The Visor

World of Lessons in Sports

October 26, 2009

Alexander Salamon

As the school year progresses, put your inquisitive minds at ease with a little wisdom. The Wisdom of Salamon. I certainly do not have all the answers but I will try to capture some of the less obvious lessons from high school experiences.

As the fall sports season comes to a close, lessons can be taken from the season that add insight to life. Winning and celebrating success may be viewed as the focal point in sports. However, it is not all about winning. Engaging in sports makes way for a healthy, hectic and sometimes stressful lifestyle. While playing a sport is healthy for mind, spirit and body, balancing life between academics, family and sport is always problematic.

Lessons from any competitive contest do not simply come from good moments and winning. Having the ability to win with humility and lose with grace says a lot about one’s character.

Competitive sports also teach one how to deal with the limitations of the body. An injury can be detrimental to a season and dealing with the strength and frailty of one’s body can be tough. Returning from injury can make one stronger or weaker both physically and mentally.

Just as any player, professional or amateur, we all have good days and bad days. Thinking we can be the best of ourselves everyday is asking too much. What matters is that you play to the best of your ability and work to your fullest potential. Training to become a better player is a commitment, not only to yourself, but also to the entire team.

Positive attitude and work ethic are incredibly important as players try to prove themselves to coaches everyday at practice. You may start a game one-day and the next, you may not. Sports make athletes adapt to adversity and different personalities. The anxieties of playing also cause emotional problems.

One does not have to be an excellent player and you may not be the next phenomenon. However, a player may be gifted with a positive attitude and the ability to help and work with others. Sports are not necessarily about standing out; the experience is about learning to play with a team.

If there was one lesson to take away from the season, just know whether on the playing field or on the bench, every player is an important asset to the success of a team.
So as the 2009 fall sports season winds down, gain knowledge from the mistakes and successes, apply lessons to your own life and keep a positive attitude.

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