Many high school students are involved in one sport or another, but very few participate and succeed in more than one. 
   One reason for this is that a number of high school student athletes try to specialize in one sport in order to attempt to do well in that particular area so that they can possibly receive a college scholarship. Increasing focus on one sport usually means giving up playing others, although some coaches believe that if a teenager wants to participate in more than one sport they should have that right.  
   Other coaches want their top players to focus on only one sport so that they can perform at their best ability.
   Senior golf player John Hamilton said "golf is the only sport I play, and since golf is a year-round sport I need to be able to practice starting early in the spring and going all the way into the end of golf season in October, and playing another sport might make that hard to do."
   Junior football and tennis player Josh Jewell said "I don't condition or practice with the football team during tennis season in the spring, which is nice because it lets me focus on the sport that I'm actually playing at the time. Also, it'd be bad if I were to get hurt practicing football during tennis season, and vice versa if I were to get hurt playing tennis during football season.  I could be letting my team down and I try not to risk getting hurt during a sport season."
   Another reason that many multi-sport athletes are a dying breed is that teenagers are busy these days.  
   Activities and responsibilities such as homework, jobs, spending time with friends and family, and other extracurricular activities besides sports take up a lot of time, and some students aren't able to give up some of this precious time to play yet another sport.
   However, even students who participate in more than one sport still have seasons off.  Senior Shelby Phillips plays soccer in the summer and fall and tennis in the spring, but she gets a break during the winter months.
   Phillips said "I like having a break because it gives me a chance to relax and hang out with friends more.  During season it seems like I go straight to practice as soon as school is over and after practice the only time I have left is for homework."
   Playing high school sports requires lots of dedication and effort, but all athletes agree that their time spent is well worth it when their hard work pays off with success on the field, course, or court.