Fields & Futures was founded on three core beliefs:
BELIEF #1: Every child deserves the opportunity to feel needed, appreciated and part of something bigger than themselves. Kids want to belong.
BELIEF #2: A motivated student will work harder to get to school, stay in school and stay on the team. If they play, they stay and if they stay, they graduate.
BELIEF #3: Important life lessons are learned through sports. Their coach may be one of the most important people in their life.
We know sports won’t solve world peace and we know sports is not the answer for every child. But we also know children want to belong. They want to be seen and heard. They want to matter. They want to know we care. And they want to have some fun along the way.
Basic needs. Sounds simple, right?
It’s only simple when you’re inside the huddle, already part of a team. But what about the children who, for whatever reason, have never found their way inside a huddle? What’s preventing them from joining a team? Why are they still on the outside looking in? How can we inspire and motivate more students to step into their own huddle and experience firsthand the difference a caring coach and like-minded friends can make?
The stats prove it. Sports can be the game changer some kids need to get on a better path to graduation and life beyond high school. And for some students, it’s more than a game changer, it’s a life changer.
Just ask Jeremie Allen, a football player at U.S. Grant High School. For Jeremie, while a young athlete at Jefferson Middle School, it was all about the coach who wouldn’t gave up on him. It was about tough love and tough lessons learned. And then the magic happened. Jeremie made a decision not to be “that kid” anymore. Instead, he made a conscious decision to “put a smile on his parents’ face” and be a student his coaches and parents would be proud of … a student with college aspirations and career goals, a student his younger brother can look up to and emulate. He is not looking back. SPORTS (and a caring coach) DID THAT.
So, why sports? Because we know it works.
Improved Graduation Rates & Academic Performance
In 2014-2015, Oklahoma City Public Schools measured graduation rates of 1,700 seniors and found 99% of student-athletes graduated versus 77% of their non-athlete peers. Of that same group, student-athletes achieved a 2.82 GPA versus a 2.11, and were found to have attended more days in school (by a wide margin).
The U.S. Department of Education found that student-athletes are four times more likely to attend college. The Huffington Post, 8/14/15
A 2007 study by Brigham Young University found that females who played a sport in high school were 41% more likely to graduate from college than those who did not.
Physical activity in general is associated with improved academic achievement, including grades and standardized test scores. Further, such activity can affect attitudes and academic behavior, including enhanced concentration, attention and improved classroom behavior. U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2012
“As middle and high school students increase their sports participation, the evidence is clear these students will be more likely to remain in school through graduation and achieve better academically.” Dr. Angela Lumpkin, Professor and Department Chair, Dept. of Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences, Texas Tech University
The more you learn, the more you earn. High school graduates earn a national average of $8,000 more annually compared to high school dropouts and enjoy higher purchasing power in their local communities. Through their increased spending, high school graduates spur economic activity for local business and support new jobs. Alliance for Excellent Education
It’s a Big Highway
The more kids we can get on teams, the more opportunity we have to provide a different kind of learning environment – one that teaches responsibility, accountability, decision making, teamwork and acceptance.
Sports is a big highway with lots of lanes and on-ramps. Fields & Futures, together with other invested partners and supporters, is using the various aspects of team sports to attract more students to the game and provide the resources necessary to enjoy the experience.
Case in point: A child may want to join a team but doesn’t have proper shoes or gear. That’s where Cleats for Kids steps in. Or a child may want to play a sport but has never played the game and doesn’t understand the basic fundamentals. OKC Police Athletic League is growing an inner-city youth league, available for elementary school students, to give them an opportunity to experience team sports at a younger age.
And it all starts with have a safe place to play. How can we expect students to want to play outdoor sports if they don’t have a quality field to play on? A field where parents and friends can watch them play? A field to be proud of? A field to call their own. We believe if we start with that, the rest will follow.
So, Why Sports?
Because we want every child to have an equal playing field. Regardless of neighborhood, school or household income, every student deserves an opportunity to benefit from all sports has to offer. It’s bigger than the team. It’s bigger than the game. It’s about opportunity and giving all children the chance to be seen, heard and valued. The chance to be part of something bigger than themselves. The chance to realize their full potential.
In Closing
More kids on teams = more kids in the classroom, focused on attendance and grade performance = more students graduating, better prepared for life beyond high school = more young adults empowered to attend college, pursue careers and provide for themselves and their families.
To everyone currently supporting this mission, thank you. To anyone considering supporting this mission, we encourage you to join our huddle and feel firsthand the thrill of victory each time a life is improved because a child had the opportunity to join a team and benefit from that experience.
On behalf of Oklahoma City Public Schools and all those we serve, thank you for your support!