When it comes to sports, football is always in the spotlight. Why does the football team always get the coddling? There are a variety of sports at our school, but most of our money goes to our football team for supplies and very little of it to other sports for their needs. Our football team has three playing fields, matching shoes, gloves, uniforms, wristbands, socks, helmets as well as the varsity locker room. Other athletes don’t think it’s very fair.

The tennis team has 20 players and they have to share two courts when they really need about eight, because it would make it easier to get more practice matches in so we would be more prepared for real matches and tournaments. The tennis team lacks rackets, tennis balls, matching gear, racket bags and shoes.

I understand that football is a great sport, but people also like other sports like basketball, soccer, tennis, wrestling, cross country and softball. At our school we have many athletes that should be able to get a good practice in if they had the equipment they need.  Why don’t all the sports get the same treatment that the football team gets? No matter what sport an athlete plays, those players deserve the same treatment. The football team went from not doing so well last year, to going to the playoffs in our second year of varsity football. How do you think our players got as far as they have? Hard work and determination, but the equipment provided also helped prepare them for this great season.

I think if we give the other sports the opportunity to play with the equipment they need, then they too would make our school proud and known for more than just football. The other varsity sports have done very well and have received little recognition or praise. Athletes have worked so hard to win and no one pays any attention to them because they’re not in football.

More of athletic funds should go to other sports and perhaps add booster clubs for additional funds so we can gain more players and maybe even win a couple of championships.