Last school year, nearly 75% of Urban students participated in a team sport, according to the Urban website. Regardless of experience in team sports, Urban’s athletics department encourages students to try out for a sports team. For many students, team sports are a very important part of their high school experience, allowing for academic and personal growth.
Carolin Flanagan ‘27 joined the girls’ junior varsity (JV) lacrosse team last spring with no prior experience playing. Flanagan’s tryout experience inspired her to join the team. “I think that was one of the first times where I was like, ‘Wow, it [would be] really fun to be on a team where there are so many people that you’re close with, … learning together,’” Flanagan said.
“You don’t have to be good to enjoy a sport. … I’m okay at lacrosse, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about trying something [new],” said Flanagan.
For some, team sports offer opportunities to make friends and socialize. “It’s way less intimidating to go into school knowing people, especially the older girls because they can help with classes,” JV Volleyball Player Emily Saunders ‘28 said. “I like having other people to rely on and [I like] being able to make friends on the team.”
Additionally, sports participation can improve mental health. According to a 2020 Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, adolescents who participated in team sports had 10% lower scores of anxiety and 19% lower scores of depression compared to those who participated in an individual sport or did not play sports at all.
“In general, sports are healthy for your body, no matter what,” Varsity Flag Football Player Grant Wang ‘27 said. “When you’re playing [team] sports, you’re not thinking about the stuff that stresses you out. You’re able to just go out, have fun and take your mind off the hard stuff.”
“It’s really important for your mental health and physical health that you move and let go of all that stress,” said Randy Li, math teacher and varsity volleyball coach. “Urban is relatively high struggle in terms of stress, … [so] setting time aside is so important.”
Team sports can also teach skills that can be applied to school. Li said, “In math class, I use sports analogies frequently. And in volleyball, I make analogies back to the classroom. What’s different about taking a test versus playing in this match?”
Remy Kauffmann ‘26, a member of the varsity flag football team, said, “On sports teams, I try to be a vocal leader, which [leads] into a class when I communicate with other people. … I try to get the best out of my classmates, just like in sports, [where] I try to get the best out of my teammates.”
Team sports do not come without difficulty, but they give some students valuable insight into life. Flanagan said, “[Sports] have … pros and cons. … During dinner or later in the day, I feel really tired. But when I’m out there playing, I just feel very much in the moment.”
“Sports are like life: There is only so much you can control. The things you can control, like your effort and attitude, can get you through the hard times [so you can] enjoy the good times,” Director of Athletics Joe Skiffer said. “Much like life … you don’t grow without facing your fear or going through failure. [High school] is a great time to do it.”
Urban accommodates players regardless of their experience in team sports. “We have a lot of sports with different levels, [and] I do think there’s a space for everyone,” Skiffer said.
Wang said, “Urban is very inclusive and encouraging to people trying sports. If you hate it, you can quit and if you don’t — if you like it — then that’s great.”
