Competitive sports in high school are wasteful

Why do parents send their children to high school?

Most people would agree that the primary reason is to ensure that the young people receive a good education which will prepare them for a job or perhaps for college or university. Very few parents expect a high school to prepare their children to join a professional sports team.

Promoting competitive sports at the high school level is counterproductive to the primary purpose of secondary schools: the provision of a comprehensive academic education for every student, for these reasons:

(a) Schools are chronically short of money for necessary supplies such as textbooks, notebooks, computers, library books and audiovisual materials. Often parents are asked to buy basic supplies for their children, and this can be a significant hardship for low-income families. Some students just don't get what is needed, including proper nutrition, and because of this, they fall behind their peers in academic subjects.

A competitive sports program is expensive to maintain. There are costs for uniforms, equipment, the coach's salary, transportation and meals for out-of-town games, advertising, and extra hours of janitorial services for field or arena cleanup and maintenance. The bills can really add up.

The available money would be better spent on meeting the basic needs of the general school population, as opposed to the relatively few in number who are gifted enough to play competitive sports.

As well as providing other necessities, money spent on competitive sports would fund a healthy lunch program for underprivileged students for many months.

(b) Young people have many demands on their time. They have classes, part-time jobs and family obligations. Getting sufficient rest is also important because most teenagers are still growing. As well, the homework load in high school is heavy and entrance to a good college or university depends on achieving above-average marks.

High school students should not have their attention diverted or energies diffused by a focus on competitive sports. Very few will become professional athletes. For the vast majority, these years are crucial for preparing for the occupation or career which will engage them for a lifetime. The fewer distractions, the better.

(c) Young people in high school are forming a self-image to carry into adulthood. At this age physical attractiveness is very important. Leaders and role models will be chosen from among the best-looking, most outstanding performers in the teenagers' Certainly, not everyone can be a sports hero or cheer leader. Many of the less athletic students will acquire an "I'm not good enough to make the team," attitude which will plague them for years. It may even discourage them from achieving their full potential in their chosen field, because they'll lack self-confidence.

If there must be competition, why not encourage categories which will aid the majority of students in their probable careers? Awards for the highest academic marks, the best debaters, the author of the best poem or short story, the producer of the most gifted artistic offering would be several of many appropriate and valuable categories.

Sports are important for health and for enhancing one's ability to lead a full life. High schools should focus on those sports which can be enjoyed throughout life: golf, bowling, hiking, jogging, or archery are but a few examples. The emphasis should be on good sportsmanship, enjoyment and friendship, not on competition.

These programs could be carried out during regular Physical Education classes and use community facilities when necessary. Every student could participate and benefit from being introduced to activities they can enjoy for years to come.

Surely this would be a vast improvement over funding a very few students to participate in competitive sports during the brief and crucially important high school years.