“Go get em Polars!” is a saying commonly heard on the fields of North High, especially during the Polars regular sports season. Culture is something not to deny when is comes down to hard work. Let’s take an adventure into the aspect of culture in sports.

We are surrounded by culture everyday, from the clothes people wear to the food they eat at night, do you ever think that culture makes us who we are today and without it we wouldn’t be who we are now?

The culture of a sports team leads to attitude and the work ethic on and off of the athletes playing ground. Culture pushes the athletes to want to win as a team and to be a better individual.

Any coach at North will tell you that culture is a key aspect, the varsity boys soccer coach, Casey Holm,

stated “Culture and environment are the foundation for everything you do. Everyone thinks it is about how good of a coach you are. You can be a great coach but without an appropriate culture or environment, you can’t get the most out of your athletes.”

Many would target the coach for a loss, win, or tie, but the bigger picture is what you get out of the experiences you are put through. With a strong team culture, the athletes find more enjoyment of the sport and their coaches as well as teammates.

When you put culture into the dreams you have, success comes along for the ride as well. Junior basketball player, Yao Dumenya, stated, “Every sports player wants to make it to the professional league. Coaches give us tips and work ethics to get us to our goals. My coaches Mr. Johnson and Mr. Robinson taught me so many things to get to the league.” 

The environment and culture that is provided for the athletes by coaches and supporters, plays a huge in how the team acts as a whole and individually. Athletes generally do better with a positive environment and culture base, rather than no base at all.

Positivity based culture is important because it encourages young athletes to be the best they can be and meet new athletes that they can learn from. Sophomore Varsity hockey player, Joe Arko, added, “the culture and environment binds communities and brings kids together.”

The importance of binding athletes and communities is huge in this day and age because without it, we watch the numbers drastically drop due to lack of positive culture and upbringing. 

Sophomore football player, David Murray, added, “the culture and environment improves social activity and physical health.” Both of those factors are used outside of sports in the real world, interacting with others and staying healthy to live a long, fulfilled life.

Yet, the culture and environment athletes are surrounded by is the most important thing, why do we still see young athletes abonded the sports they love because the lack of positive culture?