A Day of Champions

If you read our previous blog post about the benefits of playing high school sports, you'll know that student athletes gain some game-changing skills that will help them throughout the rest of their lives. From teamwork to leadership, sacrifice to discipline, student athletes routinely demonstrate the benefits of their educational and athletic foundation by excelling in career, college, relationships, the pursuit of their goals, etc.

Now, that does not mean that junior high and high school athletes graduate without some unique experiences along the way. 

Here are 5 Things Only High School Athletes Understand:

You know that feeling you get when the clock is ticking down and you score the winning goal for your team? That feeling you get when you run your fastest race, or shave a second off your personal record to swim your best time ever? Or the feeling you get at the end of a game knowing you did your best, even if you didn’t win? For any athlete who has ever participated in high school sports, the feelings of confidence and satisfaction that come when they work hard to reach—and even surpass—the goals they set for themselves, can benefit them not only in the classroom, but throughout their lives as well. So what are some of the advantages of participating in high school sports?

Health Benefits

Students who participate in high school sports enjoy not only better physical health, but emotional and psychological health as well. The endorphins released during physical activity can help reduce the day-to-day stress that students face, and regular exercise improves concentration, memory, and creativity. Exercise also promotes better problem-solving ability and short-term relaxation skills, improving overall mood. Recent studies have shown that youth who participate in sports are better able to manage emotions, possess greater confidence, and have a stronger sense of self than students who don’t participate in sports. Girls who participate in high school sports also have higher self-esteem and a sense of belonging than those who don’t. And according to a study published by Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, LLP, “out of 14,000 high school athletes, the ones who regularly played sports were less likely to use drugs.”