# data[].attributes.headline
Participating in team sports helps to develop good character

# data[].attributes.subject
Participating in team sports helps to develop good character

# data[].attributes.body
Badminton

Comparing and analysing dual and singular ways of playing.

# data[].attributes.body
Skills:

Team sports (1) comparing

Individual

Self-reliant mindset and sharpening focus under pressure,endurance, strategy, and resilience.

Team

Communication, multitasking, spatial awareness, and synchronization.

Team sports (2) supported

Social dynamics, stress management, leadership skills and social integration. A sense of discipline and time management.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to play badminton: rules, scoring system and equipment

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about how to play the popular high-speed indoor racquet sport and the history of badminton at the Olympics since its first appearance at Barcelona 1992

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Campus & Community

Manisha Aggarwal-Schifellite

5 min read

Results of first-ever study of Harvard Athletics to be used for strategic planning as program approaches centennial

A first-ever study of Harvard Athletics found that the majority of student-athletes consider their experience on teams to be formative, rewarding, and demanding, and they feel supported by coaches, teammates, and the athletics staff. It also revealed that many find it difficult to balance academics, athletics, and social lives.

The study, released last Friday, was commissioned by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences to inform strategic planning for the department, as it approaches its centennial anniversary in 2026. A team of researchers from the organizational consulting firm Mercer studied the culture of athletics at Harvard and documented the experience of student-athletes and members of the department. Using various data-collection techniques, including interviews, surveys, and on-campus observations, researchers gathered feedback from students, coaches, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, and fans from September 2019 through May 2020.

"When reviewing the results emerging from the Mercer study, I was particularly struck by the voices of our student-athletes, who spoke so honestly and openly about their experiences," wrote Claudine Gay, Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, in her letter to the Harvard Athletics community. "In that candor, I see both opportunity and motivation for our work together to support them and enable their success, on and off the field."

A survey of student-athletes, conducted as part of the study, found that the vast majority of the 827 respondents feel they are learning important life lessons at Harvard (93 percent) and feel happy about their decision to attend (91 percent). Of the student-athletes who completed the survey, 65 percent said that they valued the sense of community, camaraderie, and friendship that their team provides.

Survey results also indicated student-athletes face some challenges. The majority (524 out of 827) of respondents reported difficulties balancing their academic, athletic, and social lives. They also reported struggling to find free time to relax, unwind, and take advantage of community experiences, with 45 percent of respondents reporting that they felt as if they were active members of their residential communities. Student-athletes also reported higher levels of emotional health compared to physical health. While 83 percent reported feeling generally happy with their lives at the moment and 78 percent felt they had enough tools to manage stress, 53 percent indicated they were getting enough sleep to feel healthy, and 59 percent were able to maintain a healthy diet.

The study also looked at the staff experience. Survey results showed that coaches and staff are highly engaged and deeply committed to the mission of Harvard Athletics and Harvard College. Ninety-four percent reported that their jobs gave them a sense of meaning and purpose. The same percentage reported that they were motivated to go "beyond what is normally expected to help Harvard be successful." However, coaches and staff felt less satisfied with their work-life balance, with 55 percent reporting that they had a reasonable balance, and 25 percent reporting that they did not.

Many expressed their desire to see more collaboration between Athletics and the FAS, including Harvard College. Just under 50 percent believed athletics is viewed as an important part of the Harvard experience, and about the same number of respondents did not see a high level of collaboration between the College and the department. That sentiment appeared to be shared by faculty and administrators interviewed for the study, who also saw opportunity in maintaining and growing partnerships between Athletics, Harvard College, and the FAS. Administrators, faculty, coaches, and Athletics staff were largely united in their interest and enthusiasm for helping student-athletes better integrate their dual roles on campus.

Recommendations from the study included renewing Harvard Athletics' vision and commitment to Ivy League principles for a new generation of students through community engagement and discussion as the department transitions to new leadership. The survey also suggested increasing efforts to support and strengthen integration between athletics and academics for student-athletes and conducting further research into specific issues, such as mental, physical, and social health and wellness, and those that Athletics staff deal with, such as work-life balance.

"As the recommendations make clear, we need more opportunities for faculty, staff, coaches, and students to talk to each other about our priorities, our aspirations, and the barriers we confront in supporting our student-athletes," said Gay. "This process is a first step to building stronger relationships among all those who are committed to the success of our students."

Looking ahead to next year, incoming John D. Nichols '53 Family Director of Athletics Erin McDermott said she looks forward to continuing to build on the legacy of Harvard Athletics and its educational and mentorship mission.

"I look forward to the work we have ahead internally, with FAS and campus partners, and with our extensive Harvard community in developing the future vision for Athletics, integrating athletics and academics in mutually beneficial and substantial ways, and fostering a culture of wellness and well-being within Athletics and across campus," said McDermott. "The Mercer study has provided us with an aspirational and forward-thinking path while affirming the excellent and strong foundation already established from which to build."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
First-ever study of the culture of Harvard Athletics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Results of first-ever study of Harvard Athletics to be used for strategic planning as program approaches centennial.

# data[].attributes.body
Topic sentence

Supported by extensive research, it is certain that physical activity offers significant benefits for various aspects of self-improvement. While individual sports promote personal discipline and self-reliance, team sports are equally effective in developing interpersonal skills, teamwork, and a sense of community.

# data[].attributes.body
Sports like badminton, which can be played individually or as part of a team, demonstrate how team-based physical activities enhance already beneficial individual sports. In singles badminton, the player is responsible for covering the entire court, advancing a self-reliant mindset and sharpening focus under pressure.

# data[].attributes.body
Additionally, broader Harvard investigations have linked sports participation to improved leadership skills and social integration, valuable for career readiness and personal growth.

# data[].attributes.body
In conclusion, while the benefits of physical activity are well-established, the shared motivation found in team sports significantly enhances the development of lifelong skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership.