The vision of offering diverse sports can attract students who may not otherwise engage in traditional ones. Less common sports can create collaboration and involvement among teammates and improve lifelong skills and student well-being through physical activity, regardless of prior involvement. The high school should consider expanding opportunities for students to participate alternative sports SO that everyone can get involved. Examples of alternative sports include pickleball, fencing, skateboarding, rock climbing, cornhole, badminton, and flag football. Some, like pickleball and badminton, can utilize existing gym equipment, while others, such as skateboarding and rock climbing, would require designated space.
Developing a fully-fledged alternative sport requires a comprehensive approach, student interest, funding, and competitive opportunities. Predominantly, alternative sports programs must start as a club to gauge participation before seeking board approval. For example, the high school currently supports a Ping Pong Club with after-school meetings where students can play with each other. Demonstrating the club's success and the students' enthusiasm can strengthen the possibility of a full-school sport. It •is also important to see whether neighboring schools offer the sport for competition. If other schools in the area don't provide the sport, an intra-school competition could be played amongst the members of the high school.
Sophomore Norah Dickens describes the possibility of including rock climbing as a sport: "Rock climbing is a perfect place for letting worries go; it's very therapeutic and helps letting go of overthinking. This makes a compelling candidate for a new school sport! This sport can benefit students beyond physical activity, helping them cope with mental well-being and stress. In addition, these sports have low startup costs compared to others and can be a financially viable option for many students.
Expanding the variety of school sports programs can offer new opportunities for many students, promoting more collaboration between students, widening the range of opportunities, and keeping relatively manageable costs for all students. Utilizing a thoughtful approach, such as starting a club to gain interest before upgrading to the sports status, ensures a smooth transition and guarantees student engagement.