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Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

The Big Q Blog

the legs of soccer players

the legs of soccer players

Homework or Teamwork?

When Kim's dream of playing collegiate soccer becomes reality, she soon must weigh her athletic pursuit against her academic one.

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**DISCLAIMER: All characters and scenarios in this post are fictional.**

Kim was a star soccer player in high school and hopes to continue playing in college. The college she will be attending has Division III women’s soccer, and the coach is anxious for Kim to join the team.

However, her college is also very challenging academically. She’s heard from some people on the team that, especially during the season, it’s better to take easier classes so you can go to practices and games, and also get your work done without stressing. Kim doesn’t feel comfortable following this advice because she really chose her college because of its strong academic reputation. On the other hand, she doesn’t want to settle for intramural soccer, which she thinks won’t allow her to play up to her potential.

What role should sports play in Kim’s college life?

Useful Resources:

A Framework for Ethical Decision-Making

Grading College Athletes

College Athletes: Academic Performance: Behind the Line on Grades

 

Photo by Jeremy Wilburn available under a Creative Commons license.

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