High School Sports

Team sports require significant time and dedication from students. Coaches of high school sports teams don’t want to waste their time on students that don’t give their heart and soul when they train. Therefore, ask yourself what type of athlete you are before you choose your sport. If you prefer individual sports consider swimming or track. These sports offer you an opportunity to belong to a team while you compete in individual events that you enjoy the most.

If you enjoy a group effort consider trying out for a basketball, football or soccer team. These sports expect you to perform as an integral part of the team; how well you perform will directly affect whether the group wins or loses a game. These types of teams are not for people who are faint at heart; you can expect to be blamed if you let a winning touchdown or goal by the opposing team get by you. These high school sports teams also are tough on your body and serious injuries can sometimes occur.

Requirements of High School Sports Teams

The following represents what you can expect if you become a member of certain high school sports teams.

Swim Team

Expect to spend a lot of time lifting weights and swimming many laps in a pool. Whether you are a girl or boy you will spend a lot of time lifting free weights to increase muscle in your upper body and legs. Many hours will be spent in a pool diving, swimming laps and competing against your teammates to increase your speed.

Track Team

Whether you run track or cross country, expect to run several miles at each practice. While the main staple of a track team is running you will have to choose at least two other events. These include discus, shot put, long jump, hurdles, high jump and javelin. Those who run cross-country focus on running long distances. Cross-country runners train in all kinds of weather and run through all kinds of areas including creeks, mud and high grass.

Golf and Tennis

These two sports focus on individual training. Golf and tennis are also two of the most expensive sports you could pick to play in high school. Golfers rarely work out as other athletes do but they will spend a lot of time hitting balls to perfect their trajectory. Tennis players will spend time working out in the gym to build muscle. In addition, your temperament is important. People who choose these sports need to be gracious whether they are winning or losing.

Football and Ice Hockey

People who choose these sports can expect long practices and plenty of bruising. These are sports for people who are determined and don’t mind getting roughed up. If you can’t remember a grocery list you could have trouble in these sports; part of a player’s responsibility is memorizing the playbook.

Soccer, Lacrosse and Field Hockey

These sports are great for people who love to run and enjoy team sports. These teams typically train by running and then combine running with balancing and tossing balls. Once a person masters control of the ball while running they are ready to begin playing their game. This is when things turn more difficult; expect to be run over, knocked down and hit in the head with the ball of your choice.

Basketball

Both girls and boys enjoy this fast paced game. Being tall is a big plus in this game. Expect to spend a lot of your time doing drills involving quick movements of the hands and feet. If you don’t like running and jumping this isn’t a sport for you.

Conclusion

Belonging to a high school sports team can be a lot of fun especially if you perform well and have a winning season. Teams that do well often get to travel to other places, even other states, to compete in larger competitions. Choose your sport wisely and you may even win a scholarship to play your favorite game in college. Above all, enjoy the sport you’ve chosen; after all it is just a game!

Written by C. Gerber.