Fall Sports at LBHS

Whether you are participating in sports or watching your favorite team, sports allow people to feel like they’re part of a group. School sports in particular can bring students together and create a sense of school spirit. I had the chance to ask some of our very own coaches and athletes about sports at our high school and they all gave very convincing reasons to be a part of the sports community. Joining a fall sports team at Long Beach High School can be a great opportunity for you to build relationships, learn life lessons, and create a healthy lifestyle. 

The beginning of the school year can be stressful for everyone, especially for incoming freshmen who are worried about meeting new people and getting around the large facility. Varsity boys badminton coach, Coach La Barbera says, “Joining a sport helps any student regardless of grade meet other students they may not have crossed paths with otherwise.”  The immediate connections with upperclassmen and faculty members that are made can help you throughout your Freshman year and beyond. Coach of the Long Beach girl's varsity soccer team, Ashley Castanio, expresses that joining a sport allows students to feel more comfortable and make fun memories. 

You might be interested in joining a team, but you’ve never played a sport before. If this applies to you, the team you’re looking for might be girl's field hockey. Coach Christine Graham is very encouraging to players with no experience and ensures that you will not be the only one who is learning everything about the sport as you try out. Graham says, “Field Hockey is a growing sport on Long Island and does not have a youth program like soccer so it is the perfect sport to try because you will be with other novice players.  If you have played any team sport in gym class, you will be able to master your role on the field.” Having other people who are inexperienced will make you feel like less of an outsider, along with positive coaches and experienced teammates.

Let's talk about what sports are really about, community. All of the coaches I had the pleasure of interviewing had to answer this question, “What are you most proud of your team for this season?” I was expecting answers that had to do with their team's quantitative accomplishments, winning an important game, or beating a team by a large amount. To my surprise, all coaches were mostly proud of their team’s character which allowed them to be successful throughout the season. Coach Castanio was extremely proud of her team and the friendships that were made. “This season I am most proud of my team becoming "a family". Other than just winning games my team won by becoming true teammates, a family. They demonstrated the importance of what being a part of a team is, what being a good teammate is, and defined what it means to lead by example on and off the field.” She says.

Although the fall season has ended, the winter season has just started, so if you are interested in getting more involved, making new friends, or learning something new, try out for a sports team at LBHS!