Persuasive Essay: Forced Participation In School Sports

With obesity rates rising in America, schools have begun proposing the solution of requiring students to participate in a sport, in order for students to build a healthy relationship with physical activity. However, forced participation in school sports does not create positive attitudes towards physical activity for many students. The requirement of school sports would instead creating a breeding ground for feelings such as frustration and resentment towards physical activity, especially for students who are not athletically inclined. Sports also pose a variety of both physical and psychological dangers for students, including concussions, anxiety, sprains, and stress. With the many potential menaces to playing sports, it is essential to allow …show more content…
It is common to hear tales of unfortunate students who fail miserably at sports. His peers lament that he is on their team, as the red-faced student wishes desperately to be anywhere but there. During the game, the student will kick the ball into their own goal or duck at a fly ball instead of catching it. His peers will groan in annoyance, and harp on him after the match for ruining the game. The student’s lack of athletic ability creates tension between teammates, and oftentimes he will face ridicule, anger, and mockery for his inadequacy. Even without the added embarrassment of their peers’ judgements, the inability to play a sport creates feelings of embarrassment, uselessness, and frustration. The student would resent sports, which are the cause of his agony. Mandatory school sports would require the student to continuously return to the toxic environment where their self-worth is torn down. Forcing students to participate in sports would not increase a student’s appreciation of physical activity, but instead tear down their self-esteem and lower the possibility of them partaking in sports in the