The case for athletics in law school (Michael Simkovic)

University leaders have gotten into the habit of commenting on world affairs on behalf of their universities.  This is often an attempt to reassure students who may be stressed or distressed by world affairs.  Mass media and political activists can grab people’s attention by exposing them to distressing stimuli. 

But official university positions can create problems for universities: such positions potentially infringe on the academic or intellectual freedom of those within the university with opposing viewpoints; they can alienate potential students, faculty or donors; they can distract administrators from running their institutions.  They can distract students from studying, and distract faculty from teaching and doing research.  They can turn people against each other.

Universities have also sometimes encouraged the formation of student groups that engage in political activism on or off campus or promote certain religious, ethnic, or other identity-based associations.  While this can foster a spirit of camaraderie, it can also be distracting, encourage conflict, and prevent cooperation.  Data from the American Time Use Survey shows that more time spent on political activity is associated with less time spent studying or working and lower incomes.

There are other ways of reducing stress, increasing focus, and encouraging teamwork.  One is intramural athletics.  Physical activity is healthy, especially for mostly sedentary lawyers, law students, and professors.  Physical activity also reduces anxiety and protects against depression.  And it promotes mindfulness.  People who play sports go on to earn more money than similar people who don't (see also here).

Athleticism encourages healthy habits—eating healthy, getting enough sleep on a regular schedule, avoiding drinking or smoking or recreational drug use. The leading causes of death are heart disease, cancer, obesity-related illnesses, car accidents, and other illnesses that are exacerbated by unhealthy habits—not the acts of violence that the media (and some law school deans and university presidents) focus on.  Whatever threat someone might be ruminating about, odds are good that their own diet and exercise habits are statistically more dangerous.  Playing sports reduces obesity.

Participation in athletics may be more effective at promoting understanding and friendships than other approaches.  Playing sports encourages bonding with teammates, and respect for opponents.  Working out and training teaches people discipline, time management, and the importance of enduring pain in order to grow and improve—skills that are important for later success.  Athleticism can also make it easier for law graduates to socialize with and form connections with clients. 

Working out can improve peoples’ physical appearance and stamina, which also provides career benefits.  Better looking professors get better teaching evaluations.  Better looking workers earn more money.  People are universally considered better looking when they are physically fit.

Unlike in politics, race, or religion, which can be deeply divisive, everyone knows at the end of the day, athletic competitions are only games.  The Olympic Games were originally intended to promote peace.  During the first World War, in 1914 British and German troops--who had been trying to kill each other a few hours before--arranged a spontaneous truce on Christmas and played a friendly, informal game of soccer.

Athletics also encourage an appreciation for cooperation built on ability and merit.  People want to be on a team that can win—not one that is full of people who look, think, and talk like themselves or agree with them on public policy or religion or foreign affairs or play the same position they do.  Even Leni Riefenstahl—who made propaganda films for Nazi Germany—depicted the African American athlete Jesse Owens in a positive light.

Law schools need champions: people who can work 14 or 15 hours a day with a smile on their face for decades, help improve morale of those around them, climb to the top of the law firm or the corporation, hire our graduates, and endow scholarship funds and chaired professorships and donate buildings.

Athletics doesn’t have to cost money.  Law schools can focus their current student group budgets—other than those dedicated to law reviews or mock trial—on athletic associations and ensure that there is a heavily subsidized or free sport for all students, whatever their ability level or preference.  Subject to geographic and budgetary constraints, sports could include: football, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, volleyball, swimming, rock climbing, hiking, running, baseball, yoga, high intensity interval training, power lifting, ballroom dancing, ballet, figure skating, horse-back riding, polo, crew, water polo, hockey, surfing, sailing, kayaking, boxing, skiing, and other options.

We have three years.  Let’s mold champions.