JOURNALISM PROJECT.

MORE THAN JUST A SPORT, BUT A WAY OF LIFE

By Brandon Griffith

           

           Often times, people find themselves dedicating more time to something that they find appealing in a strange and addictive way. This ‘something’ is sports. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), more than 7.6 million or about 55.5% of all high school students participated in a high school sport in the 2010-2011 scholastic year.  As great and overwhelming as that number is, not all of those people fit the kind of person we are looking for. We are not here to count those who only did it to say they did; or those who thought girls/guys would like them more if they were on the team. The people we are here to confront are those who are passionate and dedicated beyond anyone else’s comprehension.

Individuals who give more than just their time and talent, but also put forth their mind, heart and soul into what they do on the field are those whom this is for. In a sport like football for example, at the high school level size can become a crucial aspect of necessary change in a young player’s life. So to measure up to these standards you see athletes put their bodies through tremendous diets and workouts just to be able to be better at that sport. Same goes for speed and conditioning for track and wrestling, ball handling for soccer, the right swing or throwing motion in baseball etc., all of these things are focus aspects that can consume a player’s mode of thinking or outlook on themselves. Still, these are only some of the physical demands that help drive the true passionate individuals to stand out. We are talking about the first person to practice, weight room or film review, the person who pushes a little harder when everyone else seems to be quitting, the person who can rally their team and staff behind them by just their attitude or play on the field. LEADERS. These are the people who don’t see things as simply a sport… but as a way of life.