First term is athletics time

Cool Writer
On your marks, get set and go, first term is for athletics in most schools. The value of athletics in schools is significant and cannot be overlooked and has a profound impact on individuals, the school as a whole, and on the community. Virtually every little boy dreams of playing professional baseball, football, or basketball. Very few realise that dream, but it does not mean that athletics cannot provide you with other meaningful opportunities. The top tier athletes often receive a scholarship to attend school, college, university and continue their athletic career. For the majority, high school is the last time they will participate in organised athletics as a player. However, there are still other opportunities that may arise because of their participation in and passion for school athletics.

Athletics can also provide opportunities through relationships. In a team sport, players are typically close to one another. These relationships can span the length of a lifetime. Staying connected may provide you with a job or investment opportunity. It may simply provide you with life long friends who have your back in any situation. School pride is about coming together for every game. School pride is about staying after the game and singing the alma mater no matter whether you win or whether you lose. Did you know that athletics brings recognition?

Athletics can serve as a powerful academic motivator for athletes who would otherwise underperform in the classroom. There are many students who see school as secondary to athletics. As adults, we realise that academics are of far greater importance than athletics.

However, as teenagers the academic side was probably not the centre of our focus as it should have been. The good news is that schools require their student athletes to maintain a certain grade average (typically 60 percent or above) to participate in athletics. Many students stay in school and keep their grades up only because of their desire to compete in athletics. This is a sad reality, but may also provide the greatest reason for keeping athletics in schools. Athletics also serves as motivation for staying out of trouble.

Athletes know that if they get in trouble, there is a reasonable chance that they will be suspended for games or parts of a game. This does not mean that every athlete makes the best decision every time. However, the prospect of taking athletics has been a powerful deterrent in making wrong choices for many student athletes.

Athletics provides athletes with several benefits including the acquisition of valuable life skills that will benefit them throughout their life. These skills are more beneficial than the games themselves, and their impact can be powerful and transcending.

Some of these skills include:

Effort is giving it everything you have in both practice and games. Effort can overcome the lack of talent in many cases. A player who gives 100% effort is said to have heart. Life lesson – give your best no matter what, and you cannot question yourself in the end.

Hard work is the preparation you put into becoming a better player before the game is played. This includes strength and endurance training, individual practice time, and film study. Life lesson – preparation is the key to success. If you work hard to prepare, mistakes are less likely to occur.

Self discipline is the ability to maintain and carry out the role the coaches have determined within in the game plan. This includes understanding your own individual strengths and weaknesses. Life lesson – stay on task no matter what distractions are to get the job done.

Team work is the ability to work with others to complete a goal successfully. A team will only be successful if each individual fulfils their role. Life lesson – working with others is an essential part of being successful. Doing your own thing can be detrimental and lead to many problems.

Time management  is defined as the ability to fulfil all obligations including practice, homework, family, friends, etc.

Life lesson – you must be well balanced and adept at handling all aspects of your life so that you are not overwhelmed and stressed out.