Children are often exposed to sports from a very young age. As they grow older and start school, they often participate in sports to make friends and be active. As children grow and progress into adolescence, they become more specialized in their sports. The sports that young people play are growing in their favor. When the child reaches secondary school, sport takes center stage. The pressure on them to succeed in sport and achieve good results is immense. There is pressure from coaches, teammates and others to succeed. Athletes' futures are at stake. They play for the chance to earn scholarships and pursue their childhood dreams. This immense pressure is very exhausting for adolescents. The pressure to succeed in sports causes them to suffer in other areas of their lives. Young adults miss out on other activities in high school because they are so absorbed in their sport. The emphasis on sport can also be very draining and lead to emotional stress and harm for individuals. Young athletes also face pressure not only to give up other activities, but also to overexert themselves in their sport of choice. The intense atmosphere of high school sports can be detrimental to the individuals who participate. The high school experience is a memorable part of life. For those involved in sports, experience may be largely limited. A high school athlete's experiences largely revolve around the sport in which they participate. I played football in high school. A large majority of my high school life revolved around football. My friends were mostly soccer players and a lot of my memories are tied to soccer in one way or another. The commitment ...... middle of paper ...... year, my last match, I understood what it felt like. The idea that all the time invested was for nothing prevails at the end of the last game. High school sports are an emotional wreck for athletes, due to outside pressures and personal accomplishments. High school sports have become very important. This increased importance puts considerable pressure on those affected. Sports take away pieces of athletes' lives because of their deep commitment. They also cause great physical and emotional tension. High school sports are the highlight of a child's life as they transition into adulthood. They can be a gateway to a better life or a burden that holds the athlete back. Whatever their value, high school sports have become much bigger than they need to be. They put unnecessary pressure on young people for what they are, a game.