The Rub

2,416 student athletes responded to our poll. They didn’t have to. They were told it would ask them tough questions about why they play the sports they play. That was it. The 2,416 were a small subset of those we sent the poll to (18,993). They play for their high schools mostly, 1,912 of them said they want to play in college, they want to make their folks proud, and most said they play on travel teams or have private instructors, some are ballplayers, some dancers. They compete and often too hard, so 1,394 said they’ve been hurt, many still are - and this is the rub: they play hurt because they don’t want to miss their chance. “Not playing is not an option,” Shelley, 17, said of her soccer, the game she loves, but the one controlling her. “I have taken pills to help dull the pain - it helps me stay in the game, I know the risks.” She’s one of the 482 who admitted to some substance use among this group. That’s what, 16% of the total - at a minimum. Perhaps others didn't want to say? They are not wrong for doing it, they are human, and they are seeking help, or will, or maybe they won’t. The rub is that they feel they have to take those pills to play, and play to make someone else proud. Which isn't wrong, but it's causing more pain and stress and even avoidable addiction - if we just have the conversation earlier that the game, it doesn't really matter. There is the rub.