Why We Play

Almost 8 million high school students play sports around the country. And for the vast majority of them, their sports careers end the day they graduate. Less than 3% of high school athletes go on to play college athletics, and of those students, an even smaller fraction will ever play sports professionally.

So why play at all? Because sports are about much more than just learning the physical skills of the game and winning championships. For most students, high school sports are about having fun, building lifelong friendships, preparing to take on future challenges, learning how to be a good teammate, and simply enjoying the game.

It’s important for school communities to intentionally provide students with more than just physical development and become intentional about their growth as human beings. Watch the video below to hear students explain why they play—then, feel free to share this video with students and parents at your team meetings. 

Read more about The Parents’ Playbook here.