Why do kids play sports in high school? For many kids, playing sports is an integral part of their personality and something they can’t imagine ever stopping. While opportunities for sports in high school are common, once students leave high school, these opportunities dwindle and require large commitments. High school sports range from friends just showing up and messing around to playing at the state level and even sometimes at the national level. There are some drawbacks of possible full-year commitments and giving up other sports to play one at a high level. What are the benefits for students to compete in sports in high school?
The main reason why students should participate in sports in high school is for the friendship and community it brings. I have made many close friends through the sports I’ve played. Whatever sport, whatever season, it’s hard not to bond with your teammates. Wins, losses, bus rides and celebrations all bring the team together which is what team sports are all about. One of the most enjoyable things in high school is the memories you make with your friends, wherever it is. Practicing together and working towards a shared goal is one of the most special things that friends can do together and it’s an opportunity that is often short-lived. Once athletes are out of high school, most go their separate ways and will be in many different situations.
Another reason why high school sports are so important is how students can meet each other. Making friends in high school is always tough, especially if you are new to the school or have unique interests but sports bring everyone together. One of the things I wished the school pushed kids more is to play sports in their freshman and sophomore year. For freshmen, many kids come into the school nervous and not knowing many other students so finding friends is crucial. Doing a spring sport before your freshman year is one of the best ways to meet new people and acclimate yourself with other Park students. Through soccer, football, cross country or girl’s tennis, students bond right away, especially in soccer and football where kids are often on a team with all other freshmen.
One reason that many students are wary of playing high school sports is that they think they won’t play in college, so they believe there’s no reason to keep playing. I strongly disapprove of this mentality as there are so many ways to stay involved in sports after high school that don’t force you to play them in college. There are always ways to play sports at the intramural level. These are sports teams that compete on a more recreational level often just for fun to keep participants active and playing for the love of the game. Similar to recreational sports, in high school, these teams are often made up of friends or a great chance to meet people. There are also club teams for lots of sports after high school in the summer or during the school year. There are many opportunities for students to play sports outside of high school, so there’s no reason for students to quit in high school fearing their time is done.
The last reason I have for the importance of playing sports in high school is how it teaches you life lessons. One of the biggest things sports teach athletes at any age is discipline and the value of hard work. For kids who don’t see value in trying very hard in the classroom, playing sports forces people to work for success in their sport. While discipline is a critical attribute that all kids should learn, another value that sports teach is how to deal with struggles and come back from them. Everyone loses in sports and it teaches kids how to deal with it and not quit. This is extremely important for life as virtually everyone hits roadblocks and obstacles and has to move forward. Sports prepare you well for this by having failure early and learning how to deal with it. These lessons are all taught by sports and are very helpful in life after high school.
