The Microcosm of Sports: High School Athletics and Societal Values

This essay examines the relationship between sports and society, particularly focusing on the role of high school athletics in the United States. It highlights how high school sports serve as a microcosm of broader societal values, teaching teamwork, discipline, and fair play. The essay discusses the historical importance of high school sports in America and their impact on developing responsible community members. It also addresses contemporary issues, such as the controversy surrounding transgender athletes' participation in sports, and how media and societal sentiments influence these situations. The essay concludes by emphasizing the significance of sports in shaping societal norms and values through education and guidance.

Running head: SPORTS AND SOCIETY
SPORTS AND SOCIETY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Sports, at this point, are an exact microcosm of the world. It is just a perfect match to all
the real-life events being held all around the world teaches us how to respond to it in a bold yet
playful manner. Sports are the continuous movement of life. High school sports are the perfect
example of the microcosmic nature of games, and it helps in developing a society with
individuals having a healthy mind, soul and body. The youth, the building blocks of society who
are so full of energy tends to expend this energy to learn the value of fair play, teamwork, to
achieve goals and most importantly to have a good time and high school sports provide the
perfect helping hand for them (Chin et al., 2016). The United States has always valued the concept
of High school sports for decades, and it has produced some sporting legends for the world
through it. The High School athletes prepare themselves in the work habit and discipline skills
that provide them to become more accountable and productive to community members. It is so
because it teaches the students that although they can reside in different communities having
different platforms and cultures, appreciate the various teams and have the common bond
through sports (Ghavami & Peplau, 2018).
The United States has always tried to bring education and sports together by awarding
high school athletes with higher grade point average and proving the fact of fewer school
absences than non- athletes, all in all, this country has always beheld the value of sports in the
society through proper education and guidance. Games play a significant role in the everyday
societal scene at American colleges and universities as well (McKenzie & Smith, 2017). According
to statics, among 74 countries, students of America high school rank 31st in math and 17th in
reading and somewhat people blame the government for making sports such a huge priority in
American schools. But before raising an eye to this matter, it must first try to observe that High
School sports has been the pillar of American sports for centuries and today it cannot turn a blind

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eye to that. With light to the recent events, there has been a controversy that Transgender
freshmen, Andraya Yearwood in Connecticut have been permit to participate in her selected race
as a woman. This controversy lead to the sentimental side of the country where everyone agreed
she should be given the opportunity to compete in her chosen sport as a female contestant as
because she identifies herself as a girl and is confident to shine wherever life takes her to. She
made victory in the 100 and 200 meters and get the title of double state and in this activity, she
thoroughly thrashed the defending champion. In this case, the media played a huge role in
bringing this controversy to light and getting the public opinion and helping the girl achieve what
she had to by making the sentiment the new universal language. The High School organization
responded as any other Professional organization would have responded under immense media
pressure and also by keeping a view for the modern world (Hacke, 2016).

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References
Chin, E. Y., Nelson, L. D., Barr, W. B., McCrory, P., & McCrea, M. A. (2016). Reliability and validity of the
Sport Concussion Assessment Tool–3 (SCAT3) in high school and collegiate athletes. The
American journal of sports medicine, 44(9), 2276-2285.
Ghavami, N., & Peplau, L. A. (2018). Urban middle school students’ stereotypes at the intersection of
sexual orientation, ethnicity, and gender. Child development, 89(3), 881-896.
Hacke, R. D. (2016). Girls Will Be Boys, and Boys Will Be Girls: The Emergence of the Transgender
Athlete and a Defensive Game Plan for High Schools That Want to Keep Their Playing Fields
Level-for Athletes of Both Genders. Tex. Rev. Ent. & Sports L., 18, 131.
McKenzie, T. L., & Smith, N. J. (2017). Studies of physical education in the United States using SOFIT: A
review. Research quarterly for exercise and sport, 88(4), 492-502.