School and sport: The high-level student-athletes in Italy

Abstract

The Italian Ministry of Education since 2015 launched a trial "School and sport" addressed to high-level student-athletes that attend high school. The aim of this trial is to contrast not only the dropping out of the school but also one of the sports of the high-level student-athletes. The project proposes training activities aimed at teachers who teach students-athletes and that take into account the psychological aspects that these students face on daily. From the available data, the project had a good feedback in terms of participation and diffusion. The present study is aimed to search a hypothesis to give a solution how it is possible to combine study and high-level performance, in addition to study in deep the high-level student-athletes status and diffusion. The project should significantly reduce the criticalities in the school education of these students by supporting schools in planning effective actions that promote the right to study and educational success of students who practice high-level competitive sport.