Hundreds of MCPS kids take the risk of trying out for middle school sports in the hope of having the privilege to represent their school each year.
MCPS offers four sports for seventh and eighth graders. These sports are coed cross country, boys’ and girls’ softball, basketball and soccer.
While middle school and high school sports are different, they both have significant positives. Middle school sports have a heavy focus on fun. “Middle school sports can be an enriching experience when approached with a focus on fun, participation, and personal growth,” Frost Athletic Coordinator Rachel Baker said.
The biggest difference between Middle school and high school sports is the competitiveness. Middle school sports tend to be less serious and competitive, whereas high school sports focus on winning instead of development. “The biggest difference between middle school sports and high school sports is the level of competitiveness. In middle school, the emphasis is often on participation, skill development, and enjoyment. Coaches typically prioritize fostering a love for the game and creating an inclusive environment where all students, regardless of skill level, can take part and improve. Whereas high school sports tend to have a more competitive atmosphere,” Baker said.
School sports, and especially Middle school sports, provide students with benefits crucial to their health and even teach them future skills. While these skills and benefits can relate to sports, a majority of them help them overall in life. “[Middle school sports] provide several important benefits, including physical health, social skills, discipline and time management, confidence and self-esteem and stress relief,” Baker said.
Middle school sports, and sports in general allow students to be a part of a team. Students may struggle to make friends, and sports can be a way to get around that and create lasting friendships. “I would say the best thing about middle school sports is the sense of community and camaraderie they foster among students. These programs provide a unique opportunity for young athletes to come together, build friendships, and support one another both on and off the field,” Baker said.
Former Cabin John MS boys’ soccer coach and current boys’ JV soccer coach at this school Evan Hoppman agrees with that. He said he believes these sports teams allow students to create bonds that they otherwise would not have. “My favorite part of middle school athletics is seeing the squad come together as a team through the season. Lots of the players do not know each other before the season starts, and as the team develops the shared experience of representing the school really fosters a cohesive spirit,” Hoppman said.
However, not everyone can get the benefits of Middle school sports. Certain restrictions, like physicals, can be an obstacle that prevents students from participating. “One change I would suggest for middle school sports is to eliminate the requirement for a physical examination to participate. While I understand the intent behind ensuring students are physically fit to engage in sports activities, this requirement can create unnecessary barriers for many students. Many families may struggle to afford a doctor’s visit or may not have easy access to healthcare providers, which could prevent enthusiastic young athletes from participating,” Baker said.
While access to middle school sports can be an issue, students argue that access to good equipment is too. Goals, fields, and even balls being in bad shape negatively impact the Middle school sports experience. “I would try to get access to better equipment because we didn’t really have anything to work with. Our field was always messed up and our goals were half broken, so it would make practices and games very difficult,” former Cabin John Middle School soccer player and junior Gimoon Kang said.
Of course, Middle school sports aren’t perfect. Not having playoffs not only hurt the importance of team success but also is the reason middle school sports struggle to mirror their high school counterparts. “Middle school sports could prepare students for the competitive nature of high school sports by having championships instead of just league games. Like high school sports, it would be very beneficial if there were county and state championships,” Kang said.
From a coach’s perspective, the biggest issue isn’t the lack of playoffs, but rather the lack of games. Middle school sports only have five games, which is nothing compared to high school sports. “I would add more games to the season as we only play five. It would be good to have a few more matches and to play more schools in the area,” Hoppman said.
