by Donald Moore

Created on: June 10, 2008   Last Updated: July 24, 2010

Having played two sports - basketball and football - in high school and now having a son competing in baseball, swimming and marching band (which OUGHT to be considered a sport given the physical demands of it!), I believe I can offer a few worthwhile thoughts on this subject.

Yes the demands of school and sports are daunting. To maintain good grades in the classroom and good performance on the field requires a great deal. In addition to the 7 hours each day spent in class, my son spends 2-3 hours studying and another 2-3 hours practicing/playing each school day. That make for between 11 to 13 hour days. In addition there are frequent Saturday competitions that require not only playing time but travel time to and from the fields.

I can think of some very good reasons why a parent and a student should be willing to make those kinds of choices.

Well, I can think of some very good reasons.

First and foremost, the athlete is doing things he or she loves to do. Yes, it is hard work, but it is a labor that brings joy. Not the joy of winning or losing but of training, competing and becoming a "band of brothers" on a field of honor; of setting challenging goals and discovering that they can be achieved; and of making memories that can never be taken away. My advice to parents or students considering involvement in demanding activities is to take the plunge. They may discover a great, great joy they would otherwise miss.

Secondly, the student who is giving their best in school and to other activities will benefit from learning how to identify priorities, make choices and give concentrated effort to tasks. In this discussion, it should be pointed out that consideration could equally apply to any demanding activity - community volunteerism, the arts, JROTC, part-time jobs or another choice you could supply. Making choices to do things in addition to school work is invaluable preparation for the day when they are working full time and having to choose to spend time with their spouses or children or choosing to becoming active in community affairs. Much life is about choosing and being involved in activities is good preparation for life!

A third reason I would offer about the value of involvement in extra curricular activities is the level of character development that can take place. Some people may want high school to be a continuation of the playground days of pre-school. However, whether they go on to college or enter the workaday world, they will be better served by

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