By Mike Phelps
When the NFHS launched its National High School Activities Week in 1980, it did so with the goal of celebrating the core values of activities and athletics in high schools. Now, 28 years later, the program is still going strong and the NFHS is again encouraging member schools to raise awareness of the positives produced by their programs.
---
This year’s Activities Week kicks off Oct. 12 with “National Be A Sport Day,” and concludes Oct. 18 with “National Community Service/Participation Day.” Elliot Hopkins, NFHS Director of Educational Services, says the NFHS distributes ideas and information regarding events to its state associations, who then forward the materials to member schools.
“However the schools want to use the information we give them, they’re welcome to use it,” Hopkins says. “We pretty much lay out the bare bones and they can fill in any way they want to. It’s not a finite list. You can go as far as your imagination takes you.”
During the first day, for example, that could include making up positive cheers, chants, or songs, giving incentives to faculty, staff, and students who exhibit positive sportsmanship, or welcoming visiting teams with an announcement over the public address system. On “National Fan Appreciation Day,” held Oct. 17, schools can offer tailgate parties, hand out concession coupons to booster club members, or introduce the parents of players and cheerleaders during a pregame ceremony.
The key is to recognize those who give so much of their time to activities and athletics at the high school level. “On ‘National Officials Day’ (Oct. 14), bring in some of the leaders of the local officials chapter and have a lunch for them,” Hopkins says. “Have them tell you what it is to be an official, or bring in some officials and have them work some scrimmages. They always want to work to get better. You can foster good relationships by doing those kinds of things. Some people really go above and beyond to recognize officials and give them awards for donating so much of their time to the sport.”
Hopkins believes that while the words used to describe Activities Week and the methods used to disseminate information have changed since its inception in 1980, the basic premise remains the same. “We want schools to celebrate the richness of activities and athletics,” he says. “That’s never going to change. We want people to realize that high schools provide so many benefits to our young people and community at so many different levels. All the support folks you have—the spirit team, the band, the theatre—are part of an integral high school experience, and we just want people to understand and promote that.”
In addition to raising awareness on officials, sportsmanship, fan appreciation, and community service, Activities Week also includes “National Fine Arts Activities Day,” “National Youth Health Awareness Day,” and “National Coaches Day.”
For more information on NFHS Activities Week and to find more ways you can promote the event at your school, visit the NFHS Web site and click on “Background Information,” and “Calendar.”
Mike Phelps is an Assistant Editor at Athletic Management.