Keep High School Sports
By: James Kyd
Sports Influence The Way Teenagers Live Their Lives
Playing sports benefits young men and women by giving them realistic expectations in order to achieve success in the real world. Research shows that schools who offer more sports programs produce higher test scores and graduation rates. Although some believe that high school sports should be taken away because sports have recently become out of hand, sports should be preserved because of the life lessons and social skills learned by participating in these various sports programs and how it will carry over into any profession.
Do Sports Need to Be Eliminated Entirely?
A recent incident at a New Jersey high school charged seven individuals of hazing and the sexual assault of younger football players that led to their entire season being cancelled. High school sports offer a lot for student-athletes from playing for school pride to becoming the best you can be. Using baseball for an example, when you turn a double play or hit the ball to the opposite field it takes several factors into consideration in order for this to happen. To play this sport individually, it takes chemistry, focus, and leadership if you want to be successful.
School Should Be About Learning, Not Sports
- A majority of athletes don't get the opportunity to play sports in college
- Athletes train to get to the next level but never get paid to play as professionals
- Sports happen to "shape kids' priorities"
- Students shouldn't participate in sports and focus solely on their schoolwork instead
Sports and Education Work Well Together
- High school sports implement many skills and lessons that can be used later on in life
- Sports cope very well back into the classroom
- Playing sports and receiving an education work hand in hand together
- "Schools that offer more sports and field more successful teams produce higher test scores and graduation rates."
School Sports Provide Lessons in How to Live
- Sports incorporate teamwork, responsibility, perseverance, and accountability into other aspects of life
- By playing sports kids take a step out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves
- The lessons and skills student-athletes learn by playing sports will benefit them in any profession they choose to involve themselves in
Benefits of High School Athletics
Coach Aubry- Head Football Coach for Joliet West
- "T.O.I." or Team Over Individual
- "When times get tough, it's the people around you who are counting on you to get the job done."
- Preaches the idea of getting it done the right way, the first time.
Twitter: @coachaubry
Sources-
Brownsville Parks and Recreation: http://www.teamsideline.com/brownsville
New Jersey Map: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/new-jersey/
About Amanda Ripley: http://www.amandaripley.com/
School Should Be About Learning, Not Sports:
Jay. P Greene, Ph.D: http://www.uaedreform.org/jay-p-greene/
Sports and Education Work Well Together:
Stack Attack! Patriots Sign Donte Stallworth and Others:
http://musketfire.com/2012/03/19/stack-attack-patriots-sign-donte-stallworth-and-others/
School Sports Provide Lessons in How to Live: