Going into high school can be a scary thing, and playing sports for high school can be even scarier. Entering High School is a big change for most kids, a new chapter in their life.
“It’s definitely much harder to play in high school than middle school because high school is more demanding and trying with practices and games,” says Benjamin Carbone (‘29), “while the middle school season is just games and for fun.”
It can be hard to join a high school team but in the end, many athletes report they are happy that they did. High school athletics pushes people to improve their skill and develop their knowledge of the game. People have said that in high school the practices get harder and the sport gets more competitive in general.
“The advice I would give to an upcoming freshman is to keep working,” says Lola DeBenedet (‘29) a starter on the girls varsity basketball team. “This is because you are going to be playing with people who have years more experience than you… it’s important to learn as much as you can from as many people as you can.”
A big difference in high school level play is the change in coaching styles. High school coaches tend to know more about the game play and how to develop skills. “For me, the main difference between middle and high school coaches is the experience that they can provide,” says multi-sport athlete Zoie Reichert (‘26). “In high school I have gotten the opportunity to learn from more than just one coach. You also have to be open to learning from your teammates as they can provide support and tips to further your development.”
Joining sports teams definitely helps with finding new friends in high school. You find people who share the love of the same sport and sometimes share similar interests.
People tend to form bonds with the people they play sports with in high school more so than in middle school “because in middle school you’re still trying to figure out who you are, where you belong, and in high school you have somewhat more of an idea of that,” says Reichert. “It allows you to become closer with your teammates.”
