The Morgan boys’ football team implemented a mandatory study hall this year after school until practice in the cafeteria, following in the footsteps of many colleges in order to improve their grades.
The head coach, Casey Trasacco, has ordered this study hall in hopes to allow the athletes time to finish their homework. Everyone is expected to go to this new study hall, as he is giving them an opportunity to get their work done. The study halls are every day after school for an hour, or an hour and a half.
The study hall, which has been meeting from the start of the season, has been helpful for several players. Participants of the football team, Enrique Carvalho and Matt Jones, reflected on the change in study halls. Enrique said, “I think it is important to give everyone the opportunity to get work done, and it is helpful, especially because there is a range of freshmen through seniors on the team.” Enrique has a positive attitude about the mandatory study hall, as it’s a set time to get work done. He also talks about how it is an important time of team bonding, offering that the time allows for freshmen to get to know the seniors. He stated, “I’ve been able to make relationships with seniors that I’ve never really spoken with”(Enrique Carvalho). Enrique emphasizes the improved team chemistry resulting from these study halls, as they get to know each other.
Sophomore Matt Jones is also a member of the football team, who reflected on the positive impact of the study halls, emphasizing the purpose. He stated, “I think the coach implemented them because he values school over sports, and it’s important to get work done.”
Although the students are expected to go to the study hall, some people choose not to go. Senior, Logan Ryan, left tackle, stated, ”My mom wants me to go home, so I can walk my dog.” Logan emphasizes that he has responsibilities after school that he has to fulfill, so he doesn’t have time to go to the study hall. This is the case for many athletes, making the attendance low. There is a range of around only 6–10 kids there every day, which is only a fraction of the team. The full team isn’t able to bond and interact through this study hall, as the whole team doesn’t go, so although some of the athletes are building relationships and getting to know each other, there are many who don’t get this experience as they don’t attend.
A team within their conference, Haddam Killingworth, does not have a study hall. They don’t have a study hall after school as they practice right after school, so they have plenty of time to do their homework after practice. Furthermore, their lunch wave is an hour so they can use this time to “get extra help, ask their teachers questions, or hang out in a teachers room to complete their assignments if they need to,” said Coach Wilcox, the head coach of HK.
HK used to have a study hall but have found this schedule more effective. Coach Wilcox stated, “We have used the study hall model in the past, and it had its pros and cons when other coaches were not in the building. Some of the time that we would have used in study hall is now used for lifting or film work after school as well.” Instead of having the after school study hall, they head straight to practice, or use this time for film.
Morgan is not alone; however, as other schools, especially colleges, also have implemented the mandatory study hall. University of Mary Washington, a college in Fredrickson, Virginia, also has the study hall implemented. This study hall helps them maintain their grades, as your GPA and class standing determines how many hours you have to do. An article on the Weekly Ringer wrote about this study hall and the effects at University of Mary Washington. The paper spoke with freshman track team member, Bailey Johnston, who said, “I think this is a great way to make student athletes stay on top of their grades. Many athletes are caught up in their sport to the point they eat, breathe and sleep their activity and forget to do what is important, their homework.”
While many football players have been going to these, some aren’t, but Coach Trasacco wants to keep it around. Trasacco thinks it has been successful but believes “next year it will be more effective due to more players being in attendance.” He also stated that beyond grades, it “will help [his players] lead themselves to make good decisions.”
