Sports and theatre can be two of the most amazing and cathartic experiences for any individual to watch.

Merriam Webster defines sports as activities involving physical exertion (or even mental exertion) in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. This definition defines sports and theatre as almost one in the same. 

In the process of doing theatre this year, I have realized just how mentally and physically taxing preparing for a show can be. Mentally, learning sixty lines is not an effortless task. Physically, standing on stage for hours upon hours has an everlasting toll on one’s body. Five hour practices have been a demoralizing factor and one that almost made me make a regrettable decision from the beginning: not doing the play at all. 

Although the play has taken up a great deal of time, it has taught me morals just like those of sports except to an even greater extent. These morals include diversity, team-bonding, time management, fast thinking, and improvisation. Not only this, but the play has taught me to be as inclusive as possible to others around me. I have never been a part of a group that tries so hard for one another in a practice-like setting before joining theatre.

Furthermore, morals learned from theatre lead into soccer. A trait such as fast thinking is key to playing the game of soccer. Theatre has helped me make quicker decisions on the field and not only this, but theatre has also considerably helped me manage my time as I have more time after a soccer practice than I do after a theatre rehearsal.

Finally, both theatre and soccer have been extremely rewarding. Although practices and rehearsals may be demanding, the final product, whether it is a show or a game, is the ultimate reward. 

Theatre and soccer are complementary hobbies that are both gratifying, yet there is an underlying stereotype where theatre is judged and sports are promoted.