Most high school students are involved in some sort of athletic extracurricular activity, whether that be through one’s school or a community club. While sports might be an activity for some students, for others, it’s a life passion and career. As such, it is sad and unfortunate whenever I hear of politics and biased favoritism working in negative ways at the high school level. This sort of “corruption” in high school sports is not victimless and needs to be addressed.

One of the most important factors that affects a student’s experience in sports is the coaches. For better or for worse, coaches have the power the determine an athlete’s fate both on and off the court. A couch may be a source of encouragement or a reason for pessimism. They also play an important role in college recruitment, helping student-athletes receive scholarship offers to play at certain colleges and universities. Any comment or remark a coach has on a student can drastically affect his/her chances of being recruited, and in that sense, the fate of students is left to a few adults who are prone to their own set of biases.

Further, we can’t overlook the financial obstacles many students have to go through just to stay on a team. Many schools require an expensive program fee masked as “mandatory donations” for students to get a chance to play. It will break any parent’s heart to see their son or daughter be denied an opportunity for financial reasons.

I write this not to criticize particular schools or coaches. I want students to have opportunities to play sports without the fear or burden of being affected by factors beyond their control. Sports has always been an avenue for fairness and competition, and it should stay that way.

<Jisoo Ku Jserra Catholict HS 10th Grade>