Teachers strike carries risks for young athletes

The Chicago teachers strike may have unintended consequences for student athletes with college dreams tied to the field.

For now, the walkout in the nation’s third-largest school district means canceled practices and games. But if classes don’t resume soon, 11,000 students enrolled in fall varsity sports could also lose playoff and championship opportunities.

Some students worry it will affect their prospects for college if the lack of play makes them ineligible for athletic scholarships or less attractive as recruits.

Students like Johnny Daniels are anxious for a resolution. The senior at Foreman High School on the Chicago’s West Side says he and his football teammates have been holding daily practices on their own, without coaches, who are almost all union members.