Sports: The Pro's and Con's ~ By: Jessica

Hi everyone! Lately my life has been taken over by basketball. This is my second year playing and the season is now wrapping up. This past weekend I played in a three-day tournament. We were the only JV girls team there so we played against varsity teams all weekend. We played four games and won one game which placed us in 6th place (there were 7 teams), which wasn't very good, but considering who we had to play against we did better than expected. Next weekend I have one last tournament and the season will be over!

I also play volleyball which starts conditioning again. This will be my fourth year! I am on Varsity volleyball and I enjoy it a ton! It's sad to think that I only have one sports season left before I graduate. 

I danced for eight years before I switched to team sports and I have grown to really love it! So then I thought to myself, why not talk about the benefits (personally and physically) of sports? So here they are:

1. Health (mentally and physically)

Sports are amazing for your health! I have consistent workouts throughout the week including games and I am able to stay toned and feeling energized. Also, I am able to clear my head and de-stress through my practices. 

2. Experience working together

In most sports you have a team. With a team comes responsibility and accountability. If you aren't giving it your all during practice and games you let your team down. If you team is able to cooperate and work together the whole experience can be rewarding and fun! Having a team teaches you have to encourage others, work together, and be driven with a purpose. 

3. Meeting new people 

Another benefit of being on a team are the people you meet. I have gotten to know my team so well and you are able to create strong relationships through your experiences together. I am so thankful for my team-mates and the way the Lord has blessed me with them. Being in a sport has pushed me out of my comfort zone and has allowed me to grow in so many ways!

So what are some cons of playing a sport?

1. No more weekends 

At least for me, I traveled all around California for games but that's not common unless you play on a club team. You will still have games almost every weekend, sometimes even during the week.

2. Sorry, I can't 

Is what you'll say a lot during the season to outside plans with friends, study groups, parties etc... You life during season and sometimes off season (for conditioning) is controlled by your sports schedule, with practices, games, and team-bonding activities, your life gets busy fast!

3. You are sore, all the time

I actually enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with being sore. It means that I worked really hard and burned a lot of calories. But if you don't want to be sore almost every day than this might be more of a hinderance to you.

All in all, being in a sport is super rewarding and has been a great blessing in my life! It's not for everyone, but I have really grown to love it over the years. If you are thinking about joining a sport, go for it! Just give it a chance and you may end up loving it! 

~ Jessica