When I drove by San Fernando Valley Middle School during lunch break, the playground was buzzing with activity. Soccer balls were being kicked, basketballs were being dribbled, and tether balls were being socked.
I had spent the previous three hours attending a conference hosted by the LA84 Foundation in downtown Los Angeles, listening to speakers discuss the appeal and importance of inclusion in sports.
In a competition open to everyone, rich or poor, geek or sportsman, future professional or future doctor, developments can lead to something unexpected.
Just then, during various lunchtime games on the middle school campus, a boy wearing glasses and long pants receives a high five from another child wearing shorts who looks like the school's soccer star. I was receiving they were having fun. This is a lesson that should be appreciated everywhere.
In the rush to differentiate between players with professional aspirations and amateur players, people can forget the journey. Remember when it was fun to win a game and get a cupcake? Remember when it was fun to get ice cream even if you lost a game? Remember when you were driving to a Little League game and had fun debating what to listen to on the car radio? Think back to your first day of high school, when your coach recognized you in the hallway and greeted you with a friendly handshake. It brought instant confidence to a nervous morning.
Former NBA player Derek Anderson attended the press conference and told his story of overcoming poverty and absentee parents.
“Listen to learn,” he said. “It doesn't always start where it ends.”
He explained how sports had a huge impact on his life.
“Basketball taught me to be a good teammate,” he said.
He said that when he coaches youth teams, he tries to empower his players by putting them in positions of authority, such as coaching them. The players who were committing turnovers a few minutes ago suddenly started yelling at them to stop making turnovers.
“If you put kids in leadership roles, you'll see different results,” he says.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and no accomplishment was more important than the creation of the LA84 Foundation from Olympic financial surplus. We have invested millions of dollars in youth sports, helping to protect, expand and foster the idea that sports should be available to everyone. This is the greatest legacy of the Olympics, proving that passionate people with integrity and resources can make a difference.
Too many underprivileged communities are given a lifeline to develop sports programs. From skateboarding to rowing to rugby, so many alternative sports are gaining popularity among boys and girls, and a little seed money is being used to attract the curious and brave. .
As one speaker pointed out, not all sports experience is positive. Perhaps the coach is not properly trained. Perhaps the facility doesn't have enough security to make participants feel safe. Perhaps politics or ignorance prevents newcomers from having a chance to shine.
However, when a professional who is aware of the problem intervenes, a negative can be turned into a huge positive.
There are many people out there who just need support and are fighting a good fight.
“It's an ongoing investment. It's not one-and-done,” said Santee High School Principal Violeta Ruiz. A former water polo coach, she welcomes all students to participate in the sport and seeks partnerships in the community.
Her school's valedictorian is an athlete.
“Sports really opens your eyes,” she said.
It's magical to see shy, previously unmotivated students discover something new, make friends, and change their perspective due to their sports experience.
Starting in 2024-2025, California will require a 30-minute break during school hours. With the right approach, much can be done positively for students' mental health. Just as a vacation can rejuvenate and rejuvenate you, so can a break from exercise.
Thanks to the LA84 Foundation, Southern Californians now have the opportunity to join the fight to make sports experiences as accessible to everyone as they choose.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
