Nothing is as well-earned of a break from the constant stress and academics of DV as school sports are. Within such an intense learning environment, sports provide a space for students to take a break from the books and celebrate athletics – whether it’s taking pictures in school colors, hanging out with friends after games or, for aspiring college athletes, racking up some achievements to put on their application.
Yet when we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, it’s clear that a vital component is missing from this equation: the athletic part of athletics. Somewhere between the student body and the athletes themselves, sports culture at Dougherty has lost the plot.
It’s difficult to ignore how the student body neglects school sports. Turnout for virtually every sport other than basketball and football is extremely low, and even within these two most popular events, interest is mainly shown for the mens half. Even then, this support does not tend to manifest itself in outright investment in the games. Although school spirit is shown in the manner of wearing face paint and school colors, large sport events at DV are primarily used as a social opportunity to take photos, buy overpriced food and hang out afterwards.
Of course, not everyone has to be invested in sports. It’s okay to be motivated to attend games more by the social aspect than the match itself. But couple this with disproportionate turnout and our subconscious gender bias, and it’s clear that as students and peers, we’ve truly lost sight of why sports are a part of this school.
On a larger scale, outside of games themselves, it’s true that we’re generally aware of major accomplishments. I remember both the halls and social media buzzing with school spirit when mens soccer snagged the title of NCS champions this year. But we only care to tune in when our teams perform exceptionally well, rather than showing consistent interest regardless of the outcome. At the end of the day, support conditional on victory isn’t support at all.
When we shift the focus from sports culture within the student body to the competitors themselves, the situation does not become any better. Many student athletes have lost focus of why they compete in the activity that they dedicate their time to: the sport itself. I’ve heard many of my peers complain about how one of their primary motivations for playing a sport is to build their resume and look “well-rounded” on their college applications. After all, admissions officers love to see years dedicated to a varsity sport, or, even better, a shiny “captain” title stamped next to an applicant’s name.
Obviously, this isn’t the case for every athlete, and many people at this school choose to be a part of DV’s athletic community because they genuinely love the game. However, with pressure to stand out in this school rising, superficial participation has become a problem for more than a handful of outliers.
A mentality like this takes the passion out of something that should be driven primarily by genuine interest and enthusiasm. The result? Players are miserable because they’re dedicating time to an activity they don’t enjoy, and it’s obvious in their performance. The sport should be the priority, not how playing it looks on a piece of paper.
Even within teams as a whole, we have begun to lose focus of what we are here for. Too often, unnecessary issues get in the way of building a community that centers discipline and athletics. As shown by the recent altercation within DV soccer – and the subsequent warning sent out to all athletes – sports culture has recently begun to put too much of an emphasis on victory rather than showing proper sportsmanship. Just like how it is unfair of the student body to only partake in athletics when teams are doing well, it is similarly devaluing for athletes to care more about winning than the experience of competing.
It’s time to put the sportsmanship back in sports, in order to center the game, the people both watching and participating in it and what it means for our school. As students, we can put more of an effort into appreciating sports as more than just a social outlet, win or lose. And for those of us who are athletes, we need to make sure our values align with what Dougherty Valley sports stands for: camaraderie, dedication and passion.
