Playing a sport in high school isn’t always for the love of the sport. Sometimes students play sports to stay in shape. However, playing a sport isn’t always an option. Time constraints may be an issue, for example. Playing a sport in high school involves following a strict schedule as far as practices and games go, and sometimes that just isn’t possible to follow. A commonly asked question is: how do I stay in shape if I can’t play sports?

“If teens aren’t active, they are usually more tired and can be lazy,” physical education teacher Carol Sincel said.

There are a variety of options to staying healthy and in shape that includes eating a healthy diet and working out at a gym or recreation center. More enjoyable options to staying healthy, active, and in shape include dancing for fun, ice skating or roller-skating with friends, putt putt golfing, swimming, shopping in a wide spread area such as an outdoor mall, or jogging with a large group of buddies. Also, there are many videos on yoga or Pilates that can be rented and done at home.

“I would just say get into running or jogging, hiking, just playing pick up sports in your neighborhood or at a playground. Just get outside as much as possible. Those are the things I did when I was a kid when I wasn’t in a sport,” soccer coach and teacher Chris Hibbs said.

For those people who spend hours and hours in front of a TV playing video games, there are options for you as well. Certain video games have become available and very popular that incorporate great exercise. These games include Dance Dance Revolution, home laser tag, and other up and coming interactive games.

Are you bored on a weekend afternoon or evening? Throw a dance party for you and your friends. Who says you need to have a cute new outfit or plenty of prepared food? Simply call up some of your closest buddies and dance the day away. You’ll have fun and make memories with people you enjoy spending time with, and you’ll be staying active!

“I go in canoes in the lake with my friends and ride my bike. I take long strolls,” senior Michael Ormiston said.

Playing a sport does not necessarily mean being a part of a sports team. You can play a sport individually and play on your own time and your own schedule. Kick a soccer ball against a wall for a while, if you’re moving back and forth and at a fast pace it’s still considered getting a workout. Time conflicts should not stop you from playing a sport that you want to play. If the time and schedule works better for you, join a community team instead of a school team. They usually only practice a couple of days a week instead of every day.

There are also quite a few simple things to do to get in shape that you might not normally think about.

“Give certain activities a try that aren’t traditional and aren’t school related. Kids need to feel motivated to do activities they actually like,” Sincel said.

When going shopping, park your car in the back of the parking lot and walk to the store from there. Also, if you’re running errands downtown or in one general area, park your car in one central place and walk to each errand. Walking a longer distance to simple places such as the store, or from the back of the student lot at Roosevelt can make a difference. Those few thousandths of a mile add up quickly.

“There are plenty of fun activities that aren’t school related. Try new things before shutting them down completely,” Sincel said.