Why sports are important to high school students/athletes?

Some people look at high school sports and say “they are not even good why are they still competing?” or “They just want something to put on their college applications” well though the second part may be true, high school students playing in their school sports are so much more than just a game or something to put on a college application. From my personal experiences, here are five reasons sports are important to high school students/athletes.

1). UNITY – sports create unity. From my personal experience sports in high school have allowed me to become close with others I would have never imagined I could bond with outside of school. One thing with sports are that every sport is a TEAM, even if it’s single individual performances for examples track, golf and tennis, you still are apart of the team. We all strive for the same goals and need each other to achieve those goals along the way.

2).KEEPS STUDENTS POSITIVE AND OUT OF TROUBLE- when I asked a friend why he would be participating in Football next school year he replied “to stay out of trouble and get on the right track” and I don’t blame him. Majority of the violence and crimes in our community unfortunately involves our youth. so why not participate in something positive that helps prevents the issues that we face daily.

3). VALUE- every student wants to feel apart of something and know that they have accomplished something because they have contributed to it. That’s what high school sports does, it gives students a sense of belonging, it also allows us to do what we love and express and also use our gifts. to know that you actually matter to something that’s bigger than yourself and others is an amazing feeling.

4). SCHOOL SPIRIT – High school sports allow the students to take pride in who they are and what they have accomplished. most students wouldn’t like school if it weren’t for there sports teams.

5). BENEFITS – As I mentioned earlier, yes most student athletes are in sports because of the benefits from it including the possibility of college acceptances, experiences they can use outside of sports, becoming leaders in their community, being more diverse, and recognition for possibly being the best at their position or event in the sport they participate in.