The Value of Athletics
Dave O’Brien
November, 2007
I had the recent privilege of reviewing my niece’s acceptance packet from the US Air Force Academy. Her letter of appointment estimated the value of an Academy scholarship for someone in the class of 2012 to be $387,000. Over 9200 high school students applied for only 1600 available appointments. There is no doubt that our service academies provide some of the best educational opportunities for high achieving, young men and women. While other institutions also boast great educational opportunities, the service academies go further by putting equal emphasis on the development of great leaders.
As I studied all the Air Force Academy pamphlets and booklets, I was immediately drawn to their open desire to recruit and further develop athletes. While some of these athletes are recruited to play intercollegiate sports for the Academy, most are not. Yet the Academy puts great value in recruiting cadets that are athletes. Academy statistics say that 84% of a typical cadet class will have earned an athletic letter award. They want cadets that are competitive by nature, a trait bred by athletic participation.
The Academy tradition is that every cadet is an athlete. Once at the Academy it is mandatory that all cadets participate in either intercollegiate or intramural athletics. The Air Force Academy catalogue states, “The intramural program not only provides the cadets with an enjoyable way to exercise, it is one of the best leadership opportunities the Air Force Academy has to offer.” These are not typical intramural sports programs. Cadets compete with their squadrons and practice at least twice a week during the season. They take intramural participation very seriously.
The Air Force Academy is the youngest of our US Service Academies, but the emphasis on athletic participation is not unique. Both the Army and Navy value athletic participation as a cornerstone to building great leaders. West Point’s Competitive Sports Club Manual states, “Athletic participation is an ideal laboratory environment for cadets to develop leadership skills. When properly designed and implemented, and based on the principles of fair play, athletic participation contributes significantly to the mission of the Academy. When refined through practice, athletic participation supports the development of traditional Army Values – duty, honor, integrity, moral and physical courage, loyalty, respect, and selfless service.”
Not surprisingly, the website of the US Naval Academy also emphasizes the importance of athletic participation. The website states, “The athletic teams are an integral part of the overall education of the midshipmen. Athletics provide leadership opportunities and the experiences of team play, cooperative effort, commitment and individual sacrifice.” Again, leadership skills are developed through athletic participation.
As parents we sometimes lose sight of the true value of our children participating in sports. We get caught up in the superficial aspects of athletic participation. We want our children to do well, and to be recognized as “stars.” When our children don’t meet our hopes or expectations of high achievement, we look for something or someone to blame. Maybe we blame our child for not working hard enough, or the coach for making detrimental decisions, or the team for not surrounding him/her with adequate talent. Any of these reactions create unnecessary pressure on the athlete. Instead of just coping with the normal stresses of athletic participation, the child must also endure the stress of parental disappointment.
Statistics declare that 75% of all children will drop out of organized sports by the time they are 13 years old. Think of all the leadership development they are missing between the ages of 13 and 18! Granted, not every child will aspire to be a Service Academy cadet, but the Armed Forces aren’t the only organizations in need of great leaders either. Every child, superstar or not, can benefit from participation in competitive athletics. Maybe all the hours and dollars you spend on their sporting endeavors will not yield a college scholarship or pro career. However, it is highly likely that your dedication, loyalty and most importantly, your support will help lay a foundation for your child’s success in life.
Resources:
United States Air Force Academy 2003-2004 Catalog
US Air Force Academy Appointment Letter, Chelsea Ragland
Air Force Academy, “Who Said the Sky’s the Limit?” brochure
United States Military Academy, Competitive Sports Manual
US Naval Academy website (http://www.usna.edu)
Fair Play, by Scott Lancaster