Why Participate in Sports?

I'll say this up front  . . . I am biased.  I participated in sports.  My children (not all) participated in sports.  My grandchildren (not all) participated in sports.  And obviously I coach sports and find it to be rewarding if not exhilarating. I encourage young people, related or not, to participate in sports.  And there are myriad lists of reasons to join in or to abstain from athletics.  My personal lists(which I've limited to 5), with comments, follow:

PRO

1.  Fitness - I vividly recall my first attempt at running as an adult.  I was 27 years old, overweight, out of shape and went 2 miles in a brisk 20+ minutes.  But I went back the next day and did the same thing and over time extended the distance and shortened the time.  Then I continued for nearly 40 healthy years.  I've watched countless others improve their health in athletics.

2.  Social Relationships - I was looking for a reason to attend my 50th class reunion later this year (I'm still on the fence) and decided that one good reason to go would be to see the friends I grew up with who happened to be my teammates in sports as a youth.  And that doesn't include my three current best friends who were both neighborhood kids AND teammates. Being on a team gives you an instant peer group and friends you'll have for life.

3.  Time Management - The best example I can give here is that my youngest daughter who participated in 3 sports for 4 years during high school learned early on to manage her time appropriately in order to meet her athletic commitment and academic requirements.  Now a professional business woman I can see she has the very same work ethic.  Want to succeed, learn to manage your time to your advantage.

4.  Improved Academics - I was associated with another local, college prep high school for ten years.  In each of those years the Cross Country team had the highest GPA of any team in the school.  But the most revealing stat was that ALL the academic teams had higher GPAs than the general population of the school.  Some times the best examples of what to do are provided by those peers with whom you spend a good part of your day.

5.  Maturity - Over time, I've had the privilege of coaching hundreds, if not thousands, of kids.  I can state with absolute certainty that the preponderance of those young people became or are well on their way to becoming, well adjusted, hard-working, responsible adults.  Isn't what this is all about?

Summary - I have watched young people go from fat to fit, timid to confident, confused to focused, inquisitive to intellectual, and childish to reliable and dependable.  Sports, can do that for you..

CON

1.  Injury - There is the potential for injury of course in any sport.  But our requirements include many safeguards to protect our athletes.  Pre-season physicals, strict adherence to rules concerning heat and exhaustion, limitations on practices and contact, on site trainers, CPR requirements, and many more.  The fear of injury, not injury itself, should not preclude participation.

2.  Cost - There are costs associated with our sports programs which are, in part, passed on to the athletes and their families.  But for those unable to meet these costs there are alternatives.  These alternatives include numerous tasks which have zero stigma attached to them.  Our AD is adamant that no student be prevented from participation in sports due to financial difficulties and will make every effort to provide a reasonable, if not enjoyable, option to payment when appropriate.

3.  Social stigma - I was surprised, but understanding, this past fall when several of our XC athletes voiced dissatisfaction that our meets were held on a course which had been changed to require running past the football team.  I was very pleased that the reaction of the football team was to cheer on all our athletes.  Every WH athlete, whatever team, respects and encourages other teams and its athletes.

4.  Lack of Role Models - Here at Whitman-Hanson I work with some of the most dedicated professionals I've had the honor of knowing.  I can state, without reservation, that each and every coach, assistant and volunteer is committed to providing the best experience for our kids.  I have also had the privilege of watching some of those same kids continue as coaches as adults.  They understand the importance of what they do and take it very seriously.

5.  Winning at all costs - Winning, like succeeding, should be a goal of any young person.  Whether it is in sports, academics or life in general.  But the truth is, very few of our teams go undefeated.  Loss is an important lesson each of our student athletes learns as well.  Most adults fully recognize the need to put in the effort to succeed, but are also experienced in accepting occasional failure and moving on from it.

Summary - Injury, at times, is unavoidable, but every effort is made to insure an athlete's safety and enjoyment.  Costs can be overcome in a variety of ways. You will not be ridiculed by anybody for your athletic efforts or accomplishments, but more importantly, you will have pride in them.  Our student-athletes have teammates and coaches who will do everything in their power to make athletics a memorable experience for you.  And participation in sports . . . well that makes you a winner on day 1 !