As I rounded second base heading toward third, all I could see in front of me were the arms of my baseball coach hurriedly waving me toward him. Spotting the center fielder out of the corner of my eye toss the ball like a catapult to the third baseman, I felt there was no way I could ever beat the throw. Why was my coach sending me when I would for sure be thrown out? I felt like I was running in water. Nevertheless, I gave it all I had, and with an extra heave, stuck my foot out to hit the base, just in time. “He’s safe!” the umpire yelled to my relief.
Before I even had a chance to dust the dirt off my pants after standing up, third-base and head coach Julius Armstrong came over, looked me in the eye and shook my hand. He always shook the hands of his 13- and 14-year-old Pony league team players when we made it to third base. No matter how you got there — whether by a walk and stealing a base or two, hitting a triple or even reaching on an error — he was clear that it was worth celebrating just by the fact that you made it so far.
When you were on his team, you felt like a winner. But if you could get to third base, you were a champion. Even when I was in my worst slump during my baseball days, if I could somehow get to third base and get that handshake, I really felt I was worth something to the team. The affirmation I acquired from teachers and coaches with something as simple as a look in the eye and a handshake helped give me confidence that permeated to all aspects of my life during my junior-high years.
I feel it is important for all junior-highers during the course of a year to participate on at least one sports team. Many students are at a time in their lives where they may have little to no confidence. Being part of a team, being encouraged by teammates on a daily basis and experiencing success and personal improvement is something that can go a long way in the life of a young athlete.
As the coach of volleyball, basketball and baseball at Heritage Christian Academy in Bothell, I have seen many junior-high students bravely try a sport for the very first time. One reason I love coaching junior-high sports is that students often end up trying a sport that is brand new to them. By the end of a season, though, some of the athletes who were new to the sport improve at an amazing rate.
Not only that, but the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall in place and the team finally starts to come together. At that moment is when I consider the season to be a success, regardless of wins and losses. I teach my students that they are all valuable members of a team, regardless of their skill level. Heritage Christian Academy is actually a wonderful place for students trying out a sport for the first time since they will not be “cut” from the program.
In addition to the self-esteem that students gain from a team, sports reinforces classroom mandates such as discipline and time management. The experience of practicing hard — and never giving up no matter how difficult it may seem — serves as a near-perfect illustration for challenges of homework and tests in the classroom. As an English teacher, I have actually found that for many students, during a sports season, they actually are better about finishing homework and staying alert in class than when they do not have sports to look forward to at the end of the day.
In two years of coaching at Heritage, I have noticed a distinct feature to each, regardless of how many wins we may post in a given season. In each season, there have always been one or two leaders who end up taking charge of the team by allowing the younger players to feel welcome, while not allowing any member of the team to give any less than their best. I encourage team leaders to lead as much as they feel comfortable leading — even portions of practices as the year progresses. This kind of leadership experience, I believe, can only be experienced by participating in sports.
Participating in sports is so wonderful because it allows students to feel as if they are part of something greater than themselves. As www.childtrendsdatabank.org reports, “Children who regularly attend high-quality after-school programs are more likely to be engaged in school and attentive in class.” The report goes on, suggesting that “they are also less likely to skip school and less likely to start drinking alcohol. Older children who consistently participate in after-school activities are more likely to attend college, vote and volunteer later in life.”
Junior-highers should participate in sports for social reasons, as well. Sports teams provide a bridge for students of different backgrounds who do not see each other throughout the course of a normal school day and maybe would not “hang out” or be friends otherwise. Young athletes learn to get along with — or sometimes even just put up with — their fellow teammates. This skill will become very important for them to develop for when they are someday looking to get hired in the professional world.
As many families have parents who both work and are unable to be with their ‘tweens and teens after school, it is ideal that these students spend time being mentored by caring adults in a safe environment. When students are empowered by adults (and teammates alike) telling them they are capable of succeeding, they start to believe it, and it begins to affect their lenses on life.
Karl Karkainen is a junior-high teacher and coach at Heritage Christian Academy in Bothell.
