Why Sports? - By Monica Campos

Sports are around every corner we turn and have been a part of all cultures worldwide. Whether on billboards, media sources, or cheering for our high school team, these sports outlets have impacted our livelihoods for many years as people get emotionally invested in them. For many, these events are a sense of joy, pride, and sometimes emotional release, but why do others get so invested and sports-focused? The connection that people may have to these sports can be narrowed down to psychological, social, and cultural factors. In recent years, the high school sports setting has become more involved, but how exactly has it?

Photo: @metcalfmedia_

Community is a very big factor that plays into the emotional investment of why people get so attached to sports. Being a fan and being able to participate while surrounded by others who are a part of the same interests gives people a sense of belonging. Sports bring people together at a stadium or even in a living room. It all gives you that same effect of feeling a sense of belonging as part of such a big clique. This is noticeable within high schools, especially Richland, which comes from a completely different school. There are huge similarities within different communities. It is important to include others in discussing certain topics, as 17-year-old volleyball player from Connell High School, Daisy Alcala, explains how sports are tied into her life. “When I played volleyball, I felt like it helped me and the girls on my team feel more connected, especially because of our activities, such as fundraisers, team dinners, away games. It helped me expand my social skills more and help me become more open with others and getting to meet new people.” Many focus on what the audience does for the community aspect. Athletes may have more of an identity relationship when it comes to sports, but there is, of course, engagement involved. Athletes create the opening for this whole group of people to get involved. Richland does its best to make sure every sports event is full of participation that people come to enjoy and succeed. There are multiple times when I have witnessed, noticed, and been a part of this “community.” Maybe some of the times I've gone to any sports game, everyone seems quite involved. Students, parents, and staff members will come together to show support for the school or team, showing that competition may not be the root of sports but the connections that you may feel. It is something that fans easily suck you into, which gives that feeling of bliss, you could say.

Photo: Jim Qualheim

High school sports play a crucial role in building these tight-knit towns' identities as well, and you can definitely see the difference in schools when comparing Richland High's part of town with Hanford’s part. High schools serve as builders of community mascots and symbols and give more culture to the area. This also begins to influence those around you the more you invite someone, the more, the more people are involved. The wide variety of sports helps many people of all kinds of cultures and backgrounds immerse themselves and include themselves. Sports tend to be a form of escape for some people. In the fast-paced world that we live in, sports can just be something to watch or do to turn off your brain. Watching or playing sports helps those temporarily relieve stress from doing something mindless with a certain amount of focus. This shared emotional engagement, especially when a team wins, creates collective joy and fulfillment. 

Tying in with the community people get, the connections we make also give us some entertainment value as well. People often become deeply invested in high school sports because they provide a very accessible and entertaining form of high-energy entertainment. I’ve noticed that in this town, many people live close to the school, so it has become an easier way to hang out with friends or family. Many plan to host parties to watch a football or boxing game with their loved ones and enjoy a drink together. A senior from Richland High School, Alex Degraaf, describes his own experiences to me. “Well, for many who watch sports, it’s because they start watching it at a young age, typically with their dad or someone who watches it regularly, I like it because I grew up with it and watched football/basketball every week also led me to play for both games, it became a passion at a young age for me.” Again, for many communities, it is the root of such a big investment people put into sports. Growing up from such a young age and creating a bond with someone you care for deeply and having fun with is quite nice, of course, but it also will create a bond that later ties into the pleasure that comes with it. Being a part of a high school, it seems that, unlike professional sports, high school games are more intimate, with the athletes being students we see in their hallways and can connect more with them. It's the unpredictability of the games, the passion you can notice, or the close calls that often leave people on the edge of their seats. The pride that students, parents, and local fans bring is often the cause of “collective effervescence.” Collective effervescence is the intense energy and shared emotions that “emerge” when people come together for a common purpose. We do this almost always as we follow those motions that attract us during lunch, after school, and when we come together for a common purpose. However, in high school sports, this can be seen when students, athletes, and fans all collectively help each other participate in some way. High school sports will often make these events an engaging, low-cost way for people to enjoy competition, often with a greater emotional attachment behind them. This combination of entertainment, community pride, and personal connection drives many to become invested in the games.

Photo: @reardonphoto

Another reason people invest in sports is their identification. Fans will often see their favorite athletes or teams as reflections of what they could be or what they are, relating to the qualities that they admire/aspire to. High school athletes will usually be viewed as representations of “the school’s value,” and their victories are the joy they bring. Many athletes will get a feeling of success when their team wins and of disappointment when they lose. The connection can be so strong that people feel they have invested a lot into the outcome of a game. This emotional investment will get to these athletes within their personal lives and can either break or help them gain confidence in themselves. These wins or losses can become so much to an athlete as they reflect their identity. Many high school athletes come from similar backgrounds, and their wins can seem in reach for those who follow them. Being part of a team or community of athletes gives a feeling of possibility and aspiration. Even students who do not play on the team can identify with the athletes' hard work and dedication, seeing parallels between the athletes’ efforts and personal struggles.

People invest in sports for multiple reasons, from the entertainment value to the sense of community and personal identification they offer. While there is no complete right or wrong answer, as people invest for many different reasons, it is good to understand where the root of it comes from. As for me, I get involved with the community aspect much more than identity. Whether watching on screen or supporting your high school, sports have a unique ability to fascinate people in many different ways. The thrill, belonging, and personal connection with athletes draw people into the world of sports. Ultimately, sports don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. Many enjoy it, and some don’t. I feel it is all about how you involve yourself in them.