The Pitfalls of High School Sports

Children are often exposed to sports at an early age. As they get older and start school they often participate in sports as a way to both make now friends and be active. As the children grow older, progressing into their teenage years, they become more specialized in their sports. The sports that the young people continue with grow in their favor. When the child reaches the high school level, sports take center stage. The pressure for them to perform in sports and perform well is immense. There is the pressure from coaches, teammates, and others to succeed. The futures of the athletes are at stake. They play for the chance of scholarships and to continue their childhood dreams. This immense pressure is very draining on the teenagers. The pressure for them to do well in sports leads to them suffering in other parts of their lives. The young adults miss out on other activities in high school because they are so consumed in their sport. The extreme focus on sports can also be very draining and lead to emotional stress and harm to the individuals. Young athletes are also under pressure not only to give up other activities, but to over-exert themselves in their sport of choice. The intense atmosphere of high school sports can be detrimental to the individuals involved in them. The experience of high school is a memorable part of one's life. For those individuals involved in sports, the experience can be largely restricted. The experiences of a high school athlete revolve largely around the sport in which they partake. I played high school football. An overwhelming majority of my high school life revolved around football. My friends were mostly football players and my memories are largely football related in some way. The commitment to football prevented me from partaking in virtually any other school activities. I was unable to put in the necessary commitment to any other program such as Student Government or Class Executive Committee. Any involvement was minimal and