Athletic Programs Focusing on Environmental Sustainability

Schools are hosting their final sports games of the season, which often includes honoring seniors in the form of Senior Night. Athletic spaces are covered with banners, balloons and posters commemorating each senior’s high school athletic career coming to an end.

Ironically, many senior nights and other end-of-the-year activity events are held around Earth Day, when schools often create points of reflection for students about the environment. One often overlooked aspect of an athletic program is considering what happens to the decorations and physical materials after the events are over.

Athletic directors and coaches may not make connections to sustainable or environmentally friendly practices within the context of their sport or the school traditions that occur over the course of a given season; however, the decorations used for hallmark events like Senior Day will exist long after the event has ended and may last longer than the entire existence of a school to be found hundreds of years later in a landfill.

Examining the Ecological Footprint of High School Events
School events that engage the community, athletic teams and extracurricular programs are important, yet may produce a lot of waste. A school’s homecoming, rivalry game and the week-long events leading up to it, frequently involve single-use decorations, posters, costumes and spirit wear that corresponds to a theme. Consuming materials is not confined to a given event or sport, but thematic to programs and season as a whole.

Considering the number of high schools across the country, the amount of materials consumed each season or school year can leave a large ecological footprint. School leaders can work to change current practices and seek creative solutions that meet the needs of programs, while leading by example so students understand the importance of developing sustainable practices.

During annual planning meetings, the amount of materials consumed for each sport can be considered and used to establish policies that promote sustainability. Additionally, when reviewing budgets, purchases or upcoming events, coaches and school leaders can have conversations around wants vs. needs that align environmentally and are fiscally responsible.

For example, is the bulk online order of balloons, paint and plastic tiaras for Senior Night a want, need or matter of convenience? Is brand new equipment a luxury or current need, or could existing items be donated or repurposed instead of thrown out? When leaders have conversations around what materials they use, they may be more likely to take into consideration better alternatives.

New Uniforms – Want or Need?
Textile waste is a major environmental pollutant that might not be considered when throwing away old boxes of uniforms from storage and ordering a brand new set of uniforms. Although players look forward to receiving new uniforms at the beginning of a season, purchasing new uniforms year to year can be both costly and wasteful. In determining if new uniforms annually is a want versus a need, coaches and athletic directors can model practices that are environmentally conscious and build eco-friendly habits within students.

An alternative to buying new uniforms every season is to rotate the uniforms used for the season and storing those unused; players and coaches can mix up or rotate styles at the beginning of each season prior to purchasing another new set. Adults can also work with players to promote the lifespan of uniforms through proper care and washing. When tears and holes happen, uniforms can be individually repaired at home or through strategic partnerships with elective classes that teach sewing. Doing so creates less textile waste for both programs, as classes can practice repairing existing garments as opposed to purchased fabric swatches.

Fan Gear or Fast Fashion?
A gym full of students decked out in glow sticks, holding spirit towels, and wearing t-shirts specific to that event may look great on a social media post or yearbook photo, but such items often end up getting donated or thrown away afterward. To further avoid the environmental impact of throwaway items or apparel waste, school leaders can promote school spirit by asking leaders of programs to avoid items or shirts that are only worn once for a themed night or a specific game. Instead, athletics and programs alike can seek out fan gear in the form of reusable items that promote school spirit and clothing designs that can be worn all school year long or again the following year for annual events. Leaving specific years, dates or graduating classes off of a design allows for items to be reused, rotated in and out of storage, maintains a lower cost-to-wear ratio, and moves the school toward a culture of sustainability.

Envisioning High School Events with Sustainable Practices
Policies can be established in both athletics and activities that build environmentally friendly habits within current students. Storing decor that can be reused year to year is one way to cut down waste, but school events that are centered around athletics or other celebrations could utilize alternatives to single-use items. Posters for Senior Night, tickets for events, or other items that end up in the trash after the game is over can be transitioned into the use of digital tools and social media to minimize paper usage.

Some of these practices not only eliminate waste but may also be cost-effective. School leaders can build a culture around using donated or thrifted clothes to dress up for spirit days; require the use of recycled materials for decorations, class competitions and other traditions; and ban the use of items that are known to hurt ecosystems, such as glitter.

Community Engagement and Creative Servant Leadership
Both school leaders and students can embrace themes of sustainability that are fun and inspire creativity. If schools are to teach the next generation of students best practices, attention should also be devoted to environmental stewardship and sustainability that supports school mission and vision statements.

This often occurs in the corporate world where various companies have become recycling partners for used athletic footwear, such as running shoes, and worn out equipment, like tennis balls; meanwhile, local animal shelters and physical or occupational therapy programs utilize agility equipment or balls that are no longer suitable for competition. With a school and program focus that supports sustainability, players and coaches can work together in finding creative ways to give equipment a second life, while serving a social good toward the environment and further establishing community partnerships through purposeful donations.

Final Remarks
Sustainability is often overlooked and can be challenging in the many demands placed on a school community, but school leaders who analyze current practices for their environmental footprint can instill an ecological consciousness in students and foster an ability to address societal issues in the future. By reimagining current practices and creating opportunities for servant leadership, high school programs can contribute to less environmental waste and continue to meet the needs of programs, while building students to be the leaders of a sustainable future.