In this period of tough economic times for schools across the country, many school districts are questioning the value of high school sports and whether or not the cost is worth the educational benefits. High school sports are important to teens for many reasons. Sport has been an integral part of the public education system in our country for many years. Good coaches / educators use athletics as an extension of the classroom, teaching lessons that could not be taught in a typical classroom.

One of the most important lessons sports can teach is the importance of teamwork and mentoring. Many high school athletes consider their coaches to be some of the most influential people in their lives. The success of the school community is often the result of how well students can relate to teachers and adults in the school. Having a coach who is a teacher creates a great support system for student-athletes as they have someone they know and trust to seek guidance and advice.

Participation in sports has also been shown to increase grades. On many high school and college campuses, the average GPA of student athletes is higher than the GPA of non-athletes.

Sports provide an outlet for students to connect with the school and unite the school community while supporting their team. It is often difficult to convey successes in the classroom to the outside community; however, sports provide a face to school that the outside community can easily see and support.