How Sports, Reading, and Big Dreams Connect

Scholastic Kid Reporters Evy Bingle and Asher Freije share their favorite ways to read about sports.

The link between sports and reading may not be obvious, but for some young athletes it is profound. Kids who are passionate about sports can use reading to learn more about their favorite teams and players, discover a new sport they were not familiar with, or even get inspired to pursue a career in athletics. 

When a love of sports becomes a career

Many kids love playing sports but being a professional athlete can be difficult. For example, what happens when a kid who loves basketball realizes he might not be tall enough to make it on the court? For Amar Shah, that realization did not end his dream — it helped him find a new one.

Shah, a journalist and author of the graphic novel Wish I Was a Baller, turned his love for the Orlando Magic into a writing career that began in eighth grade.

“I knew I couldn’t make it as a basketball player, because I didn’t have that growth spurt I needed,” Shah shared with a laugh. “So, I found my closest way to the court — through journalism.”

That choice led to some incredible opportunities. While still in high school, Shah earned press credentials and began interviewing NBA legends like Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan, and the late Kobe Bryant. Thinking back on his first interview with Shaq, Shah said, “Here I am, not even five feet tall, and he’s seven feet. He talked to me for 30 minutes, like we were friends.” 

Amar Shah's memoir Wish I Was a Baller follows his journey from athlete to writer.

Just as Shah learned when he was younger, kids can use reading and writing to stay close to the sport they love. From writing game recaps to recording stats to reading the sports section of the local paper, there are numerous ways to work in sports without competing.

In Wish I Was a Baller, Shah shared his professional journey, and he hopes it inspires young people to keep going. “Whatever your dreams are,” he said, “continue going after them, because you never know where they’ll take you.”

Books encourage a love of the game

Many sports fans enjoy reading books about the game they love. From player autobiographies to fictional tournaments, there is something for everyone.

13-year-old Scholastic Kid Reporter Asher Freije is an athlete and sports fan who enjoys reading. He shared his advice for athletes who want to read more. “Find books on the sport you love. If you love that sport, then you most likely will love that book, because it’s something you already enjoy.” 

He also explained how reading can inspire new interests, sharing that a book about wrestling once “piqued my interest in that sport.”

12-year-old Scholastic Kid Reporter Evy Bingle shared why she believes stories about real athletes are so powerful. “Nonfiction, it’s like real stories, so you get to see what the people struggled with and how they overcame those struggles.”

No matter the genre, books about sports and the people who play them can inspire kids to read.