The beginning of another school year brought added stress for many high school teens in Ontario, especially those who typically participate in sports.
In June, teachers under the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) threatened to strike if province and school boards could not reach a tentative deal by fall.
If the teachers went on strike, they would cease to run extracurricular sports and clubs.
Students began to feel the effects of the unsuccessful negotiations as the fall deadline neared and wondered if their high school athletic careers had been thrown on the backburner.
Thankfully, on Aug. 20, a tentative agreement was reached. The agreement – which maintained class sizes, provided a small salary bump and added a professional development day – is expected to be officially ratified by teachers before the end of this month.
With the future of high school sports teams no longer in jeopardy, students should take a moment to think about the alternative outcome and how it would have affected them.
Many students may take extracurriculars for granted, not realizing just how many resources they require.
But what would happen if extracurriculars ceased to exist? Why do schools even have extracurriculars in the first place?
Extracurricular activities are proven to have various positive effects on the lives of teens.
Some, such as chess, music and art, put students into a relaxed setting that promotes socialization with their peers.
In an article published in ESSAI, an academic journal from the College of DuPage in Illinois, author Erin Massoni says that these activities also promote stress relief, creativity and problem-solving.
According to Massoni, other activities such as soccer, hockey, basketball, football and running provide a long list of benefits to students, including increased self-esteem, stronger peer relationships, more academically oriented friends, greater family attachment, higher marks and greater expectations for themselves.
True Sport, a Canadian sport ethics organization, says there are many studies that focus the effects of sport on the five Cs – competence, confidence, connections, characters and caring. The five Cs are considered fundamental components of youth development.
The many elements of playing sport – the leadership of coaches and peers, discipline of practice and training, acceptance of losing and perseverance it takes to win – provide lifelong skills for young athletes.
The short-term benefits of extracurricular sports are often immediately noticed.
Research by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute has shown that physical exercise causes short-term relaxation, improved concentration, enhanced creativity and memory and improved mood.
In addition, research shows that high school students who play sport are less likely to drop out. Participation in sport is also associated with consistently higher grades in school. This is likely due to the increased time commitment of sport that helps keep teens away from risky behaviours such as drinking, drugs and smoking.
Presumably, there is a point at which too many extracurricular activities have a negative effect on the student, as energy levels dwindle and grades drop.
However, as is the case in many aspects of life, there needs to be balance.
Vince Lombardi, a well-known American football coach, once said, “People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defences, or the problems of modern society.”
Students and parents alike should be thankful that high schools in Ontario will continue to provide students with extracurricular activities and continue to provide students with the opportunities to excel both on and off the field.