11 Ways Sports Can Help You Through The HSC

Good for your body, great for your mind.

1. It keeps you fit and healthy.

Mean Girls / Paramount Pictures

Everyone should be exercising a few times a week to stay fit and healthy, and this is especially important if you're undertaking the HSC. Keeping your body strong will keep your mind strong, too.

"Playing sport gave me the fitness I needed throughout my teenage years," says Laura Sullivan. "It was such a fun way to stay active and mentally sharp."

2. It teaches you how to work with other people.

Dodgeball / 20th Century Fox

"It's cliche, but playing team sports really do help you learn how to be a part of a team," says rugby player Alex Bellamy.

During the HSC and in the real world, you'll probably have a lot of group projects to work on. By learning how to work collaboratively with your teammates, you'll be developing a skill that you'll always carry with you.

3. It gives you a sense of belonging.

Whip It / Fox Searchlight Pictures

Playing team sports during the HSC can give you a support system, as well as a sense of belonging.

"I played so many sports throughout high school – volleyball, basketball, soccer, cheerleading," says Tracy Raetz. "I miss having the team camaraderie and I think that's the best part about playing team sports."

4. It helps you concentrate better.

The Sandlot / 20th Century Fox

Playing sport teaches you how to focus solely on the task at hand, improving your overall concentration skills. And they're a great way to get out all that excess energy.

"Having opportunities to release energy through movement throughout the day helps kids focus and concentrate within the classroom," says teacher Olivia Fabiani.

5. It makes you goal-focused.

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Sports have very clear objectives for success. Whether you're scoring points or trying to get the fastest time, sport teaches you that you need to practice if you want to succeed.

"Sport has shown me that putting in the work will help me develop my skills and hit my personal goals," says Natalia Krslovic. "This outlook has translated into every area of life, from my career to my finances to my travel goals."

6. It helps clear your head.

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When your nose is in the books all day, your head can get a bit cloudy. Playing sport is a great way to refresh your mind and get back into a good headspace.

"If I'm not active, I get really antsy," says Alex Bellamy. "When I was doing my HSC, I found that if I could play sport or go for a run, I'd come back with my head cleared, which allowed me to focus on my school work."

7. It creates more balance in your life.

Space Jam / Warner Bros.

The HSC is important, but so is your overall wellbeing. Playing sport and keeping active is a great way to ensure you keep that work-life balance in check.

"I'm a creative person, so growing up I did a lot of art at school," says Laura Sullivan. "Playing basketball helped keep me balanced, because art can be quite a solitary and emotional activity."

8. It teaches you time management and organisational skills.

Bend It Like Beckham / 20th Century Fox

Balancing sport and school is a great way to learn how to manage your time effectively. "I played tennis, hockey and soccer during my HSC year," says Natalia Krslovic. "Having training sessions before or after school, as well as playing games on Saturdays, taught me how to value my time and honour my commitments."

"Forgetting to pack your school shoes really shows you the value of being organised, too!"

9. It's a great tool for managing mental health challenges.

Million Dollar Baby / Warner Bros

There's no doubt that going through the HSC is tough, and your mental health can take a serious hit in the process. Playing sport is one way to keep on top of your mental health.

"In high school, I was very anxious and stressed all the time," says Tracy Raetz, "And I think [playing sport] gave me an outlet and a release."

10. It gives you something to look forward to during the week.

Wimbledon / Working Title Films

Preparing for your HSC exams for an entire year can be a bit of a drag. Having a sports night to look forward to can help keep things exciting in the interim. "I played tennis during school," says Zeta Morgan, "and having tennis every Friday afternoon gave me something to look forward to."

"It was a good way to finish the week."

11. And it gives you something to look forward to beyond school.

Wild / Fox Searchlight Pictures

The physical skills and confidence that you gain during sport will enable you to explore the world in unique ways. For Olivia Fabiani, her love of stair climbing is taking her to New York to participate in the 2019 Empire State Building Run Up.

"I also travelled a lot post-studies and undertook activities such as climbing the pyramids in Egypt and white water rafting along the Grand Canyon," says Olivia.

Sport builds confidence for life. Find out how Suncorp’s Team Girls program is helping to build a nation of confident girls.