“Kids who participate in extra curricular activities tend to do better in school. They have better graduation rates, higher grades, higher test scores, less depression, better attendance, lesser statistics of using alcohol and drugs, and they’re better engaged,” said Jones.

“To ban someone from having an experience that would help them grow up and become a better person is very damaging. To me, that’s the value of sports. When we talk about it not being fair, that goes to winning. It’s very fun to win in sports, but if that’s all you think sports are about, they’re not.”

By Martin Kidston