Trick or Treat, Not Compete

Why There Should not be Athletic Events on Halloween

Photo courtesy of Kate Bascom / Maclay Andalusian

Having to miss out on Halloween for athletic events is a controversial topic. Some argue that athletic events on Halloween could create fun memories, and there are other Halloween events they could still go to later, while others believe that it keeps athletes from spending time with friends and participating in fun traditions. Not only do athletes not want to skip Halloween, but parents of athletes would also like to spend the holiday with their kids, especially if there are younger siblings involved. Athletic commitments to games, meets, matches, or competitions can also lead to social exclusion for the athletes involved.

“I feel like there should not be athletic events on Halloween,” sophomore Eva Boland said. “Halloween is such a special occasion for a lot of people and I feel like we should celebrate it with our family or with our friends and not at an athletic event.”

Studies show that having athletic events on Halloween increases stress in athletes. This is because missing out on parties or trick-or-treating can make the athletes feel like an outsider and can also cause fear of missing out. Athletes may fear that they have to choose between their sport or trick-or-treating, therefore causing pressure to choose the right option. They may feel more pressure to choose their sport because they do not want to let their team down. Athletes could also feel pressure during the athletic events because they want to win on Halloween. Halloween is considered one of the most fun holidays for teens because they can finally get a break from school-work and sports, and dress out with friends. However, this is not the case if an athlete has to play or perform on Halloween. Some people consider it unhealthy for the athletes' mental health to have to miss out on holiday celebrations. They have to hear about all the fun their friends and classmates had and think about how they did not get to celebrate with them. Having sports practices already makes it hard for athletes to socialize, so Halloween is a good break for spending time with friends and family.

Having athletic events on Halloween can also be hard for parents. If the athlete has a younger sibling who wants to go trick-or-treating, parents may feel pressure to choose to go to the athletic event for the athlete or skip the game to go with the younger child. Halloween is also a family event for many parents. Siblings might also like to trick-or-treat together or help get each other ready for the night. This can cause families to feel divided on a night that is usually for bonding and spending time together. Missing the athlete’s game may cause the parent to feel guilty, but so would making the other child miss Halloween. Having an athletic event on Halloween eventually takes over the traditions and makes it feel less special.

“I think there should not be athletic events on Halloween,” sophomore Chloe Kerr said. “It doesn’t allow me to spend time with my friends and Halloween is only one time a year and now I have to miss out on it.”

It can also be hard for the athlete's friends. Some friends might not want to participate in holiday events if their friend has an athletic event.

Not only does having athletic events on Halloween cause frustration to the athletes, it can also cause frustration for friends and family.