Learning to juggle as a high school athlete

When asked about their high school days, many graduates of past and present reminisce of extracurricular activities, many of them being related to athletics; the numbers worn, banners won, great rivalries of the game. These stories of triumph and reward become the foundation upon which young students build their own aspirations to become athletes when they have their turn in one of the many large stepping stones in life.

But students often do not understand what they are signing up for on tryout lists.

Imagine having someone simultaneously toss three balls; one for sports, the second for school work, the third for social activities outside of school. Only two can be caught at a time. If studies and sports are favored, the social life of a student can crumble. If socializing is substituted for homework, marks will drop to the ground. This is basically the life of a high school athlete.

First off, there is the cost. Certain payments are inevitable regardless of the sport. Necessary equipment to play safely along with proper footwear for the sport. The deposit to rent a school jersey, or to buy your own. Referee or official fees, and the cost to use the field or venue for the season. Not to mention gas for travelling to competitions or games, and all those hotel rooms on tournament weekends out of town. They all add up to a hefty price tag, one that is often overlooked when entering a sport.

The next realization to take a swing at a student’s athletic fantasy is the commitment demanded by coaches. An immense supply of dedication is required to prosper on the court or field, just as in the classroom to be rewarded academically. Balancing these two takes a mass amount of energy from a person, and commonly requires a steady sacrifice of personal time.

Speaking of school, one thing must be understood; while an athlete is busy at practice or missing class for a tournament or game, life goes on and work is still assigned. With so much free time dedicated to sporting events, there will be many assignments completed on the floor of a gym or back seat of a bus. Frequently, making a due date is just not possible for these students. Most teachers are understanding of this conflict and may grant extra time to submit assignments; the key word being most.

As an outcome of all of these components, the student-athlete life can often be extremely stress-filled. This can lead to a whole host of different effects; loss of sleep, changes in mood, tiredness, and even mental illnesses. Mixed with the limited amount of personal time an athlete has, this stress can also cause a teen to pay less attention to what their body is telling them and forget to let themselves relax. This often results in injuries, ones that can affect them their whole lives. The risk of injury is equally present during play time, and students need to learn how to care for themselves to reduce that danger.

Although there are many possibilities for athletics to do more harm than good for teenagers, there are many positive aspects that can balance the pressure. If learned to focus on, these

favourable effects can and will block out the negative details and make sports an integral part of improving a student’s days in high school.

Becoming involved in school is very difficult for many people, especially when moving from an elementary or intermediate school up to the vastly intimidating high school. Spending time in the gym is an excellent way to meet people in school, and being on a sports team is a great means to showcase skills at the same time. Great athletes are often seen as leaders and are recognized in and out of school, which will help a student become more involved with the events and people around their school and community.

Playing against different schools also provides the chance to meet other students from the surrounding area who share common interests. While remaining rivals on the field or court, they often develop into wonderful friends outside of the game. These relationships established can actually improve the mental health and wellness of a high schooler, and alleviate the stress they face in the future.

To become a successful high school athlete, a student must learn to adopt healthy habits. Nutrition is key to gain the energy needed, and a teenager must understand that eating healthy plays a big part in their level of playing. In addition, these students will become more accustomed to being active, and will actually crave this physical exertion. Both of these positive habits will be carried on to wherever they may find themselves after high school, and promote a healthy lifestyle long after their days of playing sports are over.

Extracurriculars are also a great addition to post-secondary applications, and athletics are no exception. When schools see that a student can have high marks academically on top of staying busy with sports, it is further proof of their capability to handle the stress that comes along with university or college. And if a teen becomes an elite athlete at their level, they could have a shot at playing on the teams at the postsecondary level and even obtaining scholarships and bursaries.

The beginning of a student’s journey to becoming an elite high school athlete can be perilous. It is unquestionably a lifestyle change that will take time to get used to. Remember those balls from earlier? Well, imagine them again. If a student attempts to catch them, one will inevitably fall to the ground and be forgotten about. But if a student can learn to juggle; managing their time well between all three, letting go of one ball when the other two are priority, but tossing the next when the other is about to fall; they can ultimately be successful.