National High School Activities month starts next week

October is one of our favorite months of the year. The weather is changing as the heat begins to wind down and leaves begin to fall — and it is a marquee month for high school sports and other school activity programs as well. On any given Friday night in the fall, there are about 7,000 high school football games involving more than one million student-athletes. And between those Friday night football games during the week are cross country meets, volleyball matches, field hockey games and soccer matches. And then there are the millions of students involved in speech, debate, theatre and music programs. We have the privilege in this country to have athletics and activity programs as a part of the educational system. In most other countries, students attend school for academics and participate in sports through clubs, travel teams, camps, clinics, and with private coaches. Even with the development of non-school club teams in this country, education-based activities have continued to prosper — this past year surpassing eight million participants in high school sports for the first time. In addition to the educational aspect, sports within the school setting have continued to thrive because young people like playing before fans in their hometown. Athletes on club teams don't play for their school, their hometown fans, their friends in school. Being a part of the high school team and playing before the hometown crowd is special, and October is a time to celebrate the value of these programs in our nation's schools. The annual month-long celebration of high school athletics and other activity programs — National High School Activities Month — begins next week for the NFHS and its 51 member associations. During this special time, the almost 20,000 high schools in the 50 states plus the District of Columbia are encouraged to promote the values inherent in high school athletics and other activities such as speech and debate, music and theatre. Each week has a special emphasis and is geared toward the individuals who provide these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for high school students. Schools are encouraged to use the National High School Activities Month booklet and social media graphics to salute the coaches, officials, performing arts educators, fans and others in the community in this year's celebration. This year's celebration of education-based activity programs in our nation's schools is just as important — or more so — than it was in 1980 when, through the efforts of the NFHS, Congress established the third week of October as National High School Activities Week to increase the public's awareness of the values and needs of interscholastic activity programs. In 2011, the emphasis was expanded to the entire month of October. Why are high school sports so essential in our nation's schools? Not, first and foremost, for an automatic springboard to college and professional sports, or landing an NIL deal or a future athletic career at any level. Only three to five percent of the millions who participate in high school sports will play at a higher level, but a much higher percentage will use those experiences to become successful in their chosen endeavors. Instead, sports and other activities are essential parts of our nation's schools because they help students discover who they are — to grow and mature and become the best version of themselves. Involvement in activity programs improves discipline, which produces better study habits and grades. Through competition in sports and debate, students learn about respect and fair play — more essential qualities to a successful life. In addition, the teamwork involved in these programs helps students to become more understanding and accepting of everyone. The month of October is a time to celebrate everyone who makes these programs possible — coaches, officials, performing arts educators, administrators, parents, fans and community leaders. It also is a great time to support these individuals by attending a high school game or contest because high school sports offer the best entertainment value in town. Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff is beginning her seventh year as chief executive officer of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in Indianapolis.