National High School Activities Month Celebrates Value of Programs in Nation’s Schools
Beginning next week, the NFHS will launch the 45th annual celebration of National High School Activities Month (formerly Activities Week), and the need for leaders in communities throughout the nation to understand the importance and value of high school sports and other activities has never been stronger.
In fact, the NFHS has embarked on a special campaign designed to “Protect the Purpose” of these programs and the almost 20,000 high schools and 51 member state associations that provide participation opportunities for millions of high school students.
The goal is to protect the last bastion of amateur sports in our country. The landscape is changing around us, so the benefits and values of education-based activity programs must be proclaimed louder than ever.
In a recent article on ThePublic’sRadio.org, Mike Lunney, executive director of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL), perhaps said it best about the current sports climate in our nation.
“We’re sandwiched. Everything below us is kind of geared toward winning and specialization. Everything above us is about money, even at the college level. We’re kind of that last group trying to provide opportunities for kids to be connected to the school. That’s our main goal,” Lunney said.
So, beginning next week through National High School Activities Month, the NFHS and its member state associations will emphasize the importance of providing students those connections to afterschool activity programs. Through Activities Month, the emphasis will be on why high school sports are so essential in our nation’s schools. These programs are formative, not performative. The essence of high school sports is not about 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.
During the month-long celebration of National High School Activities Month, schools 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 the first week (September 28-October 4) has been designated as National High School Colors Week. Throughout the week, students, parents and other fans can post photos to social media in their high school colors and share what they love most about high school football using #HSColorsWeek.
Millions of Americans made lasting friendships and have great memories from their involvement in high school sports and other activity programs. Our school colors, mascot and song are things we proudly carry with us throughout our lives, and this week is a special time to celebrate those once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
The color combinations are plentiful. According to www.GameDayColors.com, the most popular high school color combinations are red and white, red and black, black and gold, blue and gold, blue and white, orange and black, purple and gold, maroon and white, green and white, and red and blue.
National High School Colors Week is a time to celebrate the memories, tradition and pride of high school sports and other activity programs – not just for the 12-plus million currently involved in these programs, but for the hundreds of millions of men and women whose lives and careers were pointed in the right direction as a result of their participation.
High school sports have been a part of communities throughout our country for more than 100 years, and National High School Colors Week is a great time for communities to show those colors. Specifically, Friday, October 3, is National High School Colors Day – a perfect time to wear those school colors and end the week by packing the bleachers at the Friday night football game.
Each of the remaining weeks in October has a special focus, and schools are encouraged to use social media graphics to salute coaches, officials, performing arts educators, fans and others in the community in this year’s celebration. Other weeks include:
October 5-11: NFHS #OfficialsAppreciationWeek – A special week to celebrate the hundreds of thousands of individuals who give time to serve as high school contest officials.
October 12-18: NFHS #MadePossibleWeek – This week is designed for schools and state associations to celebrate coaches, athletic directors, sponsors and others who devote their lives to students through activity programs.
October 19-25: NFHS #BeyondTheBellWeek – This special week promotes those individuals involved in performing arts and middle school activity programs, and the importance of community service programs.
October 26-31: NFHS #NextStepPrepWeek – This week is designed to offer tips on preparing for life after high school, including involvement from the NFHS National Student Advisory Committee.
October is one of our favorite times of the year, and it starts with celebrating high school activity programs in our nation’s schools. Let’s support everyone involved in these programs by attending a high school game or contest – and break out those school colors to remember the best years of our lives.
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