The Student News Website of Francis Howell North High School.

FHNtoday.com

The Student News Website of Francis Howell North High School.

FHNtoday.com

The Student News Website of Francis Howell North High School.

FHNtoday.com

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With pressure comes stress

For as long as I can remember I have loved soccer. I love everything about it. The smell of the grass when you first hit the field, the feeling you get after making a big save, even the 6 a.m. games in other cities. I love it all.

That’s why, after an eight hour day at school, I go out and play for another two. Because after all of the built-up pressure in a school day, soccer becomes my release valve. It becomes my way to let everything go, to relax and for once during the day, actually have fun.

But recently, I’ve began to notice a growing trend not just in my sport, but in almost all across the country. The need to win. Now I know that sounds kind of stupid, it’s sports, you’re supposed to want to win games, and I agree; but at what cost? In today’s world, society is putting more pressure than ever on kids to perform. At first this was just in the classroom, but now it’s starting to spill out onto fields, courts and tracks everywhere; and everyday that it does, my release valve seals a little more shut.

With this new pressure, soccer no longer seems like a sweet release from the school day; it actually seems like another class. With this new pressure, I find myself screaming at my defenders – my friends – if they let up a break-away and I’m forced to make a save. With this new pressure, I can’t smell the grass anymore.  And it’s not just me.

In the past couple of years across the country, seemingly normal people are more and more frequently losing their minds while getting caught up in youth sports.  Parents getting into fights – physical brawls – on the sidelines of fields has become commonplace. Parents and players alike are now suing coaches, clubs and other families due to altercations on the field.  In some cases, referee’s have even been shot at. Is that the type of competitiveness we want to condone?

Next time you’re at a sporting event, take a look at the people off the field. See how many times they yell, or even scream at the kids playing. Ask yourself if that’s really necessary in a game. Some may say that those are just people who have passion for their sport, but what would they say if they saw the same people screaming others playing Scrabble? Would that be considered passion for a game? I get it, people want to win. But at what cost?

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