WEB EXCLUSIVE

Some people who participate in certain sports have the opinion that other sports are either not sports or are not important. What they don’t seem to understand is that any sport is important for your health.

I am on the Oviedo varsity bowling team and people frequently tell me bowling is not a sport, but what they don’t understand is what we–as athletes–put into this sport. Our season starts in August and we go all the way into November. We are at the bowling alley four to five times per week, bowling to prepare for our matches. Two days a week we start at 6:00 a.m. and don’t finish until 6:00 p.m., and that’s with school in the middle.

Our sport isn’t only physical, it is extremely mental. We must know lane conditions, what equipment is needed, what balls to use for the lanes, and in a way, we also must use mathematics skills to figure out scoring. Whether you play football, cheer, lacrosse, or any other activity, if you put your time and effort into it, it is important.

Since everyone likes different things, no activity should be put down or thought any less of because you don’t personally participate in it. If you have questions about other sports that you don’t participate in, you should ask someone who does so that you can understand what that sport is about–and maybe even see if you want to try it.