life lessons in sports essay

Life lessons from sports with Jody Avirgan (Transcript)

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ReThinking with Adam Grant Life lessons from sports with Jody Avirgan February 20, 2023

[00:00:00] Adam Grant: Hey everyone, it's Adam Grant. Welcome back to ReThinking, my podcast on the science of what makes us tick. I'm an organizational psychologist, and I'm taking you inside the minds of fascinating people to explore new thoughts and new ways of thinking. My guest today is sports podcasting pioneer Jody Avirgan.

He ran ESPN's 30 For 30 podcasts, developed FiveThirtyEight podcasts, serves as a podcast judge for the Webby Awards, and previously worked on WNYC Radio as well as shows like Freakonomics, Marketplace, and 99% Invisible. Never heard of them.

He was also an elite, ultimate Frisbee player. He once made it onto SportsCenter, which is not something we disc junkies get to see every day. Jody's the host of Good Sport, a terrific new podcast from the TED Audio Collective, which is about how sports can make us think differently about every part of our lives. I've been a fan of your work for a few years now, and I, I love the way that you draw lessons out from sports that apply to every walk of life.

[00:01:01] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:01:01] Adam Grant: And I guess the, the place I would love to start the conversation is how did you become so obsessed with sports?

[00:01:06] Jody Avirgan: Well, it's funny, I mean that word obsessed because, you know, when I worked at ESPN for, for a long time, but I worked in this pocket of ESPN, 30 for 30, which is really kind of like, “let's use sports stories to try and tell larger stories and draw larger lessons about life.”

And you know, we love sports, but really we love the lens of sports and that's really kinda how I think about sports, and I suppose I'm obsessed with that, but there were moments, you know, in the ESPN Cafe or whatever where I'd just start talking to a producer on like SportsCenter or something and I'd be like, “Oh wow. Like you're really into sports, you know, you're really obsessed. You know all the stats, you know all the twists and turns.” You know, I really love watching sports. I have my favorite teams. I played sports my entire life. I mean, a big thing we talk about in the podcast is how kind of I learned all my big life lessons through playing sports and now also through kind of engaging in sports and watching it and sort of thinking about it.

But, um, I'm not actually kind of a deep sports obsessive in the sense of like, I'm not a stat head and I'm not kind of like organizing my life around watching games. And, you know, I think the work that I've done tends to reflect that. It is largely, you know, sports stories, hopefully for people who don’t, who aren't obsessed with sports and sports stories that hopefully get at something a little bigger.

[00:02:22] Adam Grant: You, you do that beautifully. And you know, in many ways your work reminds me of Mitch Albom, who was my hometown sports columnist growing up. And I remember reading about the Fab Five in the Detroit Free Press. And one, loving the game, but more importantly, two, feeling like there was so much to learn about teams from the way that he wrote about basketball and watching you carry that torch is, is pretty exciting.

[00:02:46] Jody Avirgan: I mean, I think that’s where a lot of this stuff connects with so much of the work that you do. Like, the stuff I like thinking about the most and the stuff that I've learned the most from is really just about that. It's about teams and I always play team sports, so I like thinking about kind of… Humans are really fascinating on their own, and they're particularly fascinating when they have to work with other humans. And sports teams are a really great, really great venue for that.

[00:03:07] Adam Grant: I think so too. So tell me about your personal experience in sports. I understand ultimate Frisbee was, uh, was probably your peak.

[00:03:16] Jody Avirgan: I have a very healthy, I think, attitude towards what ultimate Frisbee means in the larger culture. I mean, I think I, I say this in the first episode, but I'm like, “Look, let’s just get the cards out on the table.”

The sport that most sort of dominated my life and the thing that I kind of obsessively devoted myself to in my teens, twenties, and well into my thirties, was this outsider sport that, you know, some people listening will be like, “Yeah, I get it. You know, it's a real sport.” And some people will be like, searching for another podcast to listen to and that's fine.

But you know, all I can say is like, as seriously as you can take anything, that’s how seriously I've taken Ultimate, but I also understand it's a sort of outsider sport and some people don't think it's a real sport or just kind of don't have the sort of… That’s changing, I think, but you know, just don't have the, the context for that.

[00:04:02] Adam Grant: Well, you may not know this, but you are currently in conversation with the one-time, part-time handler and part-time cutter for the University of Michigan Intramural League Championship Team.

[00:04:14] Jody Avirgan: Okay. Well, there you go. So let's just turn this into an ultimate Frisbee podcast.

[00:04:19] Adam Grant: It could be. No, I, um…

[00:04:20] Jody Avirgan: I played the University of Michigan many times, uh, when I was in college.

[00:04:23] Adam Grant: I, I, I'm a big Ultimate fan. I guess I got introduced to the game during my diving days. Um, before diving practice, our coach would often have us warm up by playing ultimate Frisbee, and I eventually learned how to throw a forehand. And—

[00:04:35] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:04:35] Adam Grant: Once I retired from diving and got to grad school, I felt like I needed some kind of sport for, you know, exercise and entertainment and started playing rec league Ultimate and never got nearly as far as you did, but still love it.

[00:04:46] Jody Avirgan: Right. Look, we could do this for the next hour, but you know, one thing I'll just say is because it's a sort of club sport generally, and a sort of an outsider sport or whatever, like after high school, obviously there was college to play, but then after college, you know, all the guys that I played football with in high school, you know, maybe a handful of them played in college; none of them played after college.

It was just like, “Oh, it's over.” And for me, you know, it's like, “Oh, there's another level, there's another level, there's another level.” And that's a really kind of wonderful thing to be able to carry into the real world, to just have sports get harder and harder. And I'm very thankful for that.

[00:05:18] Adam Grant: I guess the place I wanna dive in is I wanna talk about the fights we have about sports and what we can learn from those—or maybe not learn from those—about arguing. As I was diving into your latest work, I was immediately reminded of this exercise I do in class where I asked my students to name their emotional triggers. “What are the events that just cause you to fly off the handle?” And it sets up a discussion about emotion regulation and how it's often helpful to, to have your teammates know what your triggers are.

[00:05:45] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:05:45] Adam Grant: In order to not push those buttons. And also to understand when you do push them by accident. “It wasn't me, that’s actually you,” and I will never forget I had one student raise his hand and said, “Well, my biggest trigger is inaccurate sports knowledge.” I was like, “That’s… that is really specific.”

[00:06:01] Jody Avirgan: That's the guy I ran into at the ESPN cafeteria, probably.

[00:06:06] Adam Grant: Yeah. Exactly right. The, I mean, the… It, he just loses it if somebody quotes a statistic about a sport that's incorrect. And yeah, I recognize that a little bit because one of my emotional triggers is feignedknowledge, which is when someone pretends to know something that they don’t.

And I wrote a whole book about how much it bothered me, but why do people get so upset about inaccurate sports information? Why do we have such stupid arguments about that and…

[00:06:29] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:06:30] Adam Grant: What, what do we take away from all this?

[00:06:31] Jody Avirgan: I think, you know, no surprise, my answer will be that largely I feel like that's reflecting something that that person would probably just carry into a lot of different places.

And you know, there's this particular venue here where you can get heated and it's built around kind of passion and you know, really great ways and then in really, so toxic ways, B ut you know, I would say more than anything: I don't think sports is fully unique to that kind of vitriol.

And in fact, you know, one of the episodes that we do this season is about this sense that I've had for a while, but certainly has ramped up in the last four or five years that kind of the way we talk about everything is starting to feel like the way that we've talked about sports. We go into some of the details of what that kind of arguing looks like. But then also there's a really fascinating sort of concrete history about how particularly the, the worlds of politics or political media and the worlds of sports media are really intertwined and they've learned lots of lessons from each other.

And it's not a coincidence that when you see a politician kind of take on the language of “my team versus your team. And no matter what you say, it's wrong because you are on the opposite team. Then that's my starting premise. You know, and this is a zero-sum game, so to speak.” When you see a politician talk that way and you feel like, “Oh, this feels like kind of how the person you were describing earlier talks about sports,” it's not a coincidence, right? I mean, those are all media lessons that we've learned and sports has, you know, I think this is one of the lessons that sports kind of has taught in a bad way to the rest of the world, which is kind of like you can be divisive, and you can gin people's emotions up. And you don't have to really be reliant on kind of necessarily rational argument as long as you just keep escalating and keep arguing and keep driving a wedge. Um, and we see that throughout sports media, but I would say we see that and, you know, the stakes are obviously much different, but we see that throughout political media and politics itself too.

[00:08:22] Adam Grant: I, I actually think you can learn a lot about somebody's integrity by how they approach sports.

[00:08:26] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:08:26] Adam Grant: So, one question I love to ask people is if your team could win on a bad call, would you want it to happen?

[00:08:33] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:08:33] Adam Grant: And my answer is always no. And maybe that just means I'm not a big enough fan to care enough, but I can't imagine ever thinking that, you know, it's worth tolerating an injustice or some unfairness in order to get the result that I want.

[00:08:45] Jody Avirgan: Right.

[00:08:46] Adam Grant: And that seems to be another element of this, right? People complain about bad calls that hurt their side, but not the ones that helped their side.

[00:08:52] Jody Avirgan: It's this funny thing that in the episode that we did about all this, you know, one of our guests sort of said this and it got me thinking about how, like, at some fundamental level there is more in empiricism and sort of agreed upon share, a shared sort of set of facts in sports than there is actually in kind of much of the rest of the world.

And so yes, you can complain about a call, and you can feel aggrieved, but at some level you go and say, you know, that was either correct or it wasn't, or that was inbounds or out of bounds or like, there was a score at the end. And you know, we've gotten to the point in say, politics where first off, there aren't those sort of regular checks, right?

Like you can be on TV, and you can mouth off about how this team is terrible and this athlete's a bum and they're gonna lose on Sunday or whatever. And then Sunday comes and they either win or they lose, and you kind of have to test what you said against that. Whereas in lots of other parts of the world, like those kind of tests and that sort of sense of, like, “Well, what I say has to then get measured against something real,” has completely dissipated, or people are just completely ignoring it.

And so it's this funny inversion whereas like, it may have been the sort of origin or in many ways or the sort of driver of a lot of this kind of discourse, it still actually retains more sort of like empirical guidelines or you know, strictures than a lot than, say, politics where you can basically just make it up or ignore whatever set of facts or just choose your own set of facts. Whereas you can't come out of a sporting event and be like, well, “I choose to believe that the score was actually 94 to 87, not, you know, 112 to 103.”

[00:10:22] Adam Grant: Yeah. You don't see that happen very often.

[00:10:24] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:10:24] Adam Grant: Jody, it's interesting to me that you sort of see sports as partially responsible for the divisions that exist in our society, because I had seen sports more just a convenient vehicle for an expression of human nature. Right?

Because we know that some degree of outgroup prejudice and in-group favoritism is present in every single human culture.

[00:10:44] Jody Avirgan: Yes.

[00:10:44] Adam Grant: There seems to be probably an evol—evolutionary adaptation for it that, you know, if you don't favor your own group, you potentially don't build the kind of community that allows you to survive. And I think that, that hard-wiring, or at least the predisposition exists and it seems like, you know, sports gives us a relatively safe outlet for it.

[00:11:03] Jody Avirgan: No, and I think at the end of the day, I agree with you. Well, first off, I should say all the sort of dynamics that I've been describing in a kind of negative light are also some of the things that make sports the most powerful thing, right?

It's, as you were describing, we bond together. It's a shared experience. It's like, maybe like sports and the weather is like one of like the only two things now that you can actually just kind of go into any room and probably engage with someone on. All those things are wonderful, but like everything in life, they also have a downside when they're taken to extremes or when you see people who are operating in bad faith.

So I'm not necessarily saying it, it's the origin. It is as much reflection as possible as, as it is origin, and like, you see that actually in very concrete ways, like in this episode about how we talk and argue in sports and sports media and political media. You actually see the kind of back and forth like in something like… There’s this show called Pardon The Interruption on ESPN, which I love, but it is two people sit across from each other and they yap at each other about sports. I think it's wonderful. I think it's all the imitators who aren't as authentic that’s, that are the real problem.

But you have a show like PTI, Pardon the Interruption, in the media cycle. You have all these political shows who are saying, “Oh, we gotta do what PTI is doing for us.” And they've adopted all of these, you know, specific techniques even from like the way the graphics work to the formatting stuff. So it flows back and forth in very kind of like nuanced, hard-to-parse cultural ways, and then also in very concrete ways in terms of how the media ecosystem builds itself.

[00:12:28] Adam Grant: In some ways, it's become a chicken and the egg problem.

[00:12:30] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:12:30] Adam Grant: There’s a vicious cycle, and we don't necessarily know what started it, but clearly these dynamics are self-fueling at this point.

[00:12:37] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:12:37] Adam Grant: So one of the things that, that I think is, is more encouraging about sports is what it teaches us about identifying and developing talent.

[00:12:44] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:12:44] Adam Grant: I thought your episode on talent hotbeds was fascinating.

[00:12:46] Jody Avirgan: Yeah. You know, a lot of the episodes that we do are just sort of coming from this little intuition or this little question, you know? And so it's like, doesn't it feel like every argument is a sports argument? Or in this case, like, what’s up with all these places that seem to produce, over-index, so to speak?

Did I use that correctly? You can tell me. Uh, but you know, it seem to over-index for producing, like, great athletes. There's all these famous parts of the pockets of the country. Like all the swimmers are from Palo Alto or, uh, there’s a town in Florida that's referred to as Muck City; it's Belgrade, Florida, but it produces, like, these incredible wide receivers over and over and over.

This tiny little town. There's quarterback hotbeds. We profile in our episode a ping pong hotbed: this community center in Milpitas, California that has just produced, like, dozens of Olympians coming out of this small little community center. And so, you know, the sort of throwaway explanation is, oh, there's something in the water, you know, but the question is, what is that thing in the water?

What did someone put in the water? What is the water? You know, all those things. This is water. I don't think we came up with a formula, necessarily, but I did feel like I learned a good amount about what it takes to build ahop it. But then to your point, really, the, the thing to think about is opportunity and what does it mean.

I don't think it's that the, the raw talent is innately higher in these particular pockets. I think it's more that for some reason more doors have been kept open for longer, giving more people a chance to walk through them. I think so much of how we develop athletes, how we develop colleagues, how we develop ourselves is about kind of, “Can we keep those doors of opportunity as open as possible and sort of let people's thinking about what they could be, be as expansive as possible for as long as possible?” Because, you know, people take their own paths towards walking through those doors. And so, what I really learned from looking at some of these hotbeds, it's really that people have set up these systems to provide opportunity for people.

And it's not that everyone there could turn into an Olympian or a professional athlete. Ping pong coach kind of puts it in formulaic terms. He's like, “I gotta find 500 people, 50 of them are gonna be really committed, 10 of them are gonna be really, really good, and one of them is gonna be an Olympian.”

But the question is, you know, how do you just keep that funnel? It's open for as long as possible because that person who ends up being the Olympian may not be at the front of that line when you have those 500. Right? And everyone kind of takes their own path to that moment, and you have to just accommodate for that.

[00:15:14] Adam Grant: I think you're onto something really important here because when I started listening to just your analysis of this ping pong hotbed, I thought, “Oh, it's a genius coach who has a better system,” and that's not at all what you discover, right? I mean, the coach is a part of it, but I think the way that you zoom in on opportunity is extremely powerful.

I guess I was struck by the small-town pattern that you hit on. It reminded me of some research by Jean Cote and colleagues, which shows that if you're studying NBA basketball players, Major League Baseball players, NHL hockey players or professional golfers, athletes from small towns end up being overrepresented among the elite.

[00:15:47] Jody Avirgan: That’s interesting.

[00:15:48] Adam Grant: And that's the exact opposite of what I would've expected.

[00:15:51] Jody Avirgan: Right.

[00:15:51] Adam Grant: I would've assumed that a larger town, you know, there's just more sheer opportunity. I'd love to dive in a little bit further to try to figure out why that is, because I think in the research, the effect is clear, right? We know there's an advantage of coming from a small town. What we don't understand are the mechanisms and there's a lot of speculation about them.

[00:16:08] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:16:08] Adam Grant: And I think you, you actually uncovered a few of the factors that are, are probably important. So, talk to me about what those ingredients are in these small towns that lead to great talent.

[00:16:17] Jody Avirgan: Well, and one, and one thing actually about the small town thing. I mean, it, it occurs to me that even within like large city, like New York City basketball produced point guards throughout the eighties and nineties, you know, and just like that was a, a real thing was these brilliant point guys coming from New York City. Talk to those point guards and they don't talk about being from New York City, they talk about being from Queensbridge or from Red Hook, Brooklyn or whatever.

Like it's small, and it's a hotbed, right? And you have this kind of drive and this talent. So what are the ingredients? You know, one of them certainly is these things cycle on each other. I mean, this happens in, like, Muck City, this small town in Florida. There was a Super Bowl a couple years ago where, like, the best receiver on each team was from Muck City.

If you're a 12-year-old in this town in Florida and you're just seeing two kids from your high school at the Super Bowl, it just sets some sort of bar. I, you know, I'm convinced it just sort of, sets some sort of trigger. And I think that maybe that has a little to do with the small-town dynamic of like, “Oh my gosh, someone from my town made it.”

Now, the next generation sees that. The next generation sees that. Certainly, like, good coaching is a big part of it. And you know, the guy in Milpitas, California, he's a great coach, but he gets coaches from India and brings them over, he gets them green cards, he works with them, he sets them up with housing because you know, tho—those, he finds the best coaches and that really pushes people. Um, a ton competition at all levels.

Actually, we talked to Bomani Jones who's a really great thinker about sports in this episode, and he actually mentioned the New York City basketball example. And you know, he was saying that one of the reasons he thinks that that was particularly important or one, one of the big factors in new, in the rise of New York City basketball was that you just could get on the train and you could go to another place and find incredible competition within like 20, 30 minutes.

And now we have like these AAU systems where, like, 18-year-olds are flying around the country and they're playing each other and they're finding that really good competition. But I also just think, like, being able to find really good competition…You grow when there's, when competition is just, just beyond your grasp, right? And being able to find that consistently and conveniently is a huge part of this. The one thing that I hadn't really thought about that really jumped out at me in this episode, particularly talking to this guy Rajul, who runs the In—Milpitas Community Center, the Indian Community Center in Milpitas, is he invests in the kids in every sense, you know?

So obviously he's like training them in ping pong. For kids who can't afford lessons, he’s giving them free lessons. He's working with the parents, but he's also setting up other programs at the community center. He'll do a Tae Kwon Do program to bring in a kid, and then maybe that kid wanders over to the ping pong table.

He talks about how he goes to the local farmer's market, and he sets up a little booth and he just sort of spreads the word, and he gets to know the parents. He gets green cards for his coaches. In talking to him, I realized, like, “Oh, you know, it's a community center. This guy works at the community center and that’s, like, not a coincidence.”

Like, he has worked his way into the sort of DNA of that community. And moreover, I think, has realized that if you're a coach, if you're a leader, if you're trying to nurture someone's talent and give them opportunity, you have to not just invest in them as kind of a product. Uh, you have to invest in them as a real human being and get to know them.

And all the best coaches I've ever kind of talked to or admired, they're the ones who invest in the people that they're coaching as, as human beings, fully rounded human beings, and that really brings out the best in them.

[00:19:44] Adam Grant: I like the Dean Smith version of this, where he told his star basketball players at UNC that he would do what was best for the team during the season, but what was best for the individual in the off-season.

[00:19:55] Jody Avirgan: I love that.

[00:19:55] Adam Grant: And that meant if you had a shot at being, you know, a high draft pick, he would encourage you to leave.

[00:20:00] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:20:00] Adam Grant: And go to the NBA early, even though that would end up hurting the Tar Heels the next season.

[00:20:05] Jody Avirgan: I think some of the best examples of this are, you know, Steve Kerr is really, I think, really good at this. He comes outta that. Phil Jackson. The Warriors have this like, you know, people throw that word “culture” around a lot, but I think it really does matter. But when you talk about kind of what was special about this season, sometimes people will just be like, “Oh, you know, it was, we had a two-day break when we were on the road and we all went out to dinner,” or “We all went hiking together,” or you know, “Coach would have us over on Friday nights just to be, you know, have our kids play with each other,” or whatever.

I did a piece, um, for 30 For 30 where I worked at ESPN about the Miami Heat taking a photo in response to the death of Trayvon Martin, where they all put up their hoodies and, and sent out a photo, and it was kind of this big, I think, watershed moment in modern athlete activism, and particularly you had LeBron James and Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosch, like some big, big, big stars kind of stepping out there and, and taking a political stance in a way that hadn't really happened for a generation, I would say.

And so one of my questions going into it was kind of, I wanted to get a sense of like, “How hard was it to make this decision? What led to this?” And journalistically, I was like, “Oh, maybe we'll get a story of a really tense locker room conversation where some people didn't wanna do it, and some people did. And you know, they, people were realizing like, ‘Oh, this, there's risk here, you know, if we take this stand. It'd be easier to play it safe.’”

And over and over I talked to them, and they were just like, “No, we didn't, we didn't actually think about this that much. It just felt natural.” And over and over, people would just, and even, you know, LeBron James would just talk about how like, “No. Because our locker room, our culture was such that we just, we were always talking about the real world. We were always talking about each other's kids. We were always kind of invested in each other as people. And so then when this big thing happens in the world to a kid, it's gonna be natural that we're then gonna talk about, ‘Well, what if that was my kid? What do we feel about this?’ And we took this step.”

It was almost like they just didn't even think about it. In this weird way, they just, it just felt natural in that way and it was such a reminder to me that, you know, especially that team, I think in the sort of history of the NBA is often thought of as like, “Oh, it's a super team.” It was like, put together with all these various superstars, but, but like really that team's success was about actual genuine kind of culture and, and humility and bonds between these people as, as real human beings.

[00:22:21] Adam Grant: Yeah, which didn't come overnight.

[00:22:23] Jody Avirgan: No.

[00:22:23] Adam Grant: The, the super team was not successful in their first season.

[00:22:27] Jody Avirgan: We didn't do an episode about this this season, but it's on the list. But I mean, I'm very fascinated, and I like asking athletes of all stripes: who's actually the person who, who brings you all together? Who's actually the, the star in the locker room? You know, they call it “glue guy”; I guess is the cliche. And that team is such a good example of that cuz there's this guy, Udonis Haslem, who's been on the Heat forever, is kind of at this point the, like, keeper of Heat culture as they say. But you know, you walk into a locker room and it’s, like, three of the most famous basketball players in the world, and all of them without hesitation would be like, “No, no, no. That guy, you see that guy over there sitting in the corner, you know that like not many people wear his jersey? Like he's the one who makes it all tick.” And I, I love that.

[00:23:05] Adam Grant: Yeah. I remember talking to Shane Battier about the glue guy role he played on that team and there's, there was this incredible moment when I think LeBron had to guard Kevin Durant.

[00:23:15] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:23:15] Adam Grant: And he was trying to figure out how to shut him down, which pretty much everybody in the league had struggled to do. And he knew that Shane had spent a lot of time studying stats, and he just kinda went over to him and said, “Hey, hey Batman, what should I do?” And from his look at the data, Shane said, “You know, make him shoot over his left shoulder.”

[00:23:33] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:23:33] Adam Grant: So LeBron does, he misses it, and that then opens the door to a whole season of conversations where Shane can start feeding his stats to elevate LeBron's game. Funny part of it for me was Shane saying, “You know, if, if LeBron had forced him left and he had scored”—

[00:23:49] Jody Avirgan: Right.

[00:23:49] Adam Grant: —“he probably would've tuned me out.”

[00:23:51] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:23:51] Adam Grant: “I got really lucky that the stat, which might have been a 5% improvement in defense, happened to pay off the first time he acted on it.”

[00:24:00] Jody Avirgan: Yeah, but I mean, I think what you're really describing is trust, right? And at the sort of underneath culture is trust, right? And do people trust each other? Do they trust that the other person has their interests in mind as much as anyone else’s? And good teams, good workplaces, good civil societies, you know, or basically it's all about kind of trust and cohesion.

[00:24:21] Adam Grant: There’s a level of humility required there too, right?

[00:24:23] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:24:23] Adam Grant: So you see it with Shane being willing to dive for loose balls, you know, study the stats, do a lot of tasks that are, are really not only unmeasured but unappreciated.

[00:24:33] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:24:34] Adam Grant: And you see it in LeBron, right?

[00:24:35] Jody Avirgan: Yeah. Absolutely.

[00:24:35] Adam Grant: Saying, “I don't know how to shut down a player who's right now vying for MVP against me.”

[00:24:41] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:24:41] Adam Grant: He might be better than me.

[00:24:42] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:24:42] Adam Grant: And so I need some new tools to be able to beat him.

[00:24:45] Jody Avirgan: Well, and you see it in Steph Curry who I really think is kind of like just a wonderful example. As famous and as lauded as he is, I think weirdly undervalued as a leader. We just don't really realize what we have on our hands I think sometimes with him. I think we do with LeBron, and rightly so. I think we saw it last year when they went to the finals and they won the finals. There was one game where Steph did the kind of like, “I gotta put the team on my back. I'm gonna score 40-some points and just, like, will us to victory.” And I remember watching it in real-time and being like, “Okay, he just flipped the switch, and if the Warriors are gonna win, he's just gonna do that three more times.” And no, he comes out the next game, he takes a step back, he empowers Draymond Green, he brings other people into the fold.

‘Cause he just, I think he's both has that intuition, but also I think he's done, I know he's done a lot of thinking about this stuff and he just realized like, “No, I'm not gonna get three more wins by being everything on my shoulders. I need to empower trust. I need to, you know, bring people into, into the fold.”

There's a, a cliche that I kind of like, or a thing that I’ve sort of bring up over and over, especially I've coached a number of sort of like, I guess you can call 'em all-star teams, like national teams going to like a world championships and you're trying to pick like the 15 best players from across the country or whatever.

And the thing that I always say in tryouts there is “Your job is to make your teammates look good.” Right? And if you just have that, it's your singular focus: A, that's what we're looking for on this team, and B, that will get noticed. Right? And I think a lot of people fear that doing all those things you were describing with Shane Battier won't get noticed, but I think that's not on you to make sure. That’s the mark of a good coach.

A good coach will notice that and look for that in a team. And I, you know, and I just think that that's a lesson that applies in so many parts of the world, which is like, if you can just make the people around you look good, you will look good as a result; you will get your moment in the sun. You know, you will get your validation. We all deserve that too, right? We all have egos, we all are kind of the main characters in our own lives. Like we should get that, you know? But I think a lot of the, just, try and make others look good is such a great just sort of thing to keep front of mind.

[00:26:52] Adam Grant: I, I think that's at the very heart of, of what I would call being a giver as opposed to more of a taker. And I think that's, that's something we don't see covered enough in, you know, in players like Steph Curry. Obviously, everybody respects Steph Curry as an extraordinary player, and you assume that his teammates will give him the ball because he is that good. In psychology, that would be called expert power, right? “I, I defer to you, or, you know, I, I trust you or I'll follow you because I know you’re exception.” But I think what you're describing is also a form of what's considered to be reverentpower, which is “I will follow you because I like you.”

[00:27:26] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:27:26] Adam Grant: “I respect you as a human being. We have a strong relationship, and I trust you.” What have you seen from your time as an athlete and a coach, and also from studying all these different sports about how people earn that trust?

[00:27:39] Jody Avirgan: Probably the hardest thing to do, and it's the most ephemeral thing, right? You can lose it more easily than you kind of can build it, I would say. But I do think a lot of it has to do with this kind of what I was saying, you know, what we were discussing before about bringing your full self to a project, right?

And I think when people open up and connect with each other and really invest in each other and get to know each other as real people, then that colors the way that then we see the decisions you make in whatever project we're working on together, whether that's a sports team or a, a workplace or, or whatever.

There's a number of episodes of sort of circle around this idea, but that like, you know, the best thing you can do when you're trying to build a team is let people feel like they're fully themselves and they're bringing their full selves to it. It's not just “Show up, do your job”, kind of get whatever sports-y thing out of it, but more like this is a place for…

What's the, I'm about, I think, I've never said self-actualization out loud in my life, but it's kind of that, right? It's, it's like, it's, it's sort of that, you know, this is a place where I can really learn something and grow as a person, not just kinda, like, play this sport. It's funny, that's like something that I've thought about a lot with this series and just sort of my thinking about sports that I think to some people, the idea that, like, sports in the real world reflect each other and collide and combine, that’s messy to them and they don't like that and they'd rather do the kind of like, “Sports is just fun. It should be over here.”

That makes so little sense to me because I'm kinda like, “Wait a minute, you're telling me that the thing that is really fun to do, that like keeps me in shape, that like gives me a chance to maybe like hoist the metal at the end of the of a season will also teach me like, how to be a better human and how to like trust others and how to build teams? And like is a place where I can also like, figure out all these things about the real world, which I'm gonna have to go back to anyway at some point?”

Like, I'll, I'll take it all. Like, I love the messiness. Like, it just feels like what a gift, you know, that this world can kind of do all these different things for us. And so that's really sort of the spirit of, of the show or a lot of kind of what I'm thinking right now is just sort of like really embracing that you can kind of use this world to, to learn all sorts of lessons and puzzle, all sorts of things out.

[00:29:51] Adam Grant: Let’s go to a lightning round.

[00:29:51] Jody Avirgan: Sure.

[00:29:52] Adam Grant: If you're ready for it.

[00:29:52] Jody Avirgan: Please.

[00:29:53] Adam Grant: Got some rapid fire questions for you. First one is, what has been your greatest life lesson from ultimate Frisbee?

[00:29:59] Jody Avirgan: Yeah, there is a cliche called “Get comfortable being uncomfortable”, and a lot of athletes kind of do that, and I just, I think that that's one of my strengths is I am not phased that much. Sports really taught me that, and then I went to live radio right after college and it was just like sort of the same thing, like, “This thing is gonna happen. We're gonna have to figure it out. We're gonna make decisions on the fly and then we're gonna move on.”

[00:30:19] Adam Grant: Building on that, what is something that you've learned in the radio/audio/podcasting world that you think everybody should pick up?

[00:30:26] Jody Avirgan: Interesting. Well, I mean, one of the things I love about the radio-audio world and podcasting world is it is still the case that largely speaking, like it is very entrepreneurial. A lot of people do a lot of different things. You kind of do it all and you have to think like a producer first and foremost.

I came up at, at a time not that long ago, where it was kind of expected that you would be, like, doing research and you know, developing stories, doing research, doing reporting, cutting the tape, doing hosting. You know, I love that, that ranged-ness of thought, and I kind of think that there's still that spirit in, in this world.

Whereas, you know, you look at the world of film or whatever in these industries, where it’s like, been much more regimented and you know, you have, “Well I'm an editor and I don't touch the script, you know, I'm just a cog in the wheel. I do this one specific specialized task, and then I move it down the line.”

[00:31:14] Adam Grant: Uh, who's a coach that we should all learn from who's not well known? I think you've got one in table tennis. Are there others?

[00:31:19] Jody Avirgan: Oh gosh. Um, well, I'm currently very infatuated with this guy David Thorpe, who is a basketball coach. He's pretty well known. I mean, he works with some NBA players. He's on a podcast called True Hoop, which I just really, really love and they break down basketball.

But more than anything, they just talk about kind of, you know, great teams and cohesion. And when he talks about when he watches the games, he gets super frustrated because the cameras always look at the court and he's like, “I wanna look at the bench.” You know, I wanna see how close are they sitting together? Are they like, have their hands on each other's knees? Are they high-fiving each other when they come off the court? Like he just looks for that kind of like, is this team cohesive? He just talks about sports in a really compelling way. So he's my current favorite coach.

[00:31:59] Adam Grant: And is there a sport we should study that we don't know enough about? Ultimate obviously being one, is there another?

[00:32:05] Jody Avirgan: So ultimate Frisbee was in the, um, World Games this past year and one of the other sports that the people I talked to who were there and watching other sports were really into was tech ball, which is this sort of table tennis combined with soccer and, and often feels like combined with like karate or something.

‘Cause you know, people are kicking up high and trying to kick the ball across. We do an episode about kind of which sports break through and how, like everyone's really into F1 right now or whatever, and you know, I'm not. But you know.

[00:32:34] Adam Grant: Unrelated note, why are so many people into pickleball now?

[00:32:37] Jody Avirgan: Your first explanation has to be pandemic related. And so I think it's probably like, it's something you can play in small groups. It's something where you're not sweating and up against each other. It's something you can pick up fairly easily. So it feels like something new that you could do in the context of this time when it all felt like we were languishing. You know?

And there's probably specific things like it repurposes, right? Repurposes equipment that's already there. Sometimes those little things really do have a huge effect. Like, I think one of the, the reasons that, like, Premier League Soccer took off in this country in part is because it's just on at a time when other stuff isn't on, and just that little sort of nuts and bolts explanation has a huge part of it.

And so I think pickleball, that like the equipment's really light and you can do it on the tennis court that you could probably already have walked to within a couple minutes, like that has a big part in it.

[00:33:26] Adam Grant: What would you say is, is the most underappreciated sign of potential in an athlete?

[00:33:31] Jody Avirgan: Here’s a very specific thing that I like seeing and I think tells me a lot, which is, who are the players who immediately after a play is done, go over and talk to another player and sort of debrief? Figure it out, puzzle it out. And so I love looking for that specific thing. Not the player who just puts their head down and walks off and get some water, but the player who immediately, on the field for 15 seconds after something happens, has a little conversation.

[00:33:59] Adam Grant: Which, which sports cliches do you think are relevant to other parts of life?

[00:34:03] Jody Avirgan: Yeah.

[00:34:03] Adam Grant: And which ones do you think we should leave on the field?

[00:34:06] Jody Avirgan: There's a reason that good teams will warm up the same way every single time in practice because it means that then when they go to a big game or an away game, or the conditions are different or whatever, they have this little protective bubble of routine that they can walk around in and it's like, “We're gonna do the exact same warmup no matter what, whether it's a practice or the championship game.” And it just gives you that little sense of calm and so forth. So I really love thinking about that bubble of routine. I think you can apply that in a lot of different parts of our life.

But I once had a, a teammate talk about how, like for all teams, there's one basic sort of cycle that that they operate on, which is kind of imagine a sort of three stages in a circle that sort of feed into each other and it's like the team has fun, so then they work hard, so then they play well. And then when they play well they have fun, and when they have fun they wanna work harder, and then when they work harder, they play better, and it just goes round and round and round and round. And that's pretty, pretty simple. But it's a nice sort of little metric.

The sort of insight that I, beyond that was, um, him pointing out that not every team enters that cycle at the same spot. And the real problem is when you have a team that thinks it's a “have fun” team, when actually it's a “work hard” team. Or often you have a team that's actually a “have fun” team, but they just yell at each other and they wanna work really hard, and they never get in on that cycle ‘cause they're banging up against the wrong entry point.

And I think about that so much. It’s kinda like, what is this, this collection of people or even my own personal entry point into this cycle? And am I kind of trying to bang, uh, into, you know, bang down the door of something or should I find another way to get in on that and then let that sort of natural cycle take over?

[00:35:47] Adam Grant: What about on the worst cliche list? Which one would you like to ditch?

[00:35:52] Jody Avirgan: The worst one. I mean the one that, the one that the one, and it's so classic, but it really, I think is, can be problematic. You know, the whole “There's no I in team thing.” I mean, it's like, clearly there's an I in a team, right? Like it's a collection of individuals, and we should honor that. And like, the best teams, as we were saying earlier, the ones where people feel they do get to be I, they do get to be themselves.

[00:36:17] Adam Grant: I like the way you characterize that, Jody. It reminds me of Marilyn Brewer, the psychologist who talked about it in terms of optimal distinctiveness and said, you know, at a basic level, everybody wants to fit in and stand out. And I think in a great team you have that sense of belonging, but you also have a unique role to play. And you're able to say, “I make a difference here. I have a contribution that's not totally replaceable.”

[00:36:40] Jody Avirgan: Yeah. And also like, the season's gonna end. The game's gonna end. You're gonna get older, you're gonna retire. And it's like, what are you gonna walk away with? Well, you're gonna walk away with yourself. Right? And hopefully, you will have learned something about yourself and made yourself a little better in addition to kind of helping the project of the team. You always have to realize that that's, that's really gonna be the lasting thing out of all of this.

[00:37:01] Adam Grant: I just, I wanna go back to something that we didn't talk about yet on the, the talent hotbed discussion, which is—

[00:37:06] Jody Avirgan: Yes, please.

[00:37:06] Adam Grant: It, I think, you know, when you think about these small communities that produce disproportionate numbers of great athletes, something else you, I think put your finger on that's, that comes up a lot in the research is the idea of not being forced to specialize too early.

In a small town, nobody gives up on you when you're eight years old and says you're never gonna make it because there's not necessarily somebody waiting to take your place. Nobody pigeonholes you in one slot and says, you know, you're too, too slow to be a wide receiver, or you're too weak to be a running back.

Talk to me about that a little bit.

[00:37:42] Jody Avirgan: I think the best hotbeds, you know, that's the sort of… Keep your foot in that door of opportunity for as long as possible because when someone sees a door closed or has a sense that a door is not open for them, they, pretty quickly, they don't need you to tell them that, right?

They learn that lesson, and they'll cut themselves off and they'll limit themselves. Rajul, the ping pong coach, we talked to, table tennis. Sorry, Rajul, I apologize. The table tennis coach, we talked to, uh, he, you know, he talks a lot about how like some players don't come along until they're 13, 14 and then all of a sudden they just accelerate and they push past the pack, you know, and the kid that you thought was maybe gonna be an Olympian at 11 just sort of stays stuck in second year.

He said, and I think this is largely the case, that the differentiator often when you're talking about those sort of differences between, you know, you're really, really good and you could be in the Olympics, it's the mental game. And that is something that's often takes a long time to come together. I mean, some people just have it, so to speak, and just like have mental resilience from age eight.

But like, age 8 to 15 is a pretty tough time for your brain regardless. So when you combine that with sports, like it's no surprise that sometimes people don't put it all together. And often that last piece of the puzzle is that sort of mental resilience and that ability to kind of stay calm under pressure and take coaching and, and all those things that are, that can take a while to, to figure out.

[00:39:07] Adam Grant: Well Jody, your, your work makes us better.

[00:39:09] Jody Avirgan: Oh, wow.

[00:39:09] Adam Grant: So, I'm grateful for it. Excited to tune in for the whole season of the podcast. Thank you for joining us.

[00:39:15] Jody Avirgan: Yeah, yeah. I should say sports is fun too. I know we've been very serious. You know, we've been overthinking it; It’s really fun. It's great. I cry. It makes very fun to watch, very fun to play and I want to kind of honor that too. And I think we have a little bit of that in the series as well.

[00:39:33] Adam Grant: Talking with Jody got me thinking about how much we overuse the word team. Not every group is a team. People come together for all kinds of reasons, but in order to be a team, you actually have to share a goal and rely on each other to achieve that goal.

ReThinking is hosted by me, Adam Grant, and produced by TED with Cosmic Standard. Our team includes Colin Helms, Eliza Smith, Jacob Winik, Aja Simpson, Samiah Adams, Michelle Quint, BanBan Cheng, Hannah Kingsley-Ma, Julia Dickerson, and Whitney Pennington-Rodgers. This episode was produced and mixed by Cosmic Standard. Our fact checker is Hana Matsudaira. Original music by Hansdale Hsu and Allison Leyton-Brown.

I, I want to do a, a deep nerd dive into Ultimate, but maybe we'll save that for the end if there's time.

[00:40:20] Jody Avirgan: Bonus. I think, I think, I think they call that bonus episode material.

[00:40:25] Adam Grant: Yeah. Or the, the part that everyone else skips.

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How to Write a Non-Cliche College Essay About Sports + Examples

What’s covered:, what makes a sports essay cliche.

• How To Make Your Sports Essay Unique

Great Examples of College Essays About Sports

Where to get your college essay edited for free, or by an expert.

You’ve been brainstorming essay topics for your college applications, and you think you’ve finally found the right one: an extended metaphor likening your experience on the field with overcoming personal struggles. The problem: many other students have this same thought. 

The purpose of a college essay is to make yourself stand out as a unique individual, but when students write about sports, they often blend in. Because of that, students are usually advised to pick a different topic.

That being said, it is possible to write a non-cliche college essay about sports if you put in a little extra effort. Read along to learn how to make your sports essay different from all the other sports essays.

Sports essays are cliche when they follow a standard trajectory. Some of these trajectories include writing a story about:

• An agonizing defeat
• Forging bonds with teammates
• Overcoming adversity
• Overcoming an injury
• Refusing to quit
• Victory during a big game

Because sports essays have very similar themes and “lessons learned,” it can be difficult to make your story stand out. These trajectories also often focus too much on the sport or storyline, and not enough on the writer’s reflections and personality.

As you write your essay, try to think about what your experience says about you rather than what you learned from your experience. You are more than just one lesson you learned!

(Keep in mind that the sports essay is not the only college essay cliche. Learn about other essay cliches and how to fix them in our complete guide).

How to Make Your Sports Essay Unique

1. focus on a specific moment or reflection..

The college essay is a way for students to humanize themselves to admissions officers. You do not feel human if you are describing yourself as just another player on the field!

One important way to make your essay about you (not just about sports) is by focusing on a specific moment in time and inviting the reader to join you in that moment. Explain to the reader what it would be like to be sitting in that locker room as you questioned the values of the other players on your team. Ask your reader to sit with you on the cot in the trainer’s room as your identity was stripped away from you when they said “your body can’t take this anymore.” Bring your reader to the dinner table and involve them in your family’s conversation about how sports were affecting your mental health and your treatment of those around you.

Intense descriptions of a specific experience will evoke emotions in your reader and allow them to connect with you and feel for you.

When in doubt, avoid anything that can be covered by ESPN. On ESPN, we see the games, we see the benches, we even see the locker rooms and training rooms. Take your reader somewhere different and show them something unique.

2. Use sports to point out broader themes in your life.

The main risk when writing about sports is neglecting to write about yourself. Before you get started, think about the main values that you want to express in your sports essay. Sports are simply your avenue for telling the reader what makes you unique. 

As a test, imagine if you were a pianist. Would you be able to talk about these same values? What if you were a writer? Or a chemist? Articulating your values is the end, and sports should simply be your means.

Some values that you might want to focus on:

• Autonomy (you want to be able to set your mind to anything and achieve it on your own)
• Growth (you seek improvement constantly)
• Curiosity (you are willing to try anything once)
• Vulnerability (you aren’t afraid to fail, as long as you give it your all)
• Community (you value the feedback of others and need camaraderie to succeed)
• Craft (you think that with deliberate care, anything can be perfected)
• Responsibility (you believe that you owe something to those around you and perhaps they also owe something to you)

You can use the ESPN check again to make sure that you are using sports as an avenue to show your depth.

Things ESPN covers: how a player reacts to defeat, how injuries affect a player’s gameplay/attitude, how players who don’t normally work well together are working together on their new team.

Things ESPN doesn’t cover: the conversation that a player had with their mother about fear of death before going into a big surgery (value: family and connection), the ways that the intense pressure to succeed consumed a player to the point they couldn’t be there for the people in their life (value: supporting others and community), the body image issues that weigh on a player’s mind when playing their sport and how they overcame those (value: health and growth).

3. Turn a cliche storyline on its head.

There’s no getting around the fact that sports essays are often cliche. But there is a way to confront the cliche head-on. For example, lots of people write essays about the lessons they learned from an injury, victory, and so on, but fewer students explain how they are embracing those lessons. 

Perhaps you learned that competition is overwhelming for you and you prefer teamwork, so you switched from playing basketball to playing Dungeons & Dragons. Maybe, when your softball career ended abruptly, you had to find a new identity and that’s when you became obsessed with your flower garden and decided to pursue botany. Or maybe, you have stuck with football through it all, but your junior-year mental health struggle showed you that football should be fun and you have since started a nonprofit for local children to healthily engage with sports.

If your story itself is more cliche, try bringing readers to the present moment with you and show why the cliche matters and what it did for you. This requires a fair amount of creativity. Ensure you’re not parroting a frequently used topic by really thinking deeply to find your own unique spin.

Night had robbed the academy of its daytime colors, yet there was comfort in the dim lights that cast shadows of our advances against the bare studio walls. Silhouettes of roundhouse kicks, spin crescent kicks, uppercuts and the occasional butterfly kick danced while we sparred. She approached me, eyes narrowed with the trace of a smirk challenging me. “Ready spar!” Her arm began an upward trajectory targeting my shoulder, a common first move. I sidestepped — only to almost collide with another flying fist. Pivoting my right foot, I snapped my left leg, aiming my heel at her midsection. The center judge raised one finger. 

There was no time to celebrate, not in the traditional sense at least. Master Pollard gave a brief command greeted with a unanimous “Yes, sir” and the thud of 20 hands dropping-down-and-giving-him-30, while the “winners” celebrated their victory with laps as usual. 

Three years ago, seven-thirty in the evening meant I was a warrior. It meant standing up straighter, pushing a little harder, “Yes, sir” and “Yes, ma’am”, celebrating birthdays by breaking boards, never pointing your toes, and familiarity. Three years later, seven-thirty in the morning meant I was nervous. 

The room is uncomfortably large. The sprung floor soaks up the checkerboard of sunlight piercing through the colonial windows. The mirrored walls further illuminate the studio and I feel the light scrutinizing my sorry attempts at a pas de bourrée, while capturing the organic fluidity of the dancers around me. “Chassé en croix, grand battement, pique, pirouette.” I follow the graceful limbs of the woman in front of me, her legs floating ribbons, as she executes what seems to be a perfect ronds de jambes. Each movement remains a negotiation. With admirable patience, Ms. Tan casts me a sympathetic glance.   

There is no time to wallow in the misery that is my right foot. Taekwondo calls for dorsiflexion; pointed toes are synonymous with broken toes. My thoughts drag me into a flashback of the usual response to this painful mistake: “You might as well grab a tutu and head to the ballet studio next door.” Well, here I am Master Pollard, unfortunately still following your orders to never point my toes, but no longer feeling the satisfaction that comes with being a third degree black belt with 5 years of experience quite literally under her belt. It’s like being a white belt again — just in a leotard and ballet slippers. 

But the appetite for new beginnings that brought me here doesn’t falter. It is only reinforced by the classical rendition of “Dancing Queen” that floods the room and the ghost of familiarity that reassures me that this new beginning does not and will not erase the past. After years spent at the top, it’s hard to start over. But surrendering what you are only leads you to what you may become. In Taekwondo, we started each class reciting the tenets: honor, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, courage, humility, and knowledge, and I have never felt that I embodied those traits more so than when I started ballet. 

The thing about change is that it eventually stops making things so different. After nine different schools, four different countries, three different continents, fluency in Tamil, Norwegian, and English, there are more blurred lines than there are clear fragments. My life has not been a tactfully executed, gold medal-worthy Taekwondo form with each movement defined, nor has it been a series of frappés performed by a prima ballerina with each extension identical and precise, but thankfully it has been like the dynamics of a spinning back kick, fluid, and like my chances of landing a pirouette, unpredictable. 

Why it works:

What’s especially powerful about this essay is that the author uses detailed imagery to convey a picture of what they’re experiencing, so much so that the reader is along for the ride. This works as a sports essay not only because of the language and sensory details, but also because the writer focuses on a specific moment in time, while at the same time exploring why Taekwondo is such an important part of their life.

After the emotional image is created, the student finishes their essay with valuable reflection. With the reflection, they show admissions officers that they are mature and self-aware. Self-awareness comes through with statements like “surrendering what you are only leads you to what you may become” and maturity can be seen through the student’s discussion of values “honor, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, courage, humility, and knowledge, and I have never felt that I embodied those traits more so than when I started ballet.” These are the kinds of comments that should find their way into a sports essay!

“Advanced females ages 13 to 14 please proceed to staging with your coaches at this time.” Skittering around the room, eyes wide and pleading, I frantically explained my situation to nearby coaches. The seconds ticked away in my head; every polite refusal increased my desperation.

Despair weighed me down. I sank to my knees as a stream of competitors, coaches, and officials flowed around me. My dojang had no coach, and the tournament rules prohibited me from competing without one.

Although I wanted to remain strong, doubts began to cloud my mind. I could not help wondering: what was the point of perfecting my skills if I would never even compete? The other members of my team, who had found coaches minutes earlier, attempted to comfort me, but I barely heard their words. They couldn’t understand my despair at being left on the outside, and I never wanted them to understand.

Since my first lesson 12 years ago, the members of my dojang have become family. I have watched them grow up, finding my own happiness in theirs. Together, we have honed our kicks, blocks, and strikes. We have pushed one another to aim higher and become better martial artists. Although my dojang had searched for a reliable coach for years, we had not found one. When we attended competitions in the past, my teammates and I had always gotten lucky and found a sympathetic coach. Now, I knew this practice was unsustainable. It would devastate me to see the other members of my dojang in my situation, unable to compete and losing hope as a result. My dojang needed a coach, and I decided it was up to me to find one. 

I first approached the adults in the dojang – both instructors and members’ parents. However, these attempts only reacquainted me with polite refusals. Everyone I asked told me they couldn’t devote multiple weekends per year to competitions. I soon realized that I would have become the coach myself.

At first, the inner workings of tournaments were a mystery to me. To prepare myself for success as a coach, I spent the next year as an official and took coaching classes on the side. I learned everything from motivational strategies to technical, behind-the-scenes components of Taekwondo competitions. Though I emerged with new knowledge and confidence in my capabilities, others did not share this faith.

Parents threw me disbelieving looks when they learned that their children’s coach was only a child herself. My self-confidence was my armor, deflecting their surly glances. Every armor is penetrable, however, and as the relentless barrage of doubts pounded my resilience, it began to wear down. I grew unsure of my own abilities.

Despite the attack, I refused to give up. When I saw the shining eyes of the youngest students preparing for their first competition, I knew I couldn’t let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was. The knowledge that I could solve my dojang’s longtime problem motivated me to overcome my apprehension.

Now that my dojang flourishes at competitions, the attacks on me have weakened, but not ended. I may never win the approval of every parent; at times, I am still tormented by doubts, but I find solace in the fact that members of my dojang now only worry about competing to the best of their abilities.

Now, as I arrive at a tournament with my students, I close my eyes and remember the past. I visualize the frantic search for a coach and the chaos amongst my teammates as we compete with one another to find coaches before the staging calls for our respective divisions. I open my eyes to the exact opposite scene. Lacking a coach hurt my ability to compete, but I am proud to know that no member of my dojang will have to face that problem again.

In the beginning, you might think this is another cliche sports essay about overcoming adversity. But instead, it becomes a unique statement and coming-of-age tale that reads as a suspenseful narrative. 

The author connects their experience with martial arts to larger themes in their life but manages to do so without riffing off of tried-and-true themes. Through statements like “I knew I couldn’t let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was” we learn about the students values and their desire to be there for those who depend on them. 

The student also brings it full circle, demonstrating their true transformation. By using the “Same, but Different” ending technique , the student places themself in the same environment that we saw in the intro, but experiences it differently due to their actions throughout the narrative. This is very compelling!

“1…2…3…4 pirouettes! New record!” My friends cheered as I landed my turns. Pleased with my progress, I gazed down at my worn-out pointe shoes. The sweltering blisters, numbing ice-baths, and draining late-night practices did not seem so bad after all. Next goal: five turns.

For as long as I can remember, ballet, in all its finesse and glamor, had kept me driven day to day. As a child, the lithe ballerinas, donning ethereal costumes as they floated across the stage, were my motivation. While others admired Messi and Adele, I idolized Carlos Acosta, principal dancer of the Royal Ballet. 

As I devoted more time and energy towards my craft, I became obsessed with improving my technique. I would stretch for hours after class, forcing my leg one inch higher in an effort to mirror the Dance Magazine cover girls. I injured my feet and ruined pair after pair of pointe shoes, turning on wood, cement, and even grass to improve my balance as I spun. At competitions, the dancers with the 180-degree leg extensions, endless turns, and soaring leaps—the ones who received “Bravos!” from the roaring audience—further pushed me to refine my skills and perfect my form. I believed that, with enough determination, I would one day attain their level of perfection. Reaching the quadruple-pirouette milestone only intensified my desire to accomplish even more. 

My efforts seemed to have come to fruition two summers ago when I was accepted to dance with Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet at their renowned New York City summer intensive. I walked into my first session eager to learn from distinguished ballet masters and worldly dancers, already anticipating my improvement. Yet, as I danced alongside the accomplished ballerinas, I felt out of place. Despite their clean technique and professional training, they did not aim for glorious leg extensions or prodigious leaps. When they performed their turn combinations, most of them only executed two turns as I attempted four. 

“Dancers, double-pirouettes only.” 

Taken aback and confused, I wondered why our teacher expected so little from us. The other ballerinas seemed content, gracing the studio with their simple movements. 

As I grew closer with my Moscow roommates, I gradually learned that their training emphasized the history of the art form instead of stylistic tricks. Rather than show off their physical ability, their performances aimed to convey a story, one that embodied the rich culture of ballet and captured both the legacy of the dancers before them and their own artistry. As I observed my friends more intently in repertoire class, I felt the pain of the grief-stricken white swan from Swan Lake, the sass of the flirtatious Kitri from Don Quijote, and I gradually saw what I had overlooked before. My definition of talent had been molded by crowd-pleasing elements—whirring pirouettes, gravity-defying leaps, and mind-blowing leg extensions. This mindset slowly stripped me from the roots of my passion and my personal connection with ballet. 

With the Bolshoi, I learned to step back and explore the meaning behind each step and the people behind the scenes. Ballet carries history in its movements, from the societal values of the era to each choreographer’s unique flair. As I uncovered the messages behind each pirouette, kick, and jump, my appreciation for ballet grew beyond my obsession with raw athleticism and developed into a love for the art form’s emotive abilities in bridging the dancers with the audience. My journey as an artist has allowed me to see how technical execution is only the means to a greater understanding between dancer and spectator, between storyteller and listener. The elegance and complexity of ballet does not revolve around astonishing stunts but rather the evocative strength and artistry manifested in the dancer, in me. It is the combination of sentiments, history, tradition, and passion that has allowed ballet and its lessons of human connection to become my lifestyle both on and off stage.

This essay is about lessons. While the author is a dancer, this narrative isn’t really about ballet, per se — it’s about the author’s personal growth. It is purposefully reflective as the student shows a nice character arc that begins with an eager young ballerina and ends with a reflection on their past. The primary strength of this essay is the honesty and authenticity that the student approaches it with.

In the end, the student turns a cliche on its head as they embrace the idea of overcoming adversity and demonstrate how the adversity, in this case, was their own stereotypes about their art. It’s beautiful!

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite. 

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin. 

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

This essay uses the idea of sports to explore a more profound topic—growing through relationships. They really embrace using sports as an avenue to tell the reader about a specific experience that changed the way they approach the world. 

The emphasis on relationships is why this essay works well and doesn’t fall into a cliche. The narrator grows not because of their experience with track but because of their relationship with their coach, who inspired them to evolve and become a leader.

Have a draft of your college essay? We’re here to help you polish it. Students can participate in a free Peer Review, or they can sign up for a paid review by CollegeVine’s experts. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to start improving your essay and your chances of acceptance!

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Life lessons learned through sports

By Morgan Broderick

Berlin Brothersvalley

To play or not to play may be a question some people ask themselves when it comes to athletics. Sports may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who choose to participate, many meaningful life lessons can be learned. Not only do athletics teach dedication and a solid work ethic, but they also teach leadership skills and how to think quickly. There are many other life skills and lessons that can be learned, but these are just a handful of the ones that are used the most throughout everyday life.

No matter the sport an athlete chooses to play, dedication and work ethic are the first two lessons that athletes learn. Playing a sport requires an athlete to donate his free time to promote team camaraderie and to develop self-discipline that will help him throughout his life. It can be very time-consuming and tiring, but when an athlete has a passion for a sport, all of this work is worth it.

Nonetheless, even though the sport may be in season, it does not change the fact that the athlete will still have school homework or will work a job. Playing a sport can be a job itself and with these additional enterprises, life can become even more hectic. This is when having a strong work ethic is quickly learned and needed. Juggling sports, school, and for some, a job, requires the ability to manage time efficiently while still maintaining these other aspects of life.

Sports also provide an opportunity for young adults to develop leadership and problem solving skills. Further, sports teach more experienced athletes how to teach and new or younger players. This helps athletes develop leadership skills. Having the ability to relate to others, gain respect from peers, and lead by example are not only leadership qualities utilized on the field or court, but also in everyday life.

As we all know, not everything always goes according to plan. Whether in a practice or a game, athletes learn to develop the ability to think on their toes and diffuse negative situations as they arise. When life throws an unexpected curveball, having the capability to bounce back and resolve a situation are necessary skills that are obtained from any sport.

Whether a person has played a sport for one year, or for several, each of these lessons are the first ones taught and learned, and all are messages that can be carried and remembered throughout life.

LIFE LESSONS SPORTS TEACHES US

Now more than ever, we are reminded how many life lessons can be taught by participating in sports.  Coaches are teachers that can lead others in lessons such as how to stay positive, how to overcome adversity, how to work together for a common purpose, how to be resilient and how to be there for others.  Achieving goals and overcoming obstacles can help teens persevere in uncertain times like these.  Students can find a sense of belonging and accomplishment through individual sports and team dynamics.

Sports are symbolic of life.  Life requires teamwork, discipline, resiliency, respect, compassion, and character.  Sports can develop those skills to apply on the playing field and in their life.

We recently spoke with several different coaches from all over New Mexico, in a variety of sports, about the importance of sports and the lessons it can teach.

For coaches, sports are an extension of the classroom.  They encourage their athletes to always do their best on the field, in the classroom, and in life.  Champions can be determined by their commitment to goals.

“I remember a conversation with a former athlete of mine and they were contemplating dropping out of college.  Then this person told me, ‘Coach, I thought to myself that is not who I am.  I never quit! I will fight to the end!’ I was never more proud as a coach and, yes, he graduated!” -Ryan Galindo, Carlsbad High School Tennis

Self-Discipline

Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.  It’s a saying coaches are used to preaching.  Get up when you get knocked down.  The self-discipline taught in sports allows a person to thrive in life with a work ethic to improve.  Self-discipline spills over into every aspect of life and is a highly common trait among successful people.

“For me, the example that resonates over and over is that of the kid with a less than optimal home life. A kid that doesn’t have the nice clothes, fancy shoes, or even a car to drive to school. This specific kid has every excuse to ‘not make it’ and no one would judge him for that. Yet, he decides to get involved in sports and realizes that dreams can come true through hard work and determination. Through the experiences and lessons learned in sports, new things are possible and maybe even attainable with the right mindset. Goals can be reached regardless of where you begin. Success can be achieved at any level if the proper self-discipline and work ethic are put in place. This example happens very often. A player falls in love with a sport, a coach, or a program and it drastically changes their attitude towards life and propels them to seek a future that once wasn’t an option for them.  I guess this life lesson can be summed up in one word that sports can provide… HOPE. Players need HOPE.” -Heath Ridenour, Sue V. Cleveland High School Football

Mental Toughness

Sports can teach a person to be strong in body and mind.  Athletes learn to push their bodies beyond what they ever believed they could to achieve their goal.  Whether it’s in practice or competition, a person can learn to overcome adversity they may not have faced without sports.

“The life-lesson I learned through volleyball came my Junior season in college when I tore my ACL & MCL during a spring workout.  Volleyball was my life, my days revolved around the game and my teammates.  I was devastated.  However, through this injury and set back I learned what mental and physical toughness truly meant.  My rehab took 9 months, many hours a day, was very painful and caused separation from my teammates.  Nevertheless, it taught me so much about what I was really made of.  The injury helped me develop a stronger faith in God, established new friends outside the game and led me to other passions as well as volleyball.  I came back to the game stronger and a more complete player.  I now use my injury every time a player in our program is injured…because, I lived it as well.” -Kristen Scanlan, Texico High School Volleyball

Learning To Work With Others

Everyone doesn’t come from the same place.  Everyone has different skills and talents to contribute, but everyone has value.  Athletes learn quickly that a team can achieve success when everyone contributes.  Through collective hard work, kids learn to contribute to a greater good.

“I had a young lady from our program who authored ‘How to Survive Piedra Vista Softball: A guide by the 2016 Varsity Team’.  I opened it up and read it again and, as always, got choked up on some of the things the girls wrote.” -Kevin Werth, Piedra Vista High School Softball

Sample from the Guide

• “I want everyone in this program to know the joy of a hard-fought win, and also learn how to be gracious in defeat. I want everyone in the program to understand that adversity is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t kick its butt. I want everyone in the program to believe in themselves and each other.” -Haley Parson
• “Probably just knowing that there’s going to be a next pitch coming, there’s going to be another day to come, that things are going to get better no matter what.” – Katie Jensen
• Try to gain respect by giving respect the best you can, and love your teammates.” – Tyra Garcia

Sacrificing one’s personal gain for the better of the group is a lesson taught in all team sports.  Athletes understand how they can best contribute using their strengths. Together Everyone Achieves More (T.E.A.M.).  Players learn quickly that their best chance at success will be through cooperation with the teammates.

“I had a young man back in 2001 by the name of Phil Sakala who had won the 800 meters and 1600 meters at the State Track Meet.  He was favored to win the 3200 meters the next day and become one the first distance runners to sweep all three distance events.  My 800-meter anchor leg, Frank Hemingway, in the Medley Relay developed a stress fracture in the prelims and could not run the Medley in the finals the next day.  I spoke with Phil that night explaining to him that I know he has a chance of becoming a state champion in all three distance events, but we really need him to anchor our Medley since we had no other backup 800-meter runner.  The next day, Phil sacrificed his personal individual 3200-meter opportunity for the principle of teamwork and he anchored our Medley relay to a state champion finish. Phil was quoted in our local paper as saying ‘I just helped three of my best friends win a state title’.  Phil went on to attend and graduate from the West Point Academy where today he carries a rank of Major continuing to apply the concept of teamwork, leading soldiers in military endeavors.” –David Nunez, Onate High School Track and Field

Handling Fear and Failure

Whether it’s striking out, making an error, or just losing a game, failures happen in sports as well as life.  Learning that not everyone gets to win can be a valuable lesson in someone’s early development.  Life isn’t always fair.  Injuries happen, calls are missed.  Players learn that getting angry or frustrated doesn’t always help and can affect their performance.  Losing with dignity is just as important as winning with class. A person can find success after learning from their failures.

“I try to give as many life lessons through the game of baseball.  I think sports closely parallels everyday life and the lessons you learn on the field can be applied to successful living.  We teach kids to deal with frustration, controlling their emotions and adjusting to change.  By playing sports you can learn maturity, honesty, loyalty, and patience.” -Gil Padilla, Las Cruces High School Baseball

Not everything always goes according to plan.  Sometimes you get thrown a curveball at the plate, and in life.  Athletes need to know how to bounce back.  It’s ok to make a mistake, but how you come back from the setback will define you.

“The biggest life lesson that I have learned as a coach is that the sun will come up the next day.  No matter the outcome of the day, process it, learn from it and make the best of the next day that has been given to you.  Bad things are going to happen as a competitor and as a coach; how you react to those bad things are ultimately going to shape and mold you into the person you are.” -Evan Copeland, Cleveland High School Wrestling

Goal Setting

Setting a goal in place and finding a way to accomplish that goal in the face of adversity is a useful skill.  After setting a goal, an athlete knows to work hard to reach it.  That goal can be a motivator for improvement.

“The best example I can think of was when our golf team played in the 2017 NMAA State Championship in Roswell.  Our boys team put in the work all year and gotten their brains beat in by Cleveland High School, which was the best team in the state by far.  The boys played with poise and a ‘no-fear’ attitude and ended up winning the tournament by 8 shots…until they didn’t.  One of our players got disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard and we ended up losing by 3 shots instead of winning the school’s first blue trophy in boys golf.  The team had to juggle an emotional roller coaster of the highest high and the lowest low and also console a devastated teammate.  The boys not only handled it with grace, but also put together a plan on the bus ride home to start preparing the very next day for 2018. They named the season ‘The Redemption Tour’ and ended up working harder than this coach thought was possible.  In 2018, they left no doubt in winning their first ever state championship at Pinon Hills Golf Course.  I have never seen a group of boys handle adversity of that magnitude and then channel their emotions into a positive goal for the next year.  It truly was a story of redemption and it was quite a journey as a coach…and one I will never forget!” -Tom Yost, Piedra Vista High School Golf

Time Management

Being a successful athlete takes a lot of dedication, but it also takes a lot of time.  Athletes have to juggle their time between school, practice, and sometimes a job.  Being on a team can be a job in itself.  Sports teaches a person how to organize, prioritize, and focus on the importance of academics.  Athletes know what they need to do and when to do it.

“ I had a student-athlete that wasn’t living up to the expectations of our volleyball team and herself. As a result, she did not attend a week-long summer trip/team camp as an upperclassman, and it definitely sent a message to the player. Years later, and after college, the player contacted me and said ‘Thank you, coach. That was an experience that changed my life for the better, I owe a lot to you coach. My path to be successful began with the expectations/discipline that you provided a young kid.’ ” -Toby Mananares, Rio Rancho High School Volleyball

Every athletic season has a beginning and an end.  Coaches preach to their kids to finish what you start.  It’s one of the foundations of sport.  Everyone wants to quit at some point, but dedication to improvement and becoming the best you can be is what keeps the athlete going.

“Sometimes my kids don’t understand why I get on them for being ‘a few minutes late to practice’.  But in life, ‘a few minutes late’ here and there can cost you a job or an opportunity.  Life is about dedicating and committing yourself to something you believe in and giving yourself to that belief even when it is hard and isn’t maybe always going your way.  You don’t quit, you keep moving and giving everything you have.” -Stacy Salinas, Rio Rancho/Sue V. Cleveland Swimming

Overcoming Adversity

In sports, there are hurdles to get over, much like in life.  Sometimes things can surprise you or catch you off guard.  They say life is not about what happens to you, but how you deal with it.

“I had a player who lost both his parents.  He lost his mom when he was 5 and dad when he was 15.  This young man had several offers from families to move in with them, but he was a very proud young man and refused.  Well, he was able to find housing and remained in the school district and on the team.  The year after his dad died, he had many ups and downs but fought his way through it as he had a lot of support from friends, families, and coaches.  This young man ended up contributing to 3 Cross Country Championships, 1 State Track Championship, and 2 State Basketball Championships.  He more than overcame his adversity!” -Ira Harge, Espanola High School Athletic Director

Perseverance

Having the tenacity and determination to accomplish something despite the level of difficulty doesn’t just apply to student-athletes, sports can teach the same perseverance to coaches too.  Fight through it, don’t run from a situation when adversity strikes.  There will be setbacks.  There will be obstacles, but success doesn’t happen overnight.

“There was a girl who I coached almost 15 years ago, she was a good player, and was starting at the beginning of the year. But through the end of September, she could not keep her breath and was having a hard time running.  Well, she went to the doctor and they could not find out what was wrong, but she was not getting any better.  She was so loyal to the team, never missed practice and was at every game. Even her senior year she still was around for everything, but would get sick quite often and had a hard time playing, but we kept a great relationship through all this.  She went off to college and we always would meet when she came back into town. We talked life lessons each time, and each time she said how playing soccer taught her so much. She now has a wonderful professional job in New York City and what she has learned through sports has helped her with everything she has accomplished in her professional life.  She still gets sick and has a hard time with her heath, but she never gave up and always pushed forward. Sports teaches you things like that.” -Amber Ashcraft, La Cueva High School Soccer

Winning takes time.  Championship teams aren’t built overnight.  In sports you have a coach and in life you have a boss.  You learn to take instruction, develop patience and become a member of a team.

“I tell my players that when we do something, we do it right and we do it that way every time.  I give our players and parents a booklet every year.  It talks about how to perform under pressure.  They understand that the role of discipline and self-sacrifice play an important part of being successful.  Experiencing the pains of commitment and the thrill and joy of success is an integral part of being a basketball player; those same feelings that will be experienced in the real world.” -Marty Zeller, Los Lunas High School Girls Basketball, 41 Years of Coaching

Athletes must respect their coaches, officials, teammates, and their opponent.  It is important to recognize the worth of another.

“As an athlete, I think the biggest thing I gained was confidence to pursue. I learned how to set my sights on something and be willing to put in the work even if I had underlying doubts.  It’s the idea of relentlessly putting one foot in front of the other, even when things get hard.  Along with that came an ability to give to and receive from others in a collective effort.” -Kathy Hipwood, Los Alamos High School Cross Country

Morals and ethics come into play every day in sports.  Honesty and adherence to the rules is a foundation of every game. Many coaches will tell you that with some athletes it takes time and patience for them to realize their self-worth and value, but people can develop into some of the strongest members of their team when they realize there are no short cuts.

“My suggestions are to smile when the headwind makes us work harder, laugh when we fall down bleeding, and never let anyone else control our emotions.” -Tim Host, ATC Cross Country

Responsibility

Taking accountability is a major characteristic of successful student athletes. Participating in sports brings many obligations, to your teammates, to your coach,  and to your academics.

“I had a athlete that started wrestling his sophomore year with no prior experience. He was failing in school and was ineligible to compete. His junior year, he was 2.8 GPA student with a less than .500 win percentage. His senior year, he was a 3.4 GPA student and made the state finials! I believe the lessons he learned on the mat has transformed him to the man he is today, being a highly well-respected police officer.” -Nate Sellers, Miyamura High School Wrestling

Athletes can learn about caring for another as their coach cares for them.  Young adults can witness, first hand, the sympathy and care for the suffering of others.  Coaches themselves can relate to another’s pain because it’s something they might have gone through themselves at one time.

“ The one incident that stands out to me was a life-long lesson learned by one of my athletes that decided they were going to run away from home with their significant other as a sophomore in high school.  The couple had purchased bus tickets, and this athlete informed their grandparents they were living with, that they were leaving.  The athlete was begged to stay and of course did not.  The grandmother called me in the middle of the night begging me to talk to this individual as the departure time was getting closer.  At first I was hesitant, but then I thought – ‘what if this was my kid doing this and I had the confidence in their coach to try and assist during this time of need?’  So, of course, I jumped in the car and headed to the bus station. By the time I arrived, my athlete was on the bus, the grandmother was crying in the parking lot and I was thinking to myself – ‘What am I going to be able to say to change their mind?’  I boarded the bus, looked my athlete in the eye and explained how disappointed I was that they could disrespect their grandmother like this, disrespect themselves and let their teammates down.  The responsibility/commitment they made when becoming a part of the team was just about to be broken.  I cried, they cried….we talked about feelings, respect, etc., and just as the time for departure arrived, the athlete grabbed their belongings and got off the bus.  At this point, I don’t know who cried more…me, the athlete or the grandmother.  This event that happened was unfortunate, however, I believe the athlete learned some very valuable life lessons, as did I, having children of my own.  This individual had a very successful high school career both on and off the court and went on to play at the next level on a scholarship, graduated from college, married and has 3 beautiful children.  To me, this is what coaching is all about.” -George Maya, Mayfield High School Girls Basketball, 37 Years of Coaching

Dream Big, Anything Is Possible

At all levels, sports have given us memorable moments when we say ‘I can’t believe that just happened!’  Athletes think about what they want and forget all the reasons why it can’t become a reality.  They work hard to make their dreams come true.  If you believe it, you can achieve it.

“I had a student athlete who happened to have down syndrome.  She was on the dance team all 4 years of high school.  She participated in everything but competition.  Every year she would put on her uniform and get hair and makeup done for State.  She would join me up front and cheer on the team.  Her senior year, this young lady got to do the one thing left undone.  She walked down the ramp and this time her teammates joined me upfront and cheered her on as she performed on the PIT floor in front of 15,000 people.  I hope the lesson learned by my team and others, is that nothing is impossible.  We can all achieve our dreams, and maybe help someone else achieve theirs.” -Nicole List, Cheer/Dance Coach

All of those lessons we learn from competing.  We haven’t even touched on how sports can teach loyalty, leadership, and maturity. Sometimes self-improvement can’t be measured in wins, losses, time or distance.  Self-improvement is connected to one’s determination in the face of unexpected obstacles.

I’d like to finish with this thought.  Adversity is a part of life. Never quit.  That’s the lesson Heath Ridenour says sports taught him, both as a player and a coach.  “Find the light amidst the darkness,” he reminds others.  “Overwhelm the negative thought with a positive action.  Choose to wake up and win every single day.  This applies to athletics, but it is 100% relevant in every aspect of life as well.”

Spoken like a true coach.

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Five Essential Life Lessons You Can Learn by Playing Sports

Playing sports is fun, but the practice field teaches more than just athletic skills. As any athlete will tell you, learning to play within the confines of the rules of a game teaches invaluable life lessons that will apply to just about anything you pursue for the rest of your life.

Practice Makes…Better

The discipline to practice a skill isn’t about perfection. In sports as in life, perfection is a concept often discussed but rarely seen. But the pursuit of an ideal is valuable in and of itself, both on the field and off. Playing sports reinforces the idea that honing a skill is valuable not just because it will increase your efficacy, but also because becoming better at something is a reward all its own. So training doesn’t just improve the mechanics of your free throw or your putt, it resets your instincts so that when you get into the game, you respond the right way.

Check Your Priorities

Becoming a skillful player of any sport requires significant sacrifices of time and energy. It requires commitment and, above all, prioritization. In order to make time to practice, a certain amount of leisure time will have to be given up. And once you’re practicing, every minute of batting practice means forgoing a minute of fielding practice. This means players have to understand how and when to spend their best energy and must know when it’s time to say no. The skill to discern between what is absolutely necessary in the moment and what can be sacrificed is absolutely essential to any academic or professional pursuit. How many professionals can you think of who have difficulty saying no or managing their own time? Playing sports directly develops this skill.

Play Well With Others—and Share the Credit

Nobody likes a ball hog. It is a cliché at this point to say that sports teach teamwork, but it’s such a commonplace expression for a reason. Not only that, but “learning teamwork” isn’t just about learning to trust others. It’s also about learning to share credit for success…and for failure. Being a good teammate means passing the ball to somebody else. If they score a goal? Their success is your success and everyone celebrates. And if they miss the net? You pass it to them again next time. Knowing how to congratulate others and celebrate their wins is as vital as forgiving them for their losses, and negotiating the divide between these is an essential life skill.

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

Risk is concomitant with reward. As the saying goes, you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take. Unspoken in this old adage is the fact that you definitely don’t make 100 percent of the shots that you do take. This isn’t just true on the courts and fields where your game is played. No matter where you go in life, the principle holds that in order to achieve great success, you must take risks. But this is not a recommendation for recklessness: Sports are filled with opportunities for risk-taking, and repeated exposure to these opportunities is the best training for developing a sense of when it’s a good time to take the shot and when it might be better to pass it up.

You Won’t Always Win—and That’s Okay

On both micro and macro levels, sports teach us about the value of failure. Whether practicing or competing, athletic pursuits are built out of moments of triumph and moments of defeat. No matter what game you’re playing, it’s important to accept success with humility and to experience defeat with dignity. Accepting that every risk won’t pay off, that every game will not be a W and that every play won’t go your way is key to being able to play effectively. Becoming paralyzed by loss is not an option. The same holds for life.

Experiential learning opportunities don’t end with team sports. If you’re interested in making sports part of your impact on the world, consider the online Master's in Sport Management* program from the University of Kansas.

*This program is a Master of Science in Education (M.S.E.) degree in health, sport management, and exercise science with an emphasis in sport management.

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The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, retaliation, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University's programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and is the University's Title IX Coordinator: the Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, [email protected] , 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785) 864-6414 , 711 TTY.

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Home Essay Samples

Essay Samples on Sports

When college athletes have to start with an academic writing task, they often feel lost and do not know how to start. It’s exactly the same with other academic subjects because one should take time and find inspiring information that can be used unless you already have a prompt. You can focus on the importance of sports or talk about the pros of recreational sports and spending time outside. See our sport essay example as a starting point and learn how to structure your writing correctly. Your introduction part should start with a brief introduction or statistical information that explains your writing objectives or the peculiarities of the problem that you plan to address. The majority of college essays about sports that you see below will provide you with inspiring ideas and teach you how to implement various quotes without falling into the plagiarism trap. If you want to use some source, remember that you must introduce it first and explain why it is there. When you’re talking about the use of medication in college sports, turn to some stats and explain why these are important or biased as you research. It will help you to add an author’s voice. 

The Soccer Discourse Community: Passion, Identity, and Global Connection

Soccer, known as football to most of the world, is more than just a sport; it is a universal language that transcends geographical borders and cultural differences. Within the realm of this beloved game lies a dynamic and tightly-knit soccer discourse community. This essay explores...

• Discourse Community

Why Football Is the Best Sport: Multifaceted Dimensions

Sports have a unique ability to capture our hearts, ignite our passions, and bring people together in the spirit of competition. Among the diverse array of sports, football stands out as a phenomenon that captivates millions worldwide. For countless enthusiasts, myself included, football is more...

Why College Athletes Shouldn't Be Paid

The debate surrounding whether college athletes should be paid has sparked intense discussions in recent years. While some argue that compensating college athletes is a just recognition of their contributions, others maintain that the current system holds merits. This essay will delve into the multifaceted...

• Paying College Athletes
• Student Athletes

Why Basketball is the Best Sport Among Others

When it comes to sports, there's a wide array of options to choose from, each with its own unique appeal. However, in my opinion, basketball stands out as the ultimate sport that offers a perfect blend of athleticism, teamwork, excitement, and versatility. In this essay,...

• Favorite Sport

Why Basketball Is My Favorite Sport: Memorable Moments and Life Lessons

Of all the sports that capture my heart and ignite my passion, basketball stands as the undisputed favorite. Its fast-paced action, camaraderie among teammates, and the thrill of competition combine to create an unparalleled experience that has enchanted me since childhood. This essay delves into...

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Why Baseball is the Best Sport for Me

When it comes to sports, there are countless options that capture the hearts and minds of enthusiasts around the world. However, for me, baseball stands out as the ultimate sport that offers a unique blend of skill, strategy, tradition, and excitement. In this essay, I...

Should Sports Be Segregated by Gender

The question of whether sports should be segregated by gender is a topic that sparks discussions about equity, inclusion, and athletic performance. Advocates of gender segregation argue that it ensures a level playing field, prevents physical disadvantage, and maintains fair competition. On the other hand,...

• Women in Sports

Overview of Bowling as a Sport for Everyone

Bowling, often underestimated and overlooked, stands as a testament to the idea that sports transcend stereotypes and are accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Therefore bowling is considered a sport for everyone. This essay explores the inclusive nature of bowling, its physical and...

• Competitive Sports

College Athletes Should Get Paid: An Argumentative Exploration of the Issue

College athletics in the modern era have evolved into a billion-dollar industry, captivating audiences across the nation. While these athletes bring in substantial revenue for their institutions, there remains a heated debate on whether college athletes should receive financial compensation for their efforts. In this...

• College Sport Teams

Beyond the Field: How Competitive Sports Teach Us About Life

Competitive sports have long been regarded as more than just physical activities. Engaging in sports goes beyond the pursuit of victory; it imparts valuable life lessons that extend far beyond the playing field. This essay delves into the ways how competitive sports teach us about...

Advantages and Disadvantages of Team Sports: Fostering Unity and Individual Growth

Team sports have long been a cornerstone of physical education and recreational activities, offering individuals the opportunity to engage in collaborative and competitive experiences. While team sports promote teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness, they also come with a set of advantages and disadvantages that shape...

Harmony of Mind and Body: Exploring the Benefits of Yoga

Yoga, an ancient practice that originated in India, has transcended time and culture to become a globally recognized method for achieving physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. From its roots in meditation and mindfulness, yoga has evolved into a diverse range of practices that offer numerous...

• Recreation and Sports

The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup: an Overview

Background The FIFA Women's World Cup stands as a global football tournament fiercely contested by senior women's national teams of FIFA member associations. The 2023 edition enjoys a joint collaboration between Australia and New Zealand, scheduled from 20th July to 20th August. This momentous occasion...

The History of Volleyball: Evolution and Global Impact

Volleyball, a sport known for its fast-paced rallies and dynamic gameplay, has a rich and captivating history that spans over a century. From its humble beginnings as a recreational activity to its emergence as a globally celebrated sport, this game has undergone significant transformations during...

How to Play Volleyball: Mastering Rules of the Game

Volleyball is a dynamic and exciting sport that combines athleticism, strategy, and teamwork. As a passionate player and avid enthusiast of the game, I have come to appreciate the intricacies and joys of volleyball and now I can explain to anyone how to play volleyball....

Why I Love Volleyball: a Passion That Sets My Heart Ablaze

Playing volleyball has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. The sport's unique blend of athleticism, teamwork, and sheer exhilaration has captured my heart and ignited a deep love for the game. I will answer 'why I love...

• About Myself

Playing Volleyball: Benefits in Terms of Motor Learning Skills

Over the past term our class has been investigating the idea of Motor Learning and how to apply our theoretical knowledge into our volleyball gameplay. Volleyball gives different benefits and some of them I will analyse in the essay. To begin with, motor learning is...

• Personal Experience

Being a Volleyball Player: Morgan Beck as a Powerhouse on the Court

Ever glowing and heavenly beautiful Morgan Beck is one of the renowned names in the world of sports. She is a pro beach volleyball player that represents Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Pro, AVP Young Guns and USA Volleyball. She is also part of the...

• Famous Person

Was the Reconstruction Era a Success or Failure: A Look Through Sport

The competitive sport of basketball traces its origins to a game known as peach basketball. In 1891, Dr. James Naismith invented basketball at Springfield College, Massachusetts. Initially, peach baskets without openings at the bottom served as goals, requiring the use of ladders to retrieve the...

• Reconstruction Era of The United States

The Issue of Racism in Soccer: Causes, Effects, and Ways to Combat

Introduction Picture yourself as a person of color, having to confront racism in the profession you cherish. Wouldn't you long to release all that anger and frustration? Unfortunately, this is the reality for the black community and people of color in the realm of sports,...

Passion and Perseverance: The Key to Success for Student-Athletes

Success. One word that has many different meanings to many different people. To some, it means making a great amount of money, while others define it as finding happiness and love. However, student-athletes define success a bit differently. To a student-athlete, success means winning games,...

The Road to Equity: Evaluating the Case for Paying Student Athletes

Globally, there have been conversations and debates on whether to pay college athletes. In recent times, generating revenues with these athletes has intensified, drawing the attention of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Arguments debate that these athletes from colleges are just students and they...

Macronutrient Intake in Team Sport Athletes

Introduction: Optimizing energy intake and macronutrient composition is crucial for enhancing performance and supporting the training demands of team sport athletes. Inadequate energy intake during training can lead to adverse effects such as loss of lean muscle mass and decreased bone density, increasing the risk...

Soccer as My Hobby and How It Shapes My Life

Hobby is an activity, habit or favorite choice of a human, who regularly performs in leisure or extra time for pleasure, relaxation and enjoyment. Everyone has different hobbies that he or she would like to do to have fun or relax. They can be physical...

Lessons from Ancient Greece: Contributions and Limitations

Philosophers, Society, and Olympic Games Greek scholars began to investigate the world through the lens of observation rather than recounting the myths of their ancient Gods. During this period, Philosophers questioned a lot about life's topics. They are also known as the founders of scientific...

• Ancient Civilizations
• Ancient Greece
• Olympic Games

The Nike's Popularity Among Track and Field Athletes

Not many people know that Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman first started the company as Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964. On May 30, 1971, the name was officially changed to Nike. Nike's first employee Jeff Johnson came up with the name of Nike. Phil Knight...

• Track and Field

The Analysis of Movement Used in Track and Field

The track and field sprint is a common event at track meets at the middle and high school, collegiate and professional levels. It is often performed in many meets as a 55, 100, 200- or 400-meter distance, depending on the season. It can be an...

Track and Field: The Funding and Physical Education Requirements

Physical education requirements are updated to reflect how an active lifestyle benefits the student's well-being. Inadequate physical activity can have a negative effect on the individual’s confidence. The school district welcomes high school students to enroll into track and field programs as a requirement for...

• Physical Education

A Person You Admire: Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is my favorite footballer and sportsperson. He inspires and motivates me. He has many fans round the world. he's the foremost reason why I started following and playing this beautiful game. Cristiano has many nicknames. Among fans, he's known by names like Ronnie,...

A Trend By Kneeling During The National Anthem

Over the last couple of years during football season, a former quarterback from the San Francisco 49ers has made a name for himself. He has gained a lot of attention, both negative and positive from the media and NFL fans, as well as citizens across...

• American Culture

College Sport: Good For Health And Well Learning

College sport helps students in studies and life because students get better grades, become more mature, learn life skills, and while some people say sports cause injuries that limit a person's time and ability they improve the students overall health physically and mentally. So doing...

Swimming as a Hard Skill Necessary for Human Being

Swimming is hard. For non-swimmers swimming is harder than most realise and not easy to take up as a regular sport. All those good swimmers you see have excellent cardio-respiratory fitness and often years of technique training. So don't be discouraged. And... The first step...

• Human Behavior

The 2012 London Olympics Women's Boxing

The 2012 London Olympics, described as the ‘Women Olympics’ had the potential to either make or break Women’s Boxing, and, in terms of media interest and coverage, it was certainly a groundbreaking moment for the sport. The results of the media reporting from UK newspapers...

Cricket: Main Rules, Tricks and Perspective

Sports analytics play a significant role in numerous issues related to sport. A number of these problems are the ranking of individual players and their specialised skills, the composition of groups with an optimal balance of specialised skills, the ranking of teams, the negotiation of...

Everest: The 'Goddess Mother of the World'

Mount Everest is one of the mountains on the crest of the Great Himalayas region which lies on the edge of both Nepal and China. It’s the world’s tallest mountain above sea level, reaching an altitude of 8,848 metres. Mount Everest remains to be one...

• Mount Everest
• Mountain Climbing

The Highlights of Some of the Best Kinesiology Tapes

Whether you are a runner, skater, baller or involved in any form of athletics, a kinesiology tape is your ticket to less painful joints and muscles. The sports tape is used by professional athletes to support their muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. The tape is...

• Kinesiology

How the Gym Influences Fitness

A primary concern that both men and women share is how they care about their physical appearance. Gym members believe they have to represent a particular image to be attractive in today’s society. Women are expected to be curvy and thin, while men are expected...

Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali and Cassius Clay

Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali in 1964, a reckless new expert fighter, straight from his Olympic gold award triumph, detonates on to the scene, Cassius Clay. Sharp and candid, he cuts an entirely new picture for African Americans in-game with his pleased open self-assurance with his...

• African American
• Muhammad Ali

Famous Indian Badminton League and Its Role

The IBL was a first of its kind initiative of the Badminton Association of India. Originally proposed by the Maharashtra Badminton Association, the League was commercially managed by a sports management company, Sporty Solutionz Private Limited. The idea was to make Poona (the original name...

World Record of the Fastest Tennis Ball Hit

Tennis has been known as a game of inches, kings, game of lifetime…. It is incredible even today with its outstanding players, known with their incredible shots. Novak Djokovic is famous for his crazy shots from baseline to the edge of opponents service boxes. One...

The First Reported Hazing Death

In 1838, John Butler died due to a class hazing at Franklin Seminary in Kentucky, the first reported hazing death. October. In 1905, Stuart L. Pierson was hit by an unscheduled train and died because he was being initiated into Delta Kappa Epsilon at Kenyon...

Jackie Robinson as the African American to Play Major League Baseball

Jackie Robinson once said,'I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking of me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”. Born on January 31st, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia on a plantation, Jackie Robinson was the youngest among his five siblings....

• Jackie Robinson

Valinco Skydiving Center and Fondest Memories

If you want to have a unique experience during your next parachute jump, here are some destinations to consider. In front of the beauty of our beautiful planet, many thrill seekers take advantage of their passion to admire the magnificent landscapes from here and elsewhere...

• Adventure Sports

Piles of Books on Chess Strategies

I looked down at the battlefield, checkered with rich maple and mahogany. In a deep half-hour contemplation, I looked down at the fallen soldiers in this ongoing battle. Knights scattered across the field ready to be sacrificed to protect the kings. Pawns and bishops discarded...

Boxing Is Great for Your Physical Health

Boxing is a sport that catches many people’s attention. So many people enjoy watching this sport. This exciting sport has been going on for thousands of years! Boxing has been going on since 1681. Boxing is a great sport. It is a very hard sport...

• Physical Exercise

Sarath Ton and Her Effect Wrestling Techniques

Sasha Banks is one of the fiercest and most respected female wrestlers in the world. Fans and critics alike are in awe of her flamboyant fashion sense, her effect wrestling techniques, and the thrilling performances she always puts on in the ring. Before becoming a...

Taekwondo, Music and Co-creating Own Fashion Line

One of the main reasons I want to study architecture is my passion for French Romanesque-style buildings. It is my ambition to one day contribute to the construction of these. This passion stemmed from my visits to France as a child. On these trips, I...

An Importance of Foundation in a Play of Badminton

The fundamental badminton skills are essentially used as a foundation in a play of badminton; this can be from your stance to how you serve in a play of badminton. Making a habit of extensively practicing these techniques will immensely increase the development of your...

Sports And Life Experiences And How They Shape The Person You Are Today

Over time, people have begun to believe sports shape people poorly, they’ll say that it makes the player arrogant, cocky, and even rude, but what if I told you they were completely wrong? What if I told you sports changed your personality for the better?...

• Individual Identity
• Personal Growth and Development

Equal Pay For Equal Work In Women's Sports 

Women's equal pay in sports is a big argument in today's society. A reason why it is a big argument is because in some sports, for example, “The women’s national team actually generated more revenue than the men’s as well, according to new reports —...

• Equal Pay For Equal Work

The Question Whether College Athletes Should Be Paid

What do you think, should college athletes be paid? Well you came to the right place where we will go over all of the factual evidence we have pulled from very creditable sources and professionals. The thing about this subject is that it is a...

Teachers And Professional Athletes Are Paid Differently: Teachers Should Be Paid More

Is it fair that Teachers and Professional Athletes are paid differently? I think the real question should be if they can even be categorized the same. I don't believe the wages of the two can even compare, simply because who is to say one is...

Paying College Athletes: Should College Athletes Be Paid

There are many controversies surrounding the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the most discussed one being about athletes getting paid. This dispute has been going on for decades, but only recently has it made the news that current and former players strongly disagree with the rule...

Considering E Sport And Video Games As A Competitive Sport

What is E-sport? E-sport is a type of sport competition that uses video games instead of using physical activity. It is believed that there are many people who have a different view on what E-sport is; whether if it is considered as a real sport...

• Impact of Video Games
• Video Games

The Discourse Community Analysis Of A Football Team

I came to UC Merced and joined Writing 001 with no knowledge of what a discourse could be. Now in Lovas’s class reading “Superman and Me” by Sherman Alexie. I had no idea what a discourse community was, the idea of this is very well...

Defining Sport: Cheerleading As A Type Of Sport

How do you define something like a sport? That has been a debate surrounding cheerleading for the longest time. The discussion on whether it is a sport or art is fiery and characterized by two very passionate sides, each defending their claim. Cheerleading, which was...

• Cheerleading

Considering Video Games A Competitive Sport

Many people think of football, basketball, baseball, etc. when you say sport some of you might say shooting and other forms of stationary sports like archery. Others might even debate things like cheese rolling and hot dog eating. But surprisingly not many people would consider...

The Debate Whether College Athletes Should Be Paid

Athletes most of the time incline to getting into sports for the easy and fun way to earn money, but colleges paying young athletes would eliminate the line between amateur and professional sports. According to the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) the reason why student...

The Need For College Athletes To Be Paid

College athletics have increased tremendous popularity among Americans in the course of recent decades. This has come about into expanded livelihoods for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the schools taking part inside the affiliation. This has filled the open thought of whether school...

College Athletes Should Be Paid: Opening The Conversation

College athletics have increased tremendously popular among Americans in the course of recent decades. This has come about into expanded livelihoods for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the schools taking part inside the affiliation. This has filled the open thought of whether school...

College Athletes And Whether They Should Be Paid

College sports are turning out to be more and more like the professional leagues with the one exception being the players don’t get paid. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) makes billions of dollars off these student athletes. College basketball and football are two of...

American Sport: Cheerleading And American Football

American football is one of the most watched sporting events in the USA, But lately there has been a debate rather or not football is dangerous and should it be banned for certain ages or no tackle football whatsoever. Football is dangerous, but less dangerous...

All Work And No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy: Application Of Saying In P. E.

”All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy' this is an example of a proverb that means without time from work a person can become bored of the work being done. This quote itself can be used to tell the importance of physical...

• Childhood Obesity

Importance Of Physical Fitness In Marathon Runners

Running is one of the most popular sports and it is performed in various distances like long distances and short distances and there are also various other competitions as well as the events for the runners and the most popular one is the Marathon. Marathon...

Effects Of Running On Our Health

Running is tiring, it’s tedious, it’s painful and it’s exhausting. We often hear many complaining about aching knees, strained muscles, and how energy-consuming it is, not to mention how hot and humid it is to run here in Singapore. So why do people still run?...

Jackie Robinson And The American Dilemma

Racism. Unfortunately, it is an American dilemma still being battled today. However, in 1919, the year Jackie Robinson was born, was a particularly devastating year in regards to this matter. Case in point, the horrific death of a 17-year-old African-American boy, Eugene Williams. Both whites...

• Racial Segregation

Never Had It Made: Jackie Robinson

From all the options my brain collected, I chose to read and write about Jackie Robinson, who is most famously known for being the first African American to play in major league baseball. Robinson was born in 1919 and died in 1972 of a heart...

The Experience Of Competitive Games Before Spring Break

In this essay, I will be comparing my own life to the hero cycle. It will reflect on a time when I have been forced out of my comfort zone. This was when I tried out for cheer. It was my first time trying out...

• Spring Break

Soccer Vs Basketball: The Uniqueness Of Each Sport

Playing sports is an emotional, physical, and mental adventure. You have the opportunity to know whether you are a team player or a maverick. Soccer and Basketball are two of the most popular sports that are played by people around the world. The purpose of...

Evolution Of Basketball And Football In The World Of Sports

Have you ever thought to yourself, how did the game of basketball become such a worldwide sport? How the game has evolved into what it is now? There’s a lot of questions that pop into the human head when the topic of basketball is introduced....

Study On The Mental Game Of Fencing

Fencing is one of the oldest sports existing, being one of the five sports that was part of the first Olympic Games. Around 1458, fencing wasn’t a sport, but an army training, but Domenico Angelo established in 1763 the first rules and made a sport...

• Psychoanalysis

Story Of The Controversial Case Of Oj Simpson

There are a number of subjects that divide opinions among Americans – guns, healthcare, and more. One other subject on that list is Orenthal James Simpson, more commonly known as O.J Simpson. He has gone from being one of the most adored personalities in America...

Overview Of The Three Ai Strategies For Chess Game

Minimax Tree Minimax is a sort of backtracking calculation that is utilized in basic leadership and game hypothesis to locate the ideal move for a player, expecting that your rival likewise plays ideally. This method is mostly used in two player games like chess, Mancala...

• Artificial Intelligence

Types Of Artificial Intelligence And Algorithmic Strategies In Chess Games

Strategy One: Minimax Algorithm In this algorithmic strategy, created by John von Neumann. He classified chess as a two-person, zero-sum game with complete information. This means that this class of problems can’t be fully solved using the Minimax Algorithm as the Minimax Algorithm doesn’t go...

Difference Between Civil And Criminal Liability And Their Importance

This week’s topic brings back memories of reading the John Grisham book, King of the Torts. The setting is obviously in the USA, where most torts are filed in the world. King of the Torts is good reading and Grisham a brilliant author. Civil liability...

History Of Adidas Company And Quality Of Its Footwear Products

Introduction Adidas was founded in 1949 as a member company of German sportswear manufacturer adidas AG. Named after its founder, Adolf Adi Dassler, shoe production began in hazogenaurach in 1920. Adidas owns three series: performance (three stripes) and originals (clover), And the sports fashion series...

• Athletic Shoe

Benefits Of New Balance Running Shoes For Athletes

Have you ever wondered how you can ever be able to run faster than a lightning bolt? Well, I heard the new 2019 New Balance 1400v6 running shoes will make you faster than ever. I always wondered how I can be lighter on my feet...

Analysis Of The Memoir Shoe Dog, Nike's History Of Entrepreneurship

'Shoe Dog' is not only Knight's autobiography, but also Nike's epic of entrepreneurship. In the process of starting a business from zero to zero, with the help of wisdom, talent, belief and luck, Nike can overcome every danger. This shows the spirit of entrepreneurship and...

Lampuuk Beach: Coastal Light That Have Recovered From Tsunami Trauma

Lampuuk Beach is one of the main tourist destinations in Aceh Besar before the 2004 tsunami. The beach is always crowded with visitors, both from Banda Aceh, Beraboh, or other areas. With white sand and shady pine trees, this place is the ideal place to...

Creative Writing Assignment About My Passion With Chess

Chess is a fantastic game to play. Hello my name is Ethan Shin. I am a sixth grade student at Geneva school. I would like to tell you about chess. The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, once said, “Chess makes men wiser and clear sighted.”...

Correlation Between The Height Of Nba Players And The Average Points Per Minute Played

Abstract The National Basketball Association (NBA) is famous for the tall men who throw a ball through a hoop, but there is not much know about the influence of the length of a basketball player on the numbers of scores made. This study has showed...

• Correlation

Pursuit Of Excellence In The Soul Of An Olympian By Heather L. Reid

The author, Heather L. Reid looks at Olympism and what it meant in ancient Greece, outlining what great philosophers like Plato, Aristotle and Socrates thought of Olympics. The author starts her article by looking at an ancient Olympic stadium in Nemea. The athletes started their...

Concerns About Athlete Mental Health In Sports

Helping athletes with poor mental health is a subject of study that has gained plenty of popularity over the years. Driven in part by the raising of awareness of elite athletes who have suffered and or continue to suffer with mental health, this topic has...

• Healthy Lifestyle
• Mental Disorder

Title Ix: Opening A New Door Of Academic Opportunities For Women

Title IX was passed in 1972, giving many influential women an opportunity to prove their abilities and create a path for many women to follow.. One example of this is how Title IX caused the creation of the United States National Women’s Soccer Team (USWNT)....

Overview Of The Issues In Sports Medicine sector

There is high pressure for competitors to perform in top notch sports, for example, football, where wounds are universal, have added to the fast advancement of medication in sports. Human health care services callings have created social orders and intrigue bunches inside their centralized computer...

• Sports Medicine

Movie Report On Concussion: American Football Drama

Synopsis This movie is based on true events that relates with “League of Denial: The NFL's Concussion Crisis” issue. The crisis starts when Mike Webster a former NFL player was found dead in his pickup truck. Dr Bennet Omalu, a forensic neuropathologist handles Webster’s autopsy...

• American Football
• Movie Summary

My Passion for Skating: Exploring the Reasons Behind its Place as My Favorite Sport

When individuals involve themselves in various sports, it helps them alleviate work and school-related stress. When I was a child I have been participating in sporting activities. When I feel distracted and exhausted so that I can entertain myself and others. The sporting activity that...

Why Athletes and College Students Should Cut Down on Drinking

Joe Montana, a former Notre Dame standout has a son who was among 11 Fighting Irish athletes arrested on misdemeanor charges of underage drinking at a party (Trotter 1). A total of 44 people were arrested after city police responded to a call about a...

• College Students
• Underage Drinking

Is The WWE Industry too Violent to be Considered Entertainment

Introduction WWE has been on the top of their game for many years now and there have been so many controversies and debates on the fact of weather the WWE is fake or real, weather their superstars have actually died or just gone into retirement...

• Violence in Sports

Overview of the Major Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are common on our roads. Due to the bike's efficiency in terms of speed most people prefer to use them. However, because motorcyclists lack any sort of surrounding protective structure on their vehicles, they are more likely to suffer severe or fatal injuries...

Writing Assignment on the Teamwork During the Challenging Mt. Everest Climbing

This writeup focuses on the Everest simulation game which presents a challenge to five team members climbing the mount Everest with different roles, independent goals but a common ultimate goal of reaching the summit of the mountain and staying alive. However, culturally, the four team...

The Disadvantages of Intense Training Among Runners

In sports and athletics, the common belief is that the harder you train and the faster you complete rounds and cycles, the stronger you become. While this is mostly true, it also varies according to the type of sport and competition. It seems counter-intuitive, but...

Toxic Masculinity, Hazing and How It Affects the Mental Health of Others

Throughout the world, men on average have a difficult time seeking help and speaking up when put in serious, uncomfortable or life threatening situations. Prior to college, most males are involved with sports because it is a stereotype of the their gender. However, 74 percent...

• Masculinity

Technological Advancements and the Future of Tennis

Among other sports, many would say that tennis has lagged behind in terms of technological advancements. Tennis players today would learn the same way, and use almost identical equipment as athletes and recreational players almost 50 years ago. The norm would be going to a...

• Advantages of Technology

Why I Prefer Mountain Climbing to Other Leisure Activities

Activity Description The fact that there were a considerable number of events to choose from in our leisure event, we had to pick an event that could be endorsed by every student. In other words, the event had to meet the needs of every student....

Drug Abuse in Sports and How Sport Organizations Deal With the Issue

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10 Life Lessons learned through Sport

Dan Macadam

Like many I was fortunate to have been introduced to sport at an early age, and I remain thankful for the lessons learned and the many ways these experiences prepared me for life…

1. Persistence .  At the age of ten I was introduced to the great sport of rugby. Lacking any concept of the game, or knowledge of the rules, I ended up throwing a forward pass in my first ever organized game. But despite my early struggles, and lack of innate talent I continued to play – eventually discovering my competitive spirit and a love of the sport.

Persistence may not predict success, but giving up guarantees failure .

2 . Commitment .  In High School my parents were no longer able to drive me to rugby games on weekends due to the challenges of running a small farm. Rather than quit, and let down my team-mates, I began riding my push-bike the six miles into town to be able to continue to play. By the end of the season I had achieved a fitness level that I still aspire to.

Commitment can be the fuel that focuses our efforts .

3. Integrity .  It was in sport that I learned not everyone shares the same values or principles, and that for some winning was everything. I was taught early the difference between playing ‘hard’ and playing ‘dirty’, and the importance of always playing ‘my’ game. And it was through sport that I began to see the parallels between how players conducted themselves on and off the field.

Consistency is key, but integrity IS everything .

4. Attitude.  Team sports also taught me the importance of attitude. I had some team mates that were always upbeat – while others quickly became deflated when on the losing end of a score. I saw how team mates with positive attitudes energized and inspired those around them. While positivity didn’t guarantee winning, it sure made the ‘games’ much more enjoyable to play.

Attitude is contagious – be careful what you catch.

5. Teamwork.  I had always thought that rugby had prepared me for working with others, but it wasn’t until I learned to row did I understand how integral teamwork was sometimes for success. In rowing, effective teamwork requires complete synchronicity with your team – which for me reinforced the importance of understanding the nature of your team, and your role in supporting your team mates.

There are people that are organized into teams, and then there are teams of people.

6. Trust .  In many sports trust is critical to success – whether trust in a team mate or in a coach. And in many sports a lack of trust in a team mate’s ability to play his/her position results in others not being able to fully commit to theirs – while in others trust is a matter of life and death. Rock climbing is where I came to truly appreciate the significance of complete trust – both in the process, as well as in my climbing partner’s knowledge and experience.

Life is not an individual sport – trust is a must.

7. Accountability.   When I participated in, or competed in any sport I did so with the support of others – such as my parents, coaches, and team mates – and it was through their support that I initially learned the importance of being accountable. However, it was only through the process of learning how to swim, and through training for my first triathlon that I truly understand the importance of being accountable to myself. There are many times when we need to invest 100% of our effort and energy despite nobody watching.

Be accountable for the life you want – we get what we give.

8. Patience .  Although I was introduced to the sport of boxing very late, it, like many of my endeavors came at the right time in my life. In one of my very first sparring sessions with my trainer – who had been a Flyweight Champion in his youth – I became frustrated at my inability to land a single punch. I learned quickly that anger and uncontrolled aggression don’t belong in a ring, and on the need often to ‘wait’ for the right opportunities to present themselves.

Patience provides us with possibilities.

9. Passion.  While it is interest that gets many of us started in sports – it is passion that sustains us. While in High School I was also introduced to competitive logger sports by my father – who loved both the industry and the sport. And while I continued to compete for several years because of our relationship, it was eventually my lack of passion (and putting an axe into my shin) that caused me to stop.

Our full potential requires all of our passion.

10 . Fun. We often play games and sports as children because they’re ‘fun’, and sometimes move onto different games or sports when we no longer enjoy them. I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed a variety of sports and activities throughout my life, and have learned that sometimes it isn’t the game itself that is fun – but instead is our ability to have ‘fun’ playing it.

Fun is sometimes more about the how than the what .

Life is like a game – with a start, a middle, and an end. It is up to each of us how we play it…

Essay on Importance of Sports for Students and Children

500+ words essay on importance of sports.

First of all, Sport refers to an activity involving physical activity and skill . Here, two or more parties compete against each other. Sports are an integral part of human life and there is great importance of sports in all spheres of life. Furthermore, Sports help build the character and personality of a person. It certainly is an excellent tool to keep the body physically fit. Most noteworthy, the benefits of Sports are so many that books can be written.  Sports have a massive positive effect on both the mind and body.

Physical Benefits of Sports

First of all, Sports strengthen the heart. Regular Sports certainly make the heart stronger. Hence, Sport is an excellent preventive measure against heart diseases . This certainly increases the life expectancy of individuals. Furthermore, a healthy heart means a healthy blood pressure.

Sports involve physical activity of the body. Due to this physical activity, blood vessels remain clean. Sports reduces the amount of cholesterol and fats in the body. This happens because of the increase of flexibility of the wall of the blood vessels. The flexibility increases due to physical exertion, which is the result of Sports.

Furthermore, the sugar level in blood also gets lower thanks to Sports. The sugar certainly does not accumulate in the blood due to physical activity.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

A person experiences a good quality of breathing because of Sports. Sports strengthen the lungs of the body. Sports certainly escalate the lung capacity and efficiency of the body. Hence, more oxygen enters the blood which is extremely beneficial. Furthermore, there are fewer chances of developing lung diseases due to Sports.

Appropriate body weight is easy to maintain because of sports. A Sports playing person probably does not suffer from obesity or underweight problems. Sports certainly help the body remain fit and slim.

Furthermore, Sports also improves the quality of bones. A person who plays sports will have strong bones even in old age. Several scientific research reports that Sports prevent many diseases. For example, many researchers conclude that Sports prevent the development of cancer.

Other Benefits of Sports

Sport is certainly an excellent tool to build self-confidence . Playing Sports increases confidence to talk properly. A sport certainly improves the skills of communicating with others. Furthermore, the person experiences confidence in sitting, standing, and walking properly. Hence, Sports enriches the social life of an individual.

Sports bring discipline in life. It certainly teaches the values of dedication and patience. Sports also teach people how to handle failure. Furthermore, the importance of following a time schedule is also present in Sports.

Above all, Sports improves the thinking ability of individuals. Sports certainly sharpen the mind. Children who play Sports probably perform better at exams than those who don’t.

Finally, Sports reduces the stress of mind . A Sports playing person would certainly experience less depression. Sports ensure the peace of mind of those playing it. Most noteworthy, Sports brings happiness and joy in the life of individuals.

A sport is an aspect of human life that is of paramount importance. It certainly increases the quality of human life. Sports must be made mandatory in schools. This is because it is as important as education. Everyone must perform at least one Sport activity on a regular basis.

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How Sports Can Prepare You for Life

Sports are fun activities that help kids learn skills, like how to shoot a free throw or skate backwards. But what if sports could teach us more than physical skills and prepare us for life? If the environment is safe and welcoming, sports can also teach us skills that we can use in our lives— life skills ! Participating in sports can teach us about teamwork, being a leader, how to relax if we are upset, and much more! In this article, we discuss different ways that life skills can be developed through sports. We also talk about what you and your coaches can do to help you develop life skills. As you learn these skills in sports, you can use them anywhere, like at school or home. Life skills learned in sports can help you become a good person on whatever path you choose in life.

How Sports Can Prepare You For Life

Sports can be fun activities that help kids to learn different skills, like how to shoot a free throw, skate backwards, or hit a fastball. But what if sports can teach us more than physical skills? What if they can prepare us for life? Kids across the world engage in different types of organized sports, whether at school or in their communities. This makes sports an important context to help prepare kids for life. You might have heard the phrase “sports build character” before. Building positive character does not always happen by accident. It requires hard work from the kids participating, but also from their coaches and teammates.

Coaches play an important role in sports. If coaches make sports safe and welcoming, kids can have fun, learn new skills, and be part of a team or club. If coaches do not structure sports well, sports can lead to negative things, like not having fun, cheating, or bullying. In this article, we discuss how coaches can help kids learn life skills through playing sports.

What are Life Skills?

If the sports environment is safe and welcoming, sports can teach kids skills they can use in their lives— life skills ! Life skills means different things to different people. Sometimes people use words like values, assets, lessons, or character traits. In this article, we will call them life skills. Within sports, life skills can include:

• Respect : showing consideration and being kind to people (teammates, opponents, referees) and things (rules of the sport, equipment, sports facility);
• Honesty : always telling the truth to yourself and others;
• Teamwork : working together as a group to achieve a goal;
• Emotional regulation : having control over your emotions and staying calm; and
• Perseverance : always trying your best and never giving up.

You may learn about some of these skills at school, when you are working on a group project, or at home, from your parents and family. Learning life skills in many different contexts is an important part of your development. Developing life skills is a process , which means they take time and practice to develop. Sports can be one part of the process of developing life skills. Life skills can be learned, practiced, and improved upon in any sport, whether team or individual. Yet, for these skills to be called life skills, kids need to transfer these skills. Life skills transfer means that life skills learned in sports are used in other areas of your life, like at school, at home, or in other sports or activities [ 1 ].

Why is it Important to Develop Life Skills?

You may be asking yourself why developing life skills is important. Learning and practicing life skills in sports can help you be a good teammate and player, but they can also help you to be a good person outside of sports. Even if you do not become a professional athlete or play sports your whole life, you can still use life skills in other contexts. For example, learning relaxation techniques can be very helpful in sports. When stepping up to the plate for your first pitch in cricket or standing on the basketball free-throw line, you can learn different ways to relax, such as taking deep breaths or calming your mind by counting to five. Learning about relaxation techniques in sports can also help when you feel nervous or anxious at school. Before a test, you can take deep breaths to relax and calm your nerves. If you get into an argument with a friend or sibling, relaxation techniques, like deep breathing, can also help you act calmly, so you choose your words carefully and come to a peaceful solution.

How Can I Develop Life Skills in Sport?

There is a lot to focus on while playing sports—the rules, your position—without thinking about life skills. But do not worry; you do not have to go through this process on your own! As mentioned, coaches are important in helping kids develop life skills when playing sports. Life skills can be developed through sports in two different ways.

First, life skills can be developed based on how the sport is structured, including the rules, competition, and relationships developed with coaches and teammates [ 2 ]. In this implicit approach , coaches focus mainly on teaching sport-specific skills, like passing and shooting. They do not place any specific effort on discussing or practicing life skills. In cheerleading, kids can learn to communicate with their teammates during a routine. In golf, kids can learn to be respectful through the rules about respecting the course and one’s opponents. In these examples, coaches are not doing anything specific to support the development of life skills. Essentially, if coaches use this implicit approach, they leave life skills learning in sports up to chance.

Second, life skills can also be developed explicitly [ 2 ]. This explicit approach occurs when coaches take specific steps to teach kids life skills. There are different ways for coaches to teach life skills through sports. Below, we give an example of Coach Jane using an explicit approach during a handball practice or competition. This approach has five steps. First, Jane picks one life skill to teach—leadership. The theme of the entire session is to learn how to be a leader. Second, Jane works with players to define that life skill. Together, they come up with a definition of what it means to be a leader in handball, at home, and at school. Third, Jane gives players opportunities to practice being leaders during the session, including asking them to lead the warm-up or to act as the team captain. Jane provides feedback while they practice being leaders. She asks players to consider if their way of leading includes all of their teammates. Fourth, Jane finishes the session by reviewing the chosen life skill. She asks players questions like, “What activities required you to be a leader in today’s session?” and “Where else can you be a leader beyond handball?” Together, Jane and the players talk about how they can be leaders at home, at school, and even at work as they get older. The point of these discussions is for players to develop connections between their sports experiences and their lives outside of sports. Finally, Jane can provide opportunities for players to practice the life skills learned in handball in other contexts. As mentioned earlier, this is called life skills transfer. For example, to practice transferring leadership, Jane arranges for the players to lead activities at a younger team’s practice. Jane also works with the players’ teachers and parents to encourage players to practice being leaders in school, at home, or in other extracurricular activities, like mentoring a classmate who is struggling with their math homework. Overall, Coach Jane explicitly supports players’ leadership skills, within and beyond handball.

Researchers have found that using a combination of implicit and explicit approaches is most useful for kids to learn life skills in sports ( Figure 1 ) [ 4 ]. When coaches use both approaches, kids can have more opportunities to develop life skills based on how the sports environment is structured and what kinds of skills coaches choose to teach. Coach Jane supports her players’ leadership development by using the five steps outlined above (explicit approach), along with strategies like being a role model and setting clear rules about playing fairly (implicit approach). Research shows that using both approaches can help to increase kids’ awareness of how to transfer their life skills and strengthen their abilities for life skills transfer beyond sports, like at home and at school [ 5 ]. For example, if a player sees a classmate being bullied by a peer at school based on their gender identity or skin color, the player can transfer his or her leadership skills developed in sports by standing up for that classmate and leading the conversation toward kindness and inclusion rather than bullying.

• Figure 1 - We can imagine coaches who use implicit and explicit approaches as climbing a staircase.
• The first two steps represent the implicit approach, and the last two steps represent the explicit approach. Coaches need to climb the stairs in order to explicitly teach life skills. The stairs build on each other—to be on stair three, coaches need to also be using strategies from stairs one and two. This allows coaches to use a combination of implicit and explicit approaches for teaching life skills (Image credit: adapted from [ 3 ]).

So Now You Know!

In this article, we talked about ways sports and coaches can help you develop important skills that you can use in life. These life skills, like respect, leadership, and honesty, can improve your ability to perform in sports, but they also go beyond sports. What is important to remember is that YOU, as the athlete, also play an important role in this learning process. First, think about the different skills you are learning in sports. What are they? Look for important connections between your sport and your life in school or at home. Second, take initiative and use your life skills without your coach having to ask you. Stand up for a teammate who is being bullied or try to focus while waiting to receive a serve in tennis. Third, keep these skills in mind as you grow up. As you go to high school or secondary school and work your first job, there may be different life skills that are useful for you to transfer from your sports experiences. So, next time you are about to give a big class presentation, think about what you did on the court or field to help you relax and prepare. Practicing these life skills in sports and life can help you be a good athlete and a good person, on whatever path you choose in life.

Life Skills : ↑ Values, assets, or skills that help us in life. They can include respect, honesty, teamwork, emotional regulation, perseverance, and many more.

Life Skills Transfer : ↑ The process in which the life skills learned in sports are applied in other areas of a kid’s life, like at school, at home, in other sports, or in their community.

Implicit Approach : ↑ An approach to teaching life skills in which coaches focus on teaching sport-specific skills, without placing any specific effort on teaching life skills or providing time to practice life skills.

Explicit Approach : ↑ An approach to teaching life skills that occurs when coaches take specific steps to teach kids life skills.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

[1] ↑ Gould, D., and Carson, S. 2008. Life skills development through sport: Current status and future directions. Int. Rev. Sport Exerc. Psychol. 1:58–78. doi: 10.1080/17509840701834573

[2] ↑ Turnnidge, J., Côté, J., and Hancock, D. J. 2014. Positive youth development from sport to life: Explicit or implicit transfer? Quest 66:203–217. doi: 10.1080/00336297.2013.867275

[3] ↑ Bean, C., Kramers, S., Forneris, T., and Camiré, M. 2018. The implicit/explicit continuum of life skills development and transfer. Quest . 70:456–470. doi: 10.1080/00336297.2018.1451348

[4] ↑ Holt, N., Neely, K. C., Slater, L. G., Camiré, M., Côté, J., Fraser-Thomas, J., et al. 2017. A grounded theory of positive youth development through sport based on results from a qualitative meta-study. Int. Rev. Sport Exerc. Psychol. 10:1–49. doi: 10.1080/1750984X.2016.1180704

[5] ↑ Bean, C., and Forneris, T. 2016. Examining the importance of intentionally structuring the youth sport context to facilitate positive youth development. J. Appl. Sport Psychol. 28:410–425. doi: 10.1080/10413200.2016.1164764

The Impact of High School Sports on My Life Essay Example

Playing on various competitive sports teams throughout my life, I have come to develop a life structured around sports. As my senior year of high school is coming to an end, the final debut of my competitive sports career is rapidly coming to an end. Although this incredible chapter of my life is coming to an end the, lessons I learned, the values I gained, and the character I built will continue to stay with me throughout the rest of my life.

Athletics in high school are at the forefront of my best, most nostalgic, and most heartwarming memories. From being the first team to win a playoff game for football, to losing the state semi-final for basketball. Whether the memories were good or bad they are ones that I will remember and cherish, reminding me of a time I will never forget. The lessons I learned and the values I gained throughout these moments are ultimately what shaped my life and what pushes me to want to keep going.

One of the important lessons I learned through the various sports is how to overcome adversity. I figured out that attitude was the key to solving many problems. I learned that there is always value in a person's well-intended effort to do good, no matter the outcome of a situation. I also learned how faith can be contagious. The more you believe and have faith in someone or something the more they will believe in you. An example of this is shown through my freshman and sophomore years of basketball. Although we were debatably one of the best teams Tower Hill has ever had, we were not achieving the goals we should have been accomplishing. This 

was the first year with a new coach and it seemed as though everyone took advantage of it. We all played selfishly and cared more for personal accolades than winning games. In my junior year, a lot of the previous players have left and I came into a starting role on the team. Becoming a leader this year I brought it upon myself to make sure the team had respect and trust for everyone on the team. With this year being a “Covid year” the team had a little more time to spend together building our trust for one another. This season was by far our best season. We made it to the semi-finals but unfortunately, we lost in a close game. Through this experience, I have learned to overcome adversity through a positive attitude and faith.

High school sports have helped me overcome one of my life’s greatest obstacles, the death of a friend. While standing at his funeral, I began to truly grasp the impact of high school sports. on my life. His death was an unexpected tragedy that devastated not only our team but, the whole community. However, as an athletic community, we all came together to support our teammates. As an organization, we mourned his death together, relied on each other for support, learned a new respect for one another, and became closer to each other than ever before. I was able to experience the true power of love and how it affected all of us. Through the death of my friend, I learned to be grateful for every moment and the importance of memories and to cherish every moment because you never know if it could be your last. Memories are what last. As people come and go, it is the memories we hold on to, for as long as there is a memory of them and they live in our hearts forever. 

From double session football preseason workouts to seemingly impossible basketball workouts, I have learned the value of hard work. Sports are not about winning; rather it’s about improving as an individual and growing as a team. I believe It’s about seeing how far you can push yourself without giving up. Sports have taught me to persevere when times get tough, and that character is not built upon success but rather failures and how you respond to them. Will you get back up and keep going or stay down and beg for pity

High school sports have also given me the ability to work outside of my friend group and build relationships with individuals I otherwise would have never met. As an underclassman, I looked up to the upperclassmen as the perfect role models, and I can say without a doubt, these people changed me as an individual and as an athlete. Thanks to sports, I built friendships that will last a lifetime. Now, as a captain, I find myself leading and shaping my teammates. Seeing my teammates; my brothers, grow, improve, and succeed, I can see the differences that I am making in their lives. I tend to compare myself to the upperclassmen of the basketball team to see if I have continued and improved the legacy they left for me. If I were to measure my impact as an upperclassman to the previous upperclassmen from a success point of view I would say I have continued their legacy. Although I happened to be more successful than they were, I can not say I would have been able to achieve that success without their help. I was able to maintain the good they were able able to accomplish and improve on the not so strong aspects of their leadership. As a result of these experiences, I gained from my upperclassmen role models I was able to achieve success while growing and learning more about myself through leadership.

High school sports has been one of my greatest teachers and one of my biggest passions. I am forever thankful for the memories, the values, and the lessons I have gained from them as I will these throughout my life. However, I was never alone in my journey. I will be forever thankful for the sacrifices my parents, coaches, and teammates made for me; their sacrifices along with the values and lessons I learned shaped my life, and I don’t know where I would be without them.

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How Sports Benefit A Student’s Life and Why Is It Important?

Donna paula.

• August 19, 2023

The popularity of sports in schools has been on the rise, with an increasing number of children actively participating in various athletic activities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2020, an encouraging 54.1% of children engaged in sports. This growing trend highlights the importance of fostering discussions about physical well-being in students, as sports play a vital role in promoting their overall health and development.

This article will delve into the reasons behind the surge in sports participation and the significance of prioritizing physical well-being in the lives of young learners.

Why are sports important for students’ lives?

Sports are crucial for students’ lives as they instill discipline, time management, and resilience – essential qualities for academic and professional success. Through rigorous training and commitment, students learn discipline, a valuable skill in balancing studies and extracurriculars. Managing practice sessions, competitions, and academics teaches effective time management.

Moreover, facing challenges, victories, and defeats in sports fosters resilience, preparing students to handle setbacks in their academic and future professional pursuits. These experiences build character, confidence, and teamwork, shaping well-rounded individuals capable of navigating obstacles, adapting to change, and excelling in various spheres of life.

What are the physical health benefits of sports for students?

Sports offer numerous physical health benefits for students. Regular participation improves cardiovascular health, enhances muscular strength and endurance, and promotes flexibility and coordination. Engaging in physical activities helps maintain a healthy weight , reducing the risk of obesity-related issues. It also boosts bone density, reducing the likelihood of osteoporosis later in life.

Sports contribute to better immune function , reducing the occurrence of illnesses. Additionally, students who participate in sports are more likely to adopt a physically active lifestyle, which can lead to long-term health benefits and a decreased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

How do sports contribute to students’ mental and emotional well-being?

Beyond physical fitness, engaging in sports offers a myriad of psychological benefits that contribute to their overall mental health and emotional resilience.

Positive Impact of Sports on Mental Health and Stress Reduction

Participating in sports positively impacts students’ mental health by releasing endorphins , reducing stress hormones, and promoting a sense of achievement and self-worth. Regular physical activity in sports can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve mood, and enhance cognitive function. Furthermore, the camaraderie and social support within sports teams foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being, empowering students to navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience and a positive outlook.

Do sports have an impact on student’s academic performance?

The relationship between sports and academic performance has been a subject of interest among educators and researchers alike. Many studies suggest that sports can positively impact students’ academic achievements , as engagement in physical activities fosters skills and traits that are transferable to the academic realm.

How sports can enhance concentration, discipline, and time management skills

Participating in sports demands focus and concentration, which can improve students’ ability to concentrate during study sessions and exams. The commitment and dedication required in sports instill discipline, enabling students to adhere to study schedules and deadlines. Moreover, managing sports practice and academic commitments cultivates practical time management skills, helping students balance their athletic pursuits and academic responsibilities. These acquired skills and traits contribute to improved academic performance and overall success in their educational journey.

What social skills and personal development opportunities do sports provide for students?

Engaging in team sports and competitive activities can foster a range of interpersonal abilities essential for building solid relationships and navigating social situations effectively.

Exploring the social benefits of sports, such as teamwork, communication, and leadership

Participating in team sports cultivates essential social skills like teamwork, where students learn to collaborate and work cohesively toward a common goal. Effective communication is honed as players interact on and off the field, fostering understanding and cooperation.

Additionally, sports present leadership opportunities, empowering students to take charge, motivate others, and guide their teammates toward success. These social attributes not only enhance the sports experience but also carry over to various aspects of student’s personal and professional lives.

Fostering interpersonal relationships and community engagement through sports

Sports provide a platform for students to build lasting friendships and bonds, creating a sense of belonging and support within their teams. As they compete against other schools or communities, students develop a broader perspective, understanding diverse viewpoints and embracing inclusivity.

Furthermore, sports events and tournaments promote community engagement, bringing together families, friends, and supporters, fostering a collective spirit and a shared passion for sports. These experiences help students appreciate the value of community involvement and contribute to their personal development as empathetic, socially conscious individuals.

How can participating in sports teach students important values and life skills?

The experiences gained in sports, such as perseverance, sportsmanship, and goal setting, play a pivotal role in shaping their character and preparing them for future challenges.

Highlighting the values and life skills learned through sports, such as perseverance, sportsmanship, and goal setting

Sports provide a fertile ground for cultivating important values and life skills. Perseverance is developed as students encounter setbacks and learn to bounce back stronger. Sportsmanship instills respect for opponents and fair play, promoting integrity and empathy. Goal setting teaches students to work with dedication and discipline, fostering a growth mindset and determination to achieve both on and off the field. These invaluable qualities prepare students for success in various aspects of life, laying a strong foundation for personal growth and achievement.

How sports contribute to character development and preparing students for future challenges

Engaging in sports not only enhances physical abilities but also plays a significant role in character development. The challenges and triumphs experienced in sports teach students resilience, teaching them to overcome obstacles with fortitude. Learning to win gracefully and accept defeat with humility nurtures sportsmanship and a sense of fair competition.

Furthermore, the camaraderie and teamwork fostered through sports build social skills and the ability to collaborate effectively. These character-building experiences equip students with the tools needed to face future challenges, instilling confidence and a positive mindset that will serve them well in their academic, professional, and personal endeavors.

How can students balance sports and education effectively?

Balancing sports and education is a common challenge faced by students, as both demand significant time and dedication. Effectively managing these commitments is crucial to ensure academic success while reaping the numerous benefits that sports offer.

Tips and strategies for students to manage their time effectively between sports and academics

• Create a schedule: Develop a well-structured timetable that includes dedicated study hours and sports practice sessions. Organizing tasks in advance helps students allocate time efficiently, preventing last-minute rushes and reducing stress.
• Prioritize tasks: Identify academic assignments and exams that require immediate attention and focus on completing them first. Learning to prioritize helps students manage their time effectively, ensuring they fulfill their academic obligations without compromising their sports commitments.
• Utilize downtime efficiently: Make use of breaks between classes or during travel to review notes or complete quick academic tasks. These pockets of time add up and allow students to stay on top of their studies even during busy sports seasons.
• Communicate with coaches and teachers: Open communication with coaches and teachers is vital. Informing them about academic commitments and sports schedules can lead to better support and flexibility when necessary.
• Set realistic goals: Establish achievable short-term and long-term goals for both academics and sports. Realistic objectives keep students motivated and focused, leading to a more balanced approach.
• Learn time management techniques: Adopt effective time management techniques, such as the Pomodoro Technique, to improve productivity during study sessions and maintain energy levels during sports activities.
• Stay organized: Keep academic materials and sports gear well-organized to save time and reduce distractions when transitioning between sports and study sessions.
• Get enough rest and nutrition: Proper rest and a balanced diet are essential for peak performance in both sports and academics. Adequate sleep and nutrition help students stay alert, focused, and perform at their best in all areas of life.
• Seek support: Reach out to peers, coaches, or academic advisors for support and advice on managing sports and education. Sharing experiences and seeking guidance can be beneficial in finding effective solutions.

The importance of maintaining a healthy balance between sports and other responsibilities

Finding an equilibrium between sports and education is vital for students’ holistic development. While sports contribute to physical fitness, teamwork, and character-building, academic success remains a crucial foundation for future opportunities and career prospects.

Striking a balance ensures that students not only excel in sports but also perform well academically, opening doors to a wider range of possibilities. Furthermore, maintaining a healthy balance teaches students valuable life skills, such as time management, discipline, and adaptability, which are transferable to various aspects of their personal and professional lives. This balance also helps students avoid burnout and excessive stress, promoting overall well-being and fostering a positive outlook toward both their educational and athletic endeavors.

Ultimately, a harmonious blend of sports and education prepares students for future challenges, equipping them with a well-rounded skill set and a strong foundation for success.

What are the long-term benefits of sports in students’ lives?

Participating in sports during their formative years can have a lasting impact on student’s lives, extending far beyond their school days. The skills and values acquired through sports play a significant role in shaping their character and influencing their personal and professional journeys.

How the skills and values acquired through sports continue to benefit students in their personal and professional lives

• Discipline and Time Management: The discipline and time management skills cultivated in sports become ingrained habits that students carry forward into adulthood. Whether it’s meeting work deadlines, balancing family responsibilities, or pursuing personal goals, the ability to manage time efficiently proves invaluable in maintaining a successful and fulfilling life.
• Resilience and Perseverance: Sports often involve facing challenges, setbacks, and failures. Learning to bounce back, stay motivated, and strive for improvement instills resilience and perseverance. These traits enable individuals to navigate the ups and downs of life, tackle obstacles with determination, and ultimately achieve their ambitions.
• Teamwork and Leadership: The teamwork and leadership experiences gained through sports carry over into various aspects of professional life. Working collaboratively, communicating effectively, and motivating others are all vital skills in a team-oriented workplace. For those in leadership positions, the ability to inspire, delegate, and make strategic decisions stems from the foundations laid in their sports endeavors.
• Stress Management and Well-being: Sports offer a healthy outlet for stress relief, promoting mental well-being. Engaging in physical activity as a lifelong practice contributes to better physical health, reducing the risk of chronic illnesses. Regular exercise releases endorphins, fostering a positive mood and overall emotional balance.
• Networking and Social Skills: Participating in sports introduces students to a diverse range of individuals, from teammates to coaches, opponents, and spectators. Building strong interpersonal relationships and networking are essential in both personal and professional life, opening doors to opportunities and connections.
• Healthy Lifestyle: The value of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, learned through sports, remains relevant throughout life. Students who develop a love for physical activity are more likely to continue engaging in exercise and recreational sports as adults, reducing the risk of health issues and promoting longevity.

Participating in sports offers a wealth of long-term benefits that extend well beyond the playing field. For students, the skills and values acquired through sports form a strong foundation for personal and professional growth, fostering resilience, discipline, and teamwork. As parents and students, embracing the opportunities sports provide can pave the way for a healthier, more fulfilling life, promoting overall well-being and a brighter future filled with countless possibilities. Embrace the power of sports, and embark on a journey of holistic development and lasting success.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do sports and fitness affect students’ life.

Sports and fitness positively impact students’ lives by promoting physical health, building discipline, enhancing teamwork, fostering mental well-being, and instilling valuable life skills.

Why sports are important in youth development?

Sports are crucial in youth development as they promote physical fitness, teamwork, discipline, resilience, and social skills, nurturing well-rounded individuals for a successful future.

What is the importance of sports development programs in schools?

Sports development programs in schools are essential as they enhance physical fitness, teach life skills, build teamwork, boost confidence, and cultivate a healthy competitive spirit, contributing to students’ overall growth and success.

How can you encourage youth to participate in sports?

Encourage youth to participate in sports by highlighting the fun, camaraderie, health benefits, and opportunities for personal growth and achievement that sports offer.

Why is physical fitness important to students, and how will it impact your academic performance?

Physical fitness is vital for students as it improves concentration, memory, and cognitive function, leading to better academic performance. Regular exercise also reduces stress, enhances mood, and boosts overall well-being, creating a positive impact on learning and achievement.

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Essay on Importance of Sports

• Updated on  
• Oct 7, 2023

Sports are an integral part of life. Sports are exciting activities which are not only fun to play but also promote physical fitness. But do you know the benefits of playing sports both mentally and physically? Well, we have come to your rescue. In this blog, you will read about the importance of sports and how it can help one learn several new qualities. These qualities will help one to be ahead in their life. We will also be discussing more on this topic through essays. 

This Blog Includes:

Physical benefits, mental benefits, essay on importance of sports in 200 words, essay on importance of sports in 300 words, essay on importance of sports in 400 words, importance of sports .

Sports are essential to every student’s life. Almost every parent believes their child should be involved in sports during their growing years. Moreover, playing sports keeps us fit, healthy and active. Sports teach essential life skills such as discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and time management. Here are all the benefits one gets by playing sports. 

• By playing sports, one gets to be physically active and at the same time maintain discipline. 
• By involving oneself in sports, it reduces the risk of obesity and other chronic health issues. 
• Playing sports leads to muscle development, promotes strong bones and lastly reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

The benefits of sports are not limited to physical enhancement, they also help in brain functioning and mental activities.

• Playing in team sports, helps one to learn to work together leading to achieving a common goal – leadership skills, teamwork and several other qualities. 
• Sports also improve one’s decision-making skills and boost self-confidence.
• Lastly, sports help one to reduce stress, depression and other mental issues.

Also Read: Essay on My Aim in Life

Sports are essential because they promote social, mental, and physical well-being. They are not only a source of amusement but also play a huge role in many facets of life.

To begin with, sports encourage physical fitness. Sports participation helps people maintain a healthy lifestyle by enhancing their stamina, strength, and cardiovascular fitness. The risk of obesity, diabetes, and other lifestyle-related disorders is reduced by regular exercise in sports.

Secondly, sports improve mental health. It encourages self-control, tenacity, and goal-setting. At the same time, athletes gain the ability to manage stress, develop resilience, and cultivate a solid work ethic. While team sports can foster interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills.

Sports also help to maintain societal harmony. They give people from various backgrounds a place to interact, fostering friendship and harmony. Sporting events frequently foster a sense of belonging and pride among viewers.

Sports in the classroom impart important life lessons including cooperation, initiative, and sportsmanship. For gifted athletes, they can also result in scholarships and educational possibilities.

Also Read: Essay on Waste Management

The development of the body, mind and social structure are all considerably aided by sports in human society. They have a special and complex significance that goes much beyond simple competition or entertainment.

Sports are crucial for physical health in the first place. People who participate in sports and physical activity can keep up a healthy lifestyle. Sporting activity regularly enhances physical endurance, muscular strength, and cardiovascular health. It works well to combat the rising obesity pandemic, lower the likelihood of developing chronic illnesses like diabetes, and improve general health.

Sports are essential for mental health in addition to physical health. Athletes learn to be disciplined, determined, and have a strong work ethic. They get knowledge on how to set and accomplish goals, manage stress, and develop resilience. These life skills learned via sports are transferable to many facets of success on both a personal and professional level.

Sports also encourage social growth. They give people from various backgrounds a place to interact, fostering social cohesiveness and harmony. Sporting activities foster a sense of community by inspiring people to interact, find common ground, and form enduring friendships.

Sports in education provide a distinctive learning opportunity. They impart characteristics like leadership, sportsmanship, and teamwork, which are crucial in both academic and professional environments. Many students find that participating in athletics paves the way for scholarships and other educational opportunities that might not otherwise be possible.

Sports are economically significant as well. They open up positions in the sports sector for everyone from athletes and coaches to event planners and sports medical specialists. Major athletic events can promote local economies, increase income, and create jobs by boosting tourism.

In conclusion, sports are more than just amusement; they are essential to leading a balanced existence. Sports have an enormous value that goes well beyond the pitch or court, making them an essential component of human society.

Sports plays a crucial role in our lives, promoting our physical and mental health as well as our social and economic development. Sports provide entertainment and recreation for both participants and spectators. They offer an escape from daily routines, a source of excitement, and a sense of shared experience.

First off, sports are essential for fostering physical wellness. People can keep up an active lifestyle by participating in sports. It improves muscle strength, total physical endurance, and cardiovascular health. Regular exercise dramatically lowers the risk of lifestyle disorders like diabetes, obesity, and heart problems. These health advantages help people live longer and with higher quality.

Second, engaging in athletics is crucial for mental health. Athletes learn valuable life lessons including self-control, tenacity, and goal-setting. They gain skills for dealing with stress, developing resilience, and upholding a solid work ethic. These mental skills developed via sports are transferable to many facets of life and can promote success and overall well-being.

Additionally, sports encourage social growth and unity. They bridge gaps in class, age, gender, and ethnicity by bringing people together. Sporting occasions foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie, inspiring people to interact, discover similar interests, and form enduring connections. This social component of sport fosters harmony and understanding between various groups.

Sports offer a special educational opportunity. They provide characteristics like leadership, sportsmanship, and teamwork, which are crucial in both academic and professional situations. Sports are given a high priority in the curriculum of many educational institutions, which recognise the benefits they provide for students’ all-around growth.

Sports are economically significant as well. They open up positions in the sports sector for everyone from athletes and coaches to event planners and sports medical specialists. Major athletic events have the potential to increase tourism, fire up local economies, bring in money, and provide jobs.

Sports also support a sense of national identity and pride. International sporting success may bring a nation together by fostering a sense of achievement and patriotism. Athletes serve as ambassadors for their nations, representing the commitment and labour of the populace.

To conclude, sports are more than just amusement; they provide the basis of a full existence. They encourage mental toughness, social harmony, physical fitness, and practical life skills. Sports participation should be promoted as a top priority by everyone—individuals, educational institutions, and governments. Sports are important for reasons that go beyond the physical, contributing to human society as a whole.

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Sports teaches one several values. These include discipline, elegance, sacrifice, instills leadership qualities which help people to lead a successful life.

When people participate together in a sport, they know that they competing against each other. This helps them to come together as a team.

As they keep kids physically fit and engaged, sports have a direct link to a healthy physique.

For more information related to such interesting topics, visit our essay-writing page and make sure to follow Leverage Edu . 

Malvika Chawla

Malvika is a content writer cum news freak who comes with a strong background in Journalism and has worked with renowned news websites such as News 9 and The Financial Express to name a few. When not writing, she can be found bringing life to the canvasses by painting on them.

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Essay on Value of Sports

Students are often asked to write an essay on Value of Sports in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Value of Sports

Introduction.

Sports are more than just games. They teach important life lessons and values. They instill discipline, teamwork, and perseverance.

Importance of Sports

Sports help in building physical strength and stamina. They make us active and improve our overall health.

Life Lessons from Sports

Sports teach us about teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. They teach us to work together to achieve common goals.

In conclusion, sports play a crucial role in our lives. They not only keep us physically fit but also mentally strong.

Also check:

• 10 Lines on Value of Sports

250 Words Essay on Value of Sports

Sports are an integral part of society, offering a plethora of benefits to individuals and communities. They are not just about physical activity; they encompass a broader spectrum of values such as teamwork, discipline, and respect.

The Physical and Mental Benefits

Engaging in sports promotes physical health, enhancing cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and flexibility. Beyond the physical, sports also offer significant mental benefits. They foster resilience, as players learn to navigate wins and losses, and boost self-esteem through skill development and accomplishment.

Lessons in Teamwork and Discipline

Sports, particularly team-based ones, teach valuable lessons in teamwork. Players learn to strategize, collaborate, and communicate effectively to achieve a common goal. Additionally, sports instill discipline, as regular practice and adherence to rules are essential for success.

Respect and Sportsmanship

Sports also cultivate respect and sportsmanship. Players learn to respect their opponents, officials, and the rules of the game. They gain an understanding of fair play and the importance of ethical conduct.

Social Impact and Unity

On a societal level, sports can foster unity and camaraderie. Major sporting events often bring diverse groups together, promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

In conclusion, the value of sports extends beyond the playing field. They contribute to the holistic development of individuals and can positively impact society. Therefore, sports should be encouraged and integrated into educational systems and community programs.

500 Words Essay on Value of Sports

Sports have been an integral part of human society since time immemorial. They signify the importance of fitness, discipline, teamwork, and perseverance in our lives. The values that sports instill in individuals are not just limited to the playing field but permeate all aspects of life, shaping one’s character and worldview.

The Physical Value of Sports

Engaging in sports activities provides a plethora of physical benefits. They enhance cardiovascular health, improve muscle strength, flexibility, and coordination, and help maintain a healthy weight. Regular participation in sports bolsters the immune system and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. The physical value of sports, however, extends beyond mere fitness. It fosters an appreciation for the capabilities of the human body, encouraging individuals to take better care of their health and well-being.

The Psychological Value of Sports

Sports also offer significant psychological benefits. They foster a strong sense of self-esteem and self-confidence, as individuals recognize their abilities and achievements. Sports can also serve as a stress reliever, providing an outlet for negative emotions and promoting mental well-being. Moreover, they instill resilience and the ability to handle pressure, skills that are invaluable in the face of life’s challenges.

The Social Value of Sports

From a social perspective, sports encourage teamwork, cooperation, and mutual respect. They provide a platform for individuals to interact, fostering relationships based on shared interests and experiences. Sports can bridge cultural and societal gaps, promoting understanding and tolerance among diverse groups. They teach individuals to respect rules, authority, and opponents, cultivating a sense of sportsmanship.

The Educational Value of Sports

Sports are also a vital educational tool. They teach critical life skills such as problem-solving, strategic thinking, and time management. The competitive nature of sports instills a drive to excel, fostering a growth mindset. Moreover, balancing academics and sports teaches students about prioritization and the importance of a balanced lifestyle.

In conclusion, the value of sports transcends the boundaries of the playing field. It shapes individuals physically, psychologically, socially, and educationally. The lessons learned from sports participation can be applied to various aspects of life, fostering well-rounded individuals capable of facing life’s challenges with resilience, determination, and a positive attitude. Therefore, the importance of sports in fostering personal growth and societal harmony cannot be overstated.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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• 6 Lessons We Can Learn from Steph Curry

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