Fall high school sports are the year’s most anticipated and best

Across America high school athletes have been sweating their hearts out.  For weeks now, they have been humping it in pre-season conditioning workouts, drills, practices and scrimmages in anticipation of what historically is the most exciting time for prep athletics – fall sports.  With last year’s seniors graduated, as fans our spirits are renewed by the upcoming group.  We want to see if they have improved, gotten bigger, faster, quicker and stronger.  The two-month layoff from school-to-school competition, finally ended, brings a fresh perspective and enthusiasm not just to the schools, athletes and parents, but to local team followers itching to pay their five bucks to see what coaches have done with this promising crop. But, why does this time of year hold such a special place in our hearts?

Maybe part of it is the subtle changes we wish for in outdoor temperatures from the dog days to cooler breezes, from short sleeves to sweatshirts.  Who doesn’t love donning a sweater before heading  out to a Friday night high school football game?  We may not be there yet, but if hoping helps, leaves will start turning yellow and red and falling to the ground sooner than later.

Maybe it’s that we simply miss seeing our kids playing with other kids in our communities.  You know, the ones they grew up with, instead of their being dragged around the countryside wrapped up in the trappings of club or travel sports where every at-bat, serve, basket or great play holds more significance than it probably should.  In the fall, it’s more of a game than a career choice and everybody from town shop owners to school cafeteria workers sit side-by-side cheering on their young heroes.

Maybe we see a new school year as a nostalgic reflection of ourselves and what we experienced during those heady high school days.  We smile as the little ones run around with boundless energy.  First-year high schoolers gather at the end of the bleachers avoiding their parents yet wondering where they fit in.  Former athletes gather in pockets spouting off about how this year’s team will perform and how much they miss the game.  The athletes themselves bound out of the locker room sneaking a glance up in the stands to see their parents standing, clapping and glowing with pride.  And the coaches nervously pace back and forth because no amount of practicing can really predict how their team will actually perform until it really matters.

When we look around us and see that we aren’t alone in our joy and full-throttled exuberance, we finally get it, don’t we?  These kids in front of us, the athletes in uniform, have worked their butts off just to make the team, much less play every minute, and we appreciate what they have sacrificed to be there.  We are excited for them and this is our way of honoring them for reaching a milestone in their lives.   They’ve made it and we love and admire them for it.  Few things could mean more.  It’s a time-honored cultural thing.  And the fall once again gives us hope for another generation.