Being part of a sports team teaches people much more than how to win a game and to stay active. When on a team, athletes learn responsibility, hard work, time management, respect, and more. These skills are not easy to learn, but being on a sports team helps give a head start. When needing these skills to succeed in the future, sports are a guide to learn them.
RESEARCH
The Army Military Academy and Naval Academy provide multiple life skills like accountability, responsibility, and respect. From making a mistake like a bad pass to going to the wrong building on your first day of the job, sports teach you to own up to your mistakes and move on from it. Responsibility when remembering jerseys, water, or remembering your computer, notes, and applications, is a skill you use in the future.
RESPONSIBILITY
Being responsible is a skill some people tend to struggle with at an early age, but when playing sports, it is crucial to be responsible. Amelia Crowe, the captain for Pentucket varsity basketball, volleyball, and flag football, confirmed that responsibility is the most important attribute when playing a high school sport. Being a captain, she states, “You have to know the answer to everyone’s questions.” Questions like what time is practice, where is practice, what jerseys, and when is the bus coming are all questions that captains need to know the answer to. This helps captains and players learn to be responsible for learning the answers and providing answers.
TIME MANAGEMENT
With school being around eight hours a day and then having sports for three hours, it is hard to relax, do homework, and have the rest of the day for yourself. Time management is something that student athletes need to have so they can manage their time to be successful and happy every day. When playing a school sport, sometimes the game ends late, and the bus ride is extra long. Players end up getting home late and still have to do some homework. This gives athletes the opportunity to learn how to manage their time and complete everything they need to do. The varsity Pentucket volleyball coach says that, “To be early is to be on time.” This means that getting things done so you can be on time for everything and not having to worry about the homework you have to do when you get home after the game ran late and the bus was slow going home.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Everyone makes mistakes, but there’s a difference when you are able to own up to them. In basketball, there is not one game in history without a turnover. But teams that recognize the turnover and are able to talk and fix it are the teams that are the most successful. This will relate to your future when making everyday mistakes. My AAU basketball coach and the varsity girls basketball coach at Pingree High School states, “I’d rather you mess up trying than not try at all” When you miss a shot, it is more about how you shot it and not whether you missed or made it. When you are at a new job, and you make a mistake, it is more about taking accountability to fix it rather than hiding the truth.
RESPECT
In life, no one likes everyone they meet. But even when you do not like someone, you have to recognize it and be respectful. This happens when you are on a team, but also when you have a job and are living everyday life. Another Varsity Pentucket basketball player, Fiona Walsh, stated, “That’s why at the end of games we high-five the other team, to say good game.” No matter how the game ended, everyone high-fives each other. This teaches athletes to be nice and respectful even if they do not like the other person.
CONCLUSION
Overall, playing on a team will give you a head start on essential life skills. Being involved on a team puts you in an environment where it’s mandatory for you to learn so you can be successful. Responsibility, time management, accountability, and respect are the four main attributes that every athlete learns while playing their sport that will help them succeed in the future.
