To Play or Not to Play..?

The tennis season recently ended for me. I'm pretty sad about it, but it got me thinking about sports and the pros/cons of playing them. To start with the pros, playing sports is not just a great way to get in shape but it also helps you meet a lot of new, and different people. Some of my best friends are in the sports I play. Through sports I've also become friends with people I probably wouldn't have gotten to know otherwise. For example, my basketball team. There are many different groups of people I get the chance to play with. We all come from very different backrounds yet we still have that connection of basketball. In reality it took a few years for us to get to the point where we were comfortable with each other. We seemed so different from one another we didn't quite know how to act, but then this past year it clicked in our heads that it really didn't matter where we come from or who our other friends were. Our team as a whole grew into more than just a basketball team. Just think; that was only one year. We still have at least three left. So, you see how friendships can sprout so quickly.
Sports also help with grades. In order to remain playing on the team you have to have at least passing grades, and some schools now require more than just passing. It helps motivate students who normally would say hey just forget it, but now want the chance to show who they can really be. And keep this important part of their life going.
There are also some disadvantages to sports. First off there's always those crazy parents who are never satisfied with the way the coach is running things, or how much playing time their child gets. It's always a big downer when there are parents like that, especially when the coach really is trying their best. Sports also take up a lot of time. Which isn't always a problem, but after awhile you can get pretty worn out.
In the long run I think sports are a good thing. They provide so many opportunities, and connect you with so many people. So I would play if you get the chance, and even if you don't want to play organized sports go play around with your friends. It's really fun!