Physical activity and sports are a great way to stay in shape and work our way up to a healthier lifestyle, but how do they tie into academic success as a whole?
A lot of students often worry about their ability to juggle physical activity while being fully committed to a demanding university program, and for good reason. But university is a time for major shifts, and a balanced approach can make all the difference.
There’s academics, and then there’s academics with a side of fitness. At Dar Al-Hekma, staying active is encouraged across the board for all students. With a well-rounded program that stresses physical activity without diminishing the learning experience, students can soar to new highs, both physically and intellectually.
This balance comes to life in the university’s sports culture, where student-athletes consistently prove that athletic commitment can further academic achievement. The university’s facilities cultivate the time management and teamwork skills that turn students into leaders.
Recent Wins & Standout Moments
In 2025, Dar Al-Hekma took home various gold medals across Saudi inter-university leagues. These medals, which were awarded in sports like basketball and badminton, are a testament to how competitive spirit complements academic growth.
First Place: 15th Basketball Championship
At the second-largest university event of the year, in a high-stakes match under the Saudi Universities Sports Federation, Dar Al-Hekma placed first for the second consecutive year in the 15th Basketball Championship.
The competition brought together 22 of the Kingdom’s top university teams, and they were all vying for that coveted trophy. Dar Al-Hekma’s team dominated that space and scored the win, proving that it actually pays off to invest in training student-athletes.
First Place, 15th Women’s Badminton Championship
The university’s badminton team also snagged a victory at the Women’s Badminton Championship, hosted by Effat University.
Under Dr. Maysoon Alsowayigh and Coach Hind Alsahtout’s guidance, the team trained hard and executed smart strategies to dominate the competition, and their performance earned them more than 30,000 SAR in financial rewards.
How Sports Influence Academics
It can feel like too much of a hassle to enroll in a sports program when a student’s already swamped by homework and assignments. But if they’re genuinely trying to strike a balance of body and mind, they ought to be working on and paying attention to both.
Regular physical activity that is gained mostly by participating in organized sports helps boost brain function, sharpens focus, and improves memory. It gets the blood flowing and makes it easier to absorb and retain what you learn.
This principle applies across all fields of study, whether you’re an athlete, a business student, or even a graduate student in Dar Al-Hekma’s Commercial Law (LLM) program. The same discipline, time management, and teamwork that drive success on the court are just as valuable in mastering complex legal frameworks or negotiating high-stakes business scenarios.
Anyone who’s played a game at Dar Al-Hekma is all too familiar with that sensation after a sports session. The rush after juggling a basketball for a while, the adrenaline flowing after scoring a hoop or emerging with a victory…
That energy doesn’t stay in the court or stick at practice; it carries over into the classroom.
Back in 2019, the University of Cambridge Sports Service launched the Sport and Academic Performance Report, and their findings were certainly telling:
- 28.4% of student-athletes earned First Class honors (4.7% above university average).
- 63% secured Upper Second Class (11.2% higher than peers).
The University of Cambridge found a link between sports and academic performance, then laid out a pattern. Students who stay active tend to do better. You don’t have to look far for proof, but if you’re still skeptical, Dar Al-Hekma’s own athletes make that clear.
All in all, the studies speak for themselves and show that athletes often get higher grades, tend to be more focused, and can manage their time better than non-athletes.
