Kwak, Lydia, et al. "Associations between Physical Activity, Fitness, and Academic Achievement." Journal of Pediatrics 155.6 (2009), 914-918.e1. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between rigorous physical activity and cardiovascular fitness, and the effect it has on academic achievement. In girls, academic achievement was associated with vigorous physical activity, and in boys physical fitness was associated with academic achievement.

Salmon, Jo, et al. "Leisure-Time, Occupational, and Household Physical Activity among Professional, Skilled, and Less-Skilled Workers and Homemakers." Preventive Medicine 30.3 (2000), 191-199. This study examines the difference in the physical activity between people of different skill levels in certain jobs. Physical activity in this study could be doing activities at home, at a gym, or possibly for your job. The study concluded that no association could be made between occupation and physical activity for men, but it could for women.

Aries, Elizabeth, et al. "A Comparison of Athletes and Non-Athletes at Highly Selective Colleges: Academic Performance and Personal Development." Research in Higher Education 45.6 (2004), 577-602. This study focused on student athletes for four years at selective liberal arts and Ivy League schools. It said students spending ten or more hours had less academic credentials than non-athletes, but were not lower than expected for an athlete. It talks about engagement in the community, sociability, extroversion, drinking, and academic performance of both athletes and non-athletes.

Umbach, Paul D., et al. "Intercollegiate Athletes and Effective Educational Practices: Winning Combination or Losing Effort?." Research in Higher Education 47.6 (2006), 709 - 733. This article talks about how the education of college athletes has grown over the years. The study compares student athletes to non-athletes in their academic engagements. This study concludes that contrary to popular belief about student athletes, there is not much of a difference between the two groups when it comes to academics. When there are differences between the two the athletes were favored in academic performance.

Gayles, Joy Gaston. and Shouping. Hu. "The Influence of Student Engagment and Sport Participation on College Outcomes Among Division I Student Athletes." Journal of Higher Education 80.3 (2009), 315-333. This study examines college athletes that do educationally enriching activities, does it help their academic outcomes. The study found that student backgrounds had little effect on academic outcome, but engagement in activities does.

Gaston-Gayles, Joy L. "Examining Academic and Athletic Motivation Among Student Athletes at a Division I University." Journal of College Student Development 45.1 (2004), 75-83. This article tries to solve the question of the motivation of college athletes to excel academically. The study took 211 college athletes at a Midwest Division I University and compared academic motivation and athletic motivation to academic performance.

Sharp, Linda A. and Holly K. Sheilley. "The institution's obligations to athletes." New Directions for Higher Education 2008.142 (2008), 103 - 113. This article outlines how colleges can help make college athletes better their education. It also says how colleges do not do enough to help their athletes get a better education. Since some college sports athletes are treated so well and are given so many benefits concerning athletics their education suffers.

Zoeller, Robert F. "Exercise and Cognitive Function: Can Working Out Train the Brain, Too?." American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine 4.5 (2010), 397-409. This article studies the relationship between working out and the functions of the brain. It says that studies with children, adults, and elderly people have proved that physical activity does have a positive impact on brain functions while cognitive function in young adults does not change with physical activity. Regular aerobic exercise and fitness increase brain volume and promote brain growth.

Rosewater, Ann. "Learning to Play and Playing to Learn: Organzied Sports and Educational Outcome." MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO, Sept. 2009. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. The article expresses the benefits of playing sports to increase academic performance. In the article it provides data on why it is beneficial for youth to participate in organized sports including the effects on brain functions critical to learning.

Miller, Kathleen E., and Joseph H. Hoffman. "Mental Well-Being and Sport-Related Identities in College Students." Ebscohost. N.p., June 2009. Web. 03 Nov. 2010. This article talks about how physical activity and playing sports result in improves mental and social health including reduced risk of suicide and depression. It examines how gender and athletic involvement in a team sport were associated with lower depression scores, and athletic identity was associated with lower risk of a suicide attempt.