Everyone knows that going to school can be dreadful. With so much going on all the time, it can be very hard to manage it all. Many students significant stress loads, and there is only so much they can do to forget about it. Wilmington Friends requires students to play at least one sport, and most student-athletes relieve their stress through sports it is to have sports practice so they can forget about the challenges each day presents. Most students get to play one of the sports that they love and have fun with their friends. After someone has had a long day of learning, they can always rely on after school sports practices and games to help keep their mind off the assignments they have at school.

No matter what sport a student is playing, they always have the freedom they need from school when they go to practice. Many teams at Friends are very close-knit, which makes things even better. New student Nick Gauthier ’17, commented, “After school sports are an outlet from the stress of upcoming assignments and other worries. Also, it is nice having seniors on my team to ask how they dealt with all the school work.” A majority of the sports teams at Friends are small, which helps build great relationships with people who can help them through their problems in school. Sports alone are a good way to release a student’s stress, but athletes can also utilize their teammates to talk about their problems with as well. In addition, teammates can  act as a positive distraction from school because they always know how to make others feel better if someone is having a bad day.

Some athletes may appreciate after school sports practices more than others because of how it helps them with their school work and time management with school. Simone Veale ‘17 said, “It is really nice to have sports because it is hard to go from a stressful school day to doing hours of homework, so sports allows students to clear their head and take a mental break. It also adds structure to the day to help plan out all your homework.” Not only do sports aid a student in forgetting about school work and having fun with peers, but it also gives students something to look forward to at the end of the day. Jon Gardner ’16, commented, “Sports help me get through the school day because it gives me something to look forward to at the end of the day and helps me escape all the stress I have about school.”

After school sports are a great break and give student-athletes a little taste of freedom from the school day and homework that has been assigned.  Scott Clothier, World Religions teacher and field hockey coach agreed, expressing: “I like to tell my student/athletes that this is an opportunity to put the books, pens, and paper away. Let your body take some stress off of your brain. After giving your all at practice, or a game, you can come back to your studies refreshed.” Student athletes and coaches agree that after school sports are a great way to rest a student’s brain between school and homework.

Although these athletes are from different grades and their work load varies, they all agreed how helpful after school sports have been for them. After- school sports provide an outlet from school for students because athletes get to play something they enjoy with friends. They can also help relieve stress because it adds structure to the day, which makes student-athletes more organized. Practices and games give students something enjoyable to look forward to when they are sitting in class. No matter what sport a student plays, they can always rely on sports and teammates to help them get through their stressful times and homework assignments.