The role that sports plays both in schools and communities, especially those in rural areas, extends into the classroom and beyond.
There are more rural schools offering district-associated sports programs than suburban and urban districts. (Aspen Institute, 2021) Not only are there more rural schools with sports programs, the percentage of students who play on high school sports teams and have interest in playing a sport are both much higher. Small towns forge strong connections to their sports teams (many small communities feature the local school mascot on their water tower). Attending sporting events becomes one of the most important ways to foster community and is integral in the rural social fabric. Nearly everyone attends, coaches, or volunteers for rural sports.
Though there are higher rates of program offerings and participation in rural areas, these schools face more challenges in terms of facility needs. They also experience longer travel times to games, practices, and tournaments. Practice space is often limited and can require creative scheduling and early or late-night practices outside of a student athlete's typical schedule. These are all important reasons for rural communities to invest in their sporting programs through facility design. Providing new or updating a school district's own sports facilities engenders a sense of pride and school/community identity for athletes, students, coaching staff, and the community members alike. Sports architecture becomes the backdrop for many shared memories, triumphs, and lessons across generations.
EAPC is proud to work with rural schools and communities in building better students, future leaders, and school pride.
