Should high caliber athletes compete for the high school they attend? Some say no. The reason given claims that high school sports don’t offer the level of practice and competition necessary to maintain and improve at such a high level. (“Enjoying Sports Outside of School,” November issue)
Although the needs of talented athletes should be catered to, I disagree with the athletes who make this claim. Playing high school sports has many advantages and rewards beyond just the level of competition.

1-HAVING FUN. Whether it’s sharing a major win, a loss or just practicing, experiencing the highs and lows of sports with fellow teammates creates powerful lifelong memories and friendships.

2–RECOGNITION. High school athletes are published in the media both locally and nationwide. Post-season League, CIF and State champions and qualifiers are more readily seen by major collegiate scouts and coaches.

3-DEVELOPING GREATER MENTAL TOUGHNESS. Team play develops courage and confidence. Team play requires the ability to positively respond to the pressures that come with knowing that teammates are depending on you. “Stepping up to the plate” for your team is a tremendous life lesson.

4– DEVELOPING DESIRABLE CHARACTER/SOCIAL TRAITS. Being a team player develops camaraderie, humility, patience, acceptance, self-control, loyalty, honesty and empathy, just to name a few. High school sports provide uniquely different athletic opportunities.

5-BE AN EXAMPLE AND A POSITIVE INFLUENCE. Giving back to one’s school is an admirable act of loyalty. While self-indulgence is admired in today’s social circles, younger athletes need positive role-models.
Donovan Tennis Strategies polled a number of coaches from all 3 NCAA divisions, and as one might expect, their answers varied. The report stated:

“We were surprised at the number of coaches from D1 teams that we would consider “top 100” programs along with highly ranked Division 2 and 3 programs who felt that a player’s participation on their HS team was important. Some expressed that…high school sports are good opportunities to learn and show such skills. Others mentioned that the creativity needed to maintain a high level of play in a less than ideal training environment is the type of skill that makes players more successful in the long run…Others alluded that most junior players are never in a team environment if they forgo their HS program and therefore are lacking the skills necessary to be a good teammate in college.”

It’s significant that although some athletes claim high school sports aren’t ‘competitive’ enough, both past and current professional athletes, Olympians, “Blue Chip” and “Five Star” junior athletes and highly recruited sons and daughters of respected D1, D2 and D3 coaches have and continue to compete in high school athletics.

Dave Hamel,
Varsity Boys Tennis Coach

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