Student athletes work hard all year, both academically and physically. Despite all the effort they put in when they play, no one is there to appreciate it. Not only is it frustrating to see the lack of support for successful athletics at CHS, but it is also embarrassing to go against a school that has filled the bleachers with supporters. Support is something that is very crucial to success. It is the motivation and largely contributes to their resilience. This is important because CHS athletes deserve recognition and knowing their school is rooting for them is very reassuring.
Schools are always trying to encourage school spirit across sports and competition. However, the tactics used to create this spirit have not been as effective as teachers and staff had hoped for. Freshman soccer athlete, Levi Dorst gives her opinion on the matter.
“I think that the lack of support makes it harder for athletes to try their best and show and represent their school because when you feel like you have a stronger community to represent, it’s more personal and important to you to make them proud,” Dorst said.
Students usually feel too busy to go to sporting events or do not see entertainment in going if their friends are not going to be there. The problem is not in the intentions, but in the initiation. The school must use something that will truly captivate student attention.
Students at school only care about one thing more than their Starbucks order and that is their GPA. Grades are something that most students would do anything to keep high. So, if there is an opportunity to bring them up at the cost of helping for a school cause, CHS will find lots of participation and benefits from this method. The school should allow, for example, all science or math classes to give a little extra credit for going to any game. It will provide an opportunity to boost grades and keep students who are struggling academically motivated to continue thriving in their studies. On the other hand, for those who face burnout, attending a sports game can serve as a nice retreat from school life.
“I think it’s justified (to give students extra credit) because watching student athlete games, it takes time out of doing homework and it takes time out of studying but at the same time the athlete still needs that support,” Dorst said. “Offering extra credit would really incentivize people to watch the games and encourage the athletes to keep on doing what they’re doing.”
Support means a lot to many students, and it can be the difference between their success or lack thereof. Offering a motive to support school sports will introduce students to many different sports they did not know they could be interested in along with a whole new group of friends. Students are able to achieve all this while keeping teachers satisfied and student athletes encouraged by a strong school spirit.
