There’s nothing quite like the start of another school year – and the beginning of another season of high school activity programs. Right up there with Opening Day in Major League Baseball is that first Friday night football game, which is an annual revival of spirit in communities nationwide.
Last week’s release of the annual NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey indicated that interest in these education-based programs in our nation’s schools has never been higher. For the first time, there were more than eight million who took to the athletic fields, courts, pools and ice rinks during the 2023-24 school year.
While the headlines last week inevitably focused on the sports with the most participants, perhaps the real storyline is the number of different sports offered by schools across the country, casting a wider net for more students to be included. In the post-pandemic challenges experienced by our nation’s youth, inclusivity is so important.
The survey revealed participation in more than 65 sports – from archery, badminton, bass fishing and rowing, to fencing, mountain biking, rugby and snowboarding. In addition, there were 27,051 participants in Esports, 51,502 participants in 15 different Unified sports, and another 8,000 participants in 16 Adapted sports.
The interest on the part of more high school students to be included and be a part of a team is evidenced in the growth in football, wrestling, and track and field. These are sports that offer so many different opportunities to students of different sizes and skill levels – all of whom have a desire to learn, compete and have fun with their peers.
And the eight million sports participants are just the beginning when you consider there are at least another four to six million – if not more – students in other school activity programs – speech, debate, music, theatre, academics, journalism, robotics and others. These activities are just as important, life-changing and career-impacting as sports. Many are, in fact, “cocurricular” in that they combine and complete the work done in the classroom. Performing arts programs have both an in-school component and an afterschool component.
During the day, students attend band, orchestra, theatre and debate classes, while all competitions, festivals and contests are held after school or on weekends. With the connection between the classroom and afterschool events, the numbers of students involved in these programs could surpass those in high school sports. And, thankfully, students virtually anywhere in the country can participate, as about 98 percent of our nation’s schools offer some form of speech and debate, theatre, and/or music.
The numbers are staggering – perhaps up to 14 million participants in high school sports, performing arts and other activities. And every one of these participants is an individual who wants to be included and valued. When these students feel confident, they flourish – in the classroom, on the stage, on the fields and courts, and in life.
As a way to define the value of high school students’ participation in these programs – and embody the unity that comes with it across school communities – the NFHS has incorporated the Play.Perform.Compete.Together tagline into its logo. We believe it encompasses the true impact of students’ participation in education-based activity programs that we are dedicated to supporting.
Surveys have shown the No. 1 reason students play sports in high school is to have fun, and students in both sports and the arts enjoy performing and competing, but the key word that sets education-based high school sports apart from all other youth sports is TOGETHER.
Students grow TOGETHER in this setting as every single student has a role to play that ultimately factors into the team's success.
Fans support their native sons and daughters TOGETHER, filling stadiums, gymnasiums, natatoriums and concert halls with a medley of cheers and applause.
Despite our personal and societal differences, high school sports bring entire communities TOGETHER for a common good.
We have all missed that feeling over these summer months, so here's to another year – TOGETHER!
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