I recently went back to my hometown (Lakeland, Fl), and dropped in on what used to be my High School (Sonrise Christian). The School has since closed and been reopened as a school for elite athletes. The People at the building graciously let me tour the gym and facility and immediately a rush of memories came back. Some Good (playing basketball), Some bad ( racist treatment, and poor administrators), and some horrifying ( coaches sleeping with students, players committing felonies, and being allowed to remain on their teams). However, I cannot deny I learned many life lessons from being involved in multiple high school sports (Basketball, Football, and Baseball).
However, it is not the life lessons I want to talk about as to why your athlete should play high school sports, I want to talk about the memories. As I stepped on the court in the gym that oddly looks the same since the day I graduated in 2002, I was hit with a rush of memories from my four years playing Varsity Basketball there. The great memories such as our upset defeat of the defending State Champions Bayshore in double overtime on my senior night, comical memories such as getting caught on the baseline as a junior and being dunked on by childhood friend Chad Dempsey from Evangel Christian. Memories such as the relentless practices of Lonnie Workman where every detail of his motion offense was perfected and fine tuned, under the mentality that “We will do it until we could not get it wrong if we wanted too.” As I walked to center court I saw the Seminole Mascot had been peeled off and I flashed back to being the nervous Freshmen starting his first Varsity Game on Opening Night standing there waiting to jump center.
These are memories that will forever be etched in that building, memories you cannot get from playing travel ball. I am aware that travel ball will not go away, and it too possesses life lessons and memories that cannot be duplicated with a high school team. This is not to disparage players participating in travel ball it is an encouragement for more athletes to make high school sports a priority.
The Gym/ Field/Stadium– There was a special, and indescribable feeling walking in that gym today. 20 Plus Years later, I still felt the memories rushing back from the highs and lows of playing for that team. This feeling does not exist in the travel leagues in which the lack of the intimate home gym is apparent.
The Teammates– I will be the first to admit I do not keep in touch with anyone from high school, and haven’t since graduation. However the 4 years we spent together playing ball and attending class created a bond that you cannot find on a travel team. Yes there are bonds within those teams too, but there is something different about seeing your teammates the morning of a big game, sitting in classes with them, sharing the pain of tough practices, and the joys of big wins. We watched each other graduate, covered for each others in class shenanigans, and had each others backs in the halls.
The Gameday Experience– There is something to be said about a Friday High School Football Game, Or Basketball Game between Rivals. The schools is often a buzz that week, and events like Homecoming, Alumni and Senior Night are built around these events. When you are a player the energy is electric and it is a feeling every athlete chases and longs for during their playing days. The crowd is alive, and the energy is palpable. It is a feeling that cannot be duplicated anywhere else in amateur sports
The Legacy– Every High School has a story! Every High School has its great players, legendary teams, and famous coaches. By Playing for your High School an athlete is provided an opportunity to become part of that legacy. Be part of the legend and the stories that make that high school special. This legacy often compliments the memories and teammates mentioned above.
Detractors will argue that no one is scouting high school ball. I disagree if your athlete is good enough he can and will be found. There is too much favoritism and politics in high school sports, is another complaint I hear. I do not feel the need to go in depth with a defense of this, but will just ask a simple question. If this is JUST a high school issue then how come there are so many travel teams that have split from other teams?
So while neither system is perfect. I will argue that the topics mentioned above warrant a strong case to encourage your athlete to participate in the school sports experience, because when the ball stops bouncing they still have a place where their contributions are part of history.
