The seventh and eighth grade men’s soccer team at Clague has finished a very successful season. They had a record of 6-4 and only lost to Tappan Middle School and Slauson Middle School. With an almost even mix of the seventh and eighth graders, they had seventh graders getting to play their first games on the middle school team and the eighth graders getting to be able to take leadership positions and other opportunities on the team. 

There are many benefits of playing a school sport and Colleen Colegrove, the coach for the men’s soccer team this year, had much to say. 

“School sports give you the opportunity to develop leadership skills, learn teamwork, gain confidence and socialize with your friends,” Colegrove said.

School sports have shown to improve test scores, GPA and student athletes going to college and earning higher income as they get older (atyourownrisk.org). Research also shows that student athletes are less likely to be obese and a reduced risk of heart disease, strokes, cancer and diabetes. Seventh grader Matthew Bezas,was on the men’s soccer team this year.

“I thought that playing on the seventh and eighth grade soccer team boosted my confidence and self-esteem and I also got to play soccer with my friends,” Bezas said.

Clague sports mostly include team sports but there are also individual sports like cross country, track and field, and singles tennis. Both have different benefits but are also both good for your physical and mental health. Most people think of sports as something that benefits your physical health but it also greatly improves your mental health. Most student athletes feel a better way about their self-worth and their perceptions of their own capabilities.

“Individual sports  allow for achieving  personal goals,” Colegrove said. “It allows an athlete to have individual style and technique. This may allow for athletes to showcase their individuality. Team sports emphasize working together towards a common goal, fostering social skills and teamwork.”

Many students do not want to play school sports because they don’t have time, or they think they are too good for the team or already play that sport.  Playing a school sport can be amazing in other ways even playing on a club team can not offer. A school sport can offer perspectives of other coaches, being able to play on a team with friends, and much more. 

“The message I would like to give to Clague students about school sports is to give your best effort, work hard, be a good teammate and most importantly, never underestimate yourself,” Colegrove said. “You could be part of the one percent who become a pro athlete.”