Rocky Hulne: Sports teach more than just winning and losing

Sep. 9— Hulne: The average fan only sees a small part of the high school sports experience.

They go to a game or two on a Tuesday or Friday night and watch how the team plays. If the team loses, the fans may think that it’s a negative experience for the players, but if the team wins, the fans may assume all of the players are happy.

That’s not always the case.

While winning is fun, high school sports go well beyond the final score. They teach accountability and discipline, two words that are often forgotten in the zestfulness of youth.

A good program holds its players accountable for their actions and teaches them the value of being dependable. Those actions range well beyond the playing field. If a student athlete is causing problems in the classroom or the community, the number of wins their team delivers is tainted.

On the flip side, if a team loses most nights, but the student athletes are learning the meaning of being good citizens and giving back to the community, while thriving in school, the program is successful.

A team that wins and teaches lessons is a truly elite program.

As professional and college sports hold “win at all costs” models, it’s easy to think our high school teams should do the same. But it’s important to remember that high school sports are an extension of the classroom, and coaches are teachers of life lessons.

So when you feel the urge to judge a team by its record this year, just remember, there is sometimes more than meets the eye.