Three Point Stance: Spare high school sports, great and small

By CODY DALTON
cody@southwesttimes.com



Last week, I talked to our readers about why middle school sports should saved, even with the combined middle schools. Now I turn my attention away from the middle schools to the high school level.

Threatened among the many things in the budget are high school sports, more importantly the smaller sports like tennis, golf, and volleyball. I think it is a shame to have to make a decision on which sports are and are not worth saving. It shouldn't be looked at like that.
Every day, students at PCHS take their time and effort to compete in the sports they love, while also learning many trades along the way. They learn the qualities of a leader and how to direct people in a positive way. That will come in handy when they grow older and reach the workforce.
They are taught to work hard. That effort will help them to go far in this world, especially when it comes to college and at their job. Sports also teach discipline, which helps lead to balance and focus in all aspects of their life.
The most obvious of these traits as well is keeping in physical shape. We talk about a generation where we are starting to suffer from severe health problems and excessive obesity. Then we talk about eliminating one of the few things that causes enjoyment for those trying to battle it.
It doesn't matter if you are on the volleyball team, football team, soccer team, or tennis team; you are still trying your best to learn these qualities and to keep yourself in shape. It doesn't matter what sport you play, every one of them teaches these important life qualities more than any leadership class ever will.

– Cody Dalton is a writer for The Southwest Times in Pulaski. He can be reached at (540) 980-5220 or at cody@southwesttimes.com.