News+Article-+Why+Appeal+Outweighs+Pain

__Why Appeal Outweighs Pain__ The old expression “no risk, no reward” could never be more true when it comes to sports. Any involvement of sports comes with the danger of becoming injured, yet participation in sports has increased over the years. Even the people that injure themselves fight to get back to the sport they love. It does not matter whether it is a team sport or individual competition, the appeal sports have keeps any athlete coming back for more. High school sports, especially, result in the injury of many athletes because teenagers’ bodies are not fully developed. As the body tries to grow stronger to be able to handle a more serious level of sports, the body sometimes becomes fatigued and sore. Training for sports may result in a more serious case than soreness with high school athletes accounting for an estimated 2 million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits, and 30,000 hospitalizations annually. So what is so appealing about sports, even though there is a risk of getting injured? It is just like anything else in the world that is enjoyable; there is no thought of danger until the moment strikes. Driving a vehicle, a person does not think about crashing a car every time they sit behind the wheel, just like in sports. A person does not think about getting hurt every time they step on the court or the field, or skate onto the ice. Even athletes that have been injured make their way back to competition if they truly love the sport. Sarah Gronet, a senior at Hopewell Valley, plays varsity basketball and lacrosse and has been injured over the years. She has broken her ankle and is currently dealing with a bone bruise to her knee and shin splints, yet she continues to play and show what hard work is all about. Sports are appealing to her because of the competitiveness. “Everyone loves to fight hard for a win. But I also think the best part of sports is getting close with your team, and knowing you have a lot of people there who are going to have your back on and off the court.” Athletic Director, Mr. John McGinley, has witnessed many injuries over the years, especially coaching girls’ soccer, but he too has a theory about sports. “Being part of a team with a common goal” is what is so appealing about sports. “People are drawn to being part of a group. Athletics provides that group for people to belong to. Also there is that innate desire for competition.” Mr. McGinley also believes sports have more to offer when it comes to building bonds. “One of the reasons [he] loves coaching so much is the special bond that is created between those individuals [on the team]. It is truly amazing what a group can achieve when they are all focused on the same goals. Put aside individual goals for the betterment of the team. It is like a family. As a coach, my teams are my second family.” As a family, teams work toward that common goal of winning and having a season to remember. The competitive edge an athlete possesses makes them work hard in practice and harder in games. That is why an athlete is more likely to experience a more severe injury during competition. Referring to the table below, a sprain or strain is more common in practice than in competition, while a contusion, fracture, or concussion is more common during competition. Playing for “the family” and achieving that common goal trumps getting benched due to an injury. Like Sarah previously stated, “everyone loves to fight hard for a win.”

To an athlete, being diagnosed with an injury no matter how severe is some of the worst news to hear. The trips to the athletic trainer’s office are filled with lots of ice, heat, and any other remedy that will do the trick like Biofreeze. All this because there is no greater feeling than stepping out onto the field with teammates that are sacrificing their bodies just like you are. That is the true appeal of sports, no matter how dangerous they are rated.