What are the real benefits of playing any high school sports and what do current sports players at Arlington High School say about it?
According to NFHS.org (National Federation of State High School Associations) “Participating in high school athletics has long-lasting, definitive benefits, especially when athletic leaders create an environment that challenges and rewards the growth mindset. When participants are supported in this way, they develop lifelong habits that transcend high school.”
Now that’s great but what do you really learn from playing sports in high school and is it really worth it?
NFHS goes on to say, “Three of the most important participation takeaways that students continue to practice after graduation are: 1) a stronger sense of self-confidence in building relationships with others and having an expanded capacity for empathy; 2) developing a better understanding of self and in so doing understanding how their actions affect others; and 3) building foundations for lifelong fitness habits.”
Athletes at Arlington High School have said,
“It’s not always about the playing time or the stats you receive but rather the friends, and memories you make,” Emma Armes (‘24) said, “Hard work doesn’t come easy, and great things aren’t just given to you.”
“It’s taught me leadership and to persevere and to not give up even if you want to,” Elle Aalbu (‘24) said, “… I want to be a paramedic-firefighter which isn’t easy and I’m going to have to go through more hardships than tennis can ever give me and have to have a quick problem-solving skills on the job,”
A “lesson I learned from playing high school sports is discipline and working for the people around you,” Brody Dalgaard (‘26) “… making the right decisions for myself and what’s best for me.”
“… how to communicate with people and work together as one unit… also the bonds you form through sports,” Delaney Henry (‘26) said, “… lifting others up and being nice will always win instead of ignoring everyone and keeping to yourself.”
“I have made friendships that will last for a long time and especially being a part of a winning program is the cherry on top,” Caleb Reed (‘25) said, “I’ve learned that no matter what life hits you [with], to keep going and don’t quit because anything you want in life you can have, [you] just gotta work for it.”
“… How to be a better man of character. I hold myself to a higher standard that a lot of people around me wouldn’t, even when I could cheat and take the easy route,” Alex Cunningham (‘25) said. “… Stay consistent to something and work hard. It’s not about what happens, it’s about how you react to it.”
Arlington High School’s Athletic Secretary, Summer Henry, said “Sports benefit people because it teaches them how to work in groups and problem solve, and how to be resilient, persevere, have accountability, and how to deal with conflict.”
Head football coach, Greg Dailer, said “… help them become men of character, learning from mistakes and rejoicing in our successes, with the most important lesson is we want to teach kids to love one another, and put others before their own needs, and be selfless.” Learning many things from sports happens often like “working with other people and getting along and overcoming adversity.”
