabetes and hypertension  Typically found in adults, however is becoming more prominent in children due to a lack of exercise

6. Limits weight gain and obesity  Obesity is on the rise in America  A person needs to be active 60 minutes a day  Less than 5% of adults are active for 60 minutes a day  With interscholastic sports, the children will be able to keep off or lose unhealthy weight

7. Sources  5 Major Benefits of Playing High School Sports. (2015, March 04). Retrieved April 21, 2015, from https://www.unigo.com/articles/5_major_benefitsof_playing_high_school_sports  Dudley, W. (Ed.). (1994). Sports in America opposing viewpoints (1st ed., Vol. 1, II). San Diego: Greenhaven Press.  Egendorf, L. K. (Ed.). (1999). Sports and athletics (1st ed., Vol. 1, II). San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press.  Should sports be cut from school? (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2015, from http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-sports-be-cut-from-school  Top 5 Reasons Why Children Should Play Sports. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.amazingathletes.com/corporate-categories/feature-news/top-5- reasons-why-children-should-play-sports