Coach Skaer

Be honest: Not enough people talk about Resurrection Prep in Chicago. They should be…and they will be. Across Illinois, high schools are making significant investments in facilities, educational opportunities, activities and athletics. As I've written countless times over the years, these investments deserve more attention. High schools are the most important asset in any community. When you invest in kids, families and communities, the returns extend far beyond dollars. One recent project that caught my attention is at Res on Chicago's Northwest Side. The all-girls school invested $2.1 million to transform its athletic center into something much bigger than a place to play games. For those unfamiliar with Res, it features 465 students representing more than 100 elementary schools. More than 70 percent of students participate in 1 of the 12 sports offered by the school. Res is doubling its fitness space to create more opportunities for students. I can already hear some adults saying, “They’re doubling fitness space. What's the big deal about that?” Here’s the big deal: What if a young girl is an athlete and doesn’t even realize it yet? What if she’s never been exposed to strength training, a particular sport or a fitness activity that could change her confidence, her health or even the direction of her life? What if simply having access to something new changes how she sees herself? That’s the power of opportunity that far too many adults dismiss. Look at the growth of girls flag football. When you give kids access, encouragement and opportunities, they often exceed expectations. Res also modernized its locker rooms, athletic training areas, sports training facilities, film review capabilities and spaces supporting physical and mental preparation. We all know not every kid becomes a varsity athlete, most will never win a championship and a small percentage will compete in college. But every kid deserves an opportunity to discover their potential, develop confidence, establish healthy habits and understand the importance of lifelong self-care. Exercise impacts physical and mental self care, builds confidence and human connection. Those aren't just athletic benefits, they’re lifelong benefits. That's why investments like this matter. Adults spend countless hours arguing about wins, losses, transfers, rankings and more around high school sports. Imagine if they spent a little more time celebrating schools that are expanding opportunities for kids. That’s an investment worth talking about. #MoreThanJUSTGames