The Importance of High School
Sports
by Lisa Dunning, MA, MFT
High school is a time to make friends,
get good grades, participate in activities and prepare for the future.
Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, some schools have opted out of high
school sports, believing that money would be better spent on academics.
I understand that academics come first, but sacrificing high school
sports lessens every child's high school experience, their ability to
perform at optimum academic levels and develop into a well-rounded
adult.
The Importance of High School
Sports Can Be Found in Elementary School
During a child's elementary school
years, children typically lose their recess privileges as a consequence
to poor behavior. This consequence can have the opposite of the desired
effect. Recess is the place where kids let out their aggression and
release frustration and anger, allowing the children to better cope with
the aspects of school they do not enjoy.
High School Sports Promote Bonding
and Encouragement
What many administrators, teachers and
parents fail to realize is that high school sports offer teenagers the
same outlet. Participating in high school sports is important for motor
skill development, maintaining a healthy exercise program and provides
for a release of anger when the academic stressors become overwhelming.
When youth participate in high school sports they release endorphins
which helps decrease depression and increases energy. Most high schools,
if not all, require at least a C average to participate in these sports,
which provides the child with accountability. High school sports
increase bonding between children and their parents when parents help
with skills and come to games to cheer their child on.
High School Sports Boost Overall
Morale And Support
High school sports offer a release
that is needed for every student. High School Sports enables the entire
school to come together, whether playing, or observing, to cheer for
their school. If your child is having difficulty making friends
encourage them to join a high school activity or to go to a game and
cheer for their school. It boosts school morale when students meet to
cheer for their team. While offering an enjoyable distraction from the
stressors of school, teenager's negative perception of school as a place
akin to a prison is replaced with increased school pride. This increased
interest in school generally results in increased enjoyment in
academics, resulting in better overall test scores and grades.
Adults Look Back on High School Sports Fondly
When adults look back on their time in
school many do not remember their teachers, classes or grades but they
do remember the high school sports they participated in or observed.
They often look back on these memories fondly and look forward to their
children having similar experiences. Encourage your teenager's high
school to keep high school sports around so every teenager can have a
better overall high school experience.
Any of these articles by
Lisa Dunning, Family Therapist may be re-published in hardcopy
(magazines, newsletters or newspapers) or electronic format in websites,
ezines or electronic newsletters provided the following resource box is included at the end of the article with a
link to the URL
| Lisa Dunning is a
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Specializing in
Parent/Child Relationship issues, the author of "Good
Parents Bad Parenting: How To Parent Together When Your
Parenting Styles Are Worlds Apart" and the host of her own
radio show, "Life Support". She provides marriage, divorce and parenting
phone
sessions to clientele across the United States and Canada and provides expert
parenting advice to newspaper & magazine columnists. To learn
more about Lisa Dunning visit her website at http://www.LisaDunningMFT.com. |
