In high school athletics, few symbols carry as much weight as the varsity jacket. It’s more than just a warm piece of outerwear. It’s a badge of honor that says, I showed up, I put in the work, and I represented my school with pride. Or at least, that’s what it used to say.

In recent years, the meaning behind the varsity jacket has started to blur. What was once an award for athletic dedication has become, in some schools, a fashion item purchased off racks or ordered online, with little regard for what it was supposed to represent. And that shift waters down its significance. The varsity jacket should stand for effort, perseverance, and achievement. It should be earned, not just bought.

There’s something powerful about working all season toward a goal. Whether it’s enduring early-morning practices, pushing through losses, or finally making varsity after seasons of being benched, athletes understand that success doesn’t come easily. So when they’re handed that jacket embroidered with their sport, their year, and their school it means something. It’s proof of sacrifice. It’s a reward for discipline.

But when anyone can purchase the same jacket, regardless of athletic participation, that meaning fades. It creates a disconnect between the symbol and the effort behind it. If someone who has never stepped foot on a court or field wears the same jacket as someone who spent four years grinding it out in cleats or sneakers, the jacket becomes just that an article of clothing, not a statement of accomplishment.

This is not about exclusion or gatekeeping. It’s about preserving the value of earned recognition. Not every student needs to be an athlete to have school pride there are countless other ways to show support. School spirit wear is available for all students, and it should be. But varsity-level apparel should be reserved for varsity-level effort. There’s a reason the jacket is given after making the team or hitting certain milestones. It’s meant to symbolize something earned through commitment not convenience.

When schools allow varsity jackets to be freely purchased, they risk devaluing the athletes’ work. They also miss an important opportunity to teach a core life lesson: that hard work leads to earned reward. In a world where instant gratification is everywhere, the varsity jacket should stand as a reminder that not everything is handed to you and that some things are worth striving for.

That’s not to say traditions can’t evolve. Schools should also consider creating parallel programs for non-athletes recognition for the arts, academics, or leadership so students in all areas can feel celebrated for their contributions. A music student who spends hours preparing for band competitions, or a drama student leading a school production, deserves a symbol of their effort too. But again, it should be something they earn, not something they simply buy.

At the end of the day, a varsity jacket isn’t just fabric and thread. It’s a story. A story of early practices, tough losses, thrilling wins, and friendships built on the field or court. That story gets diminished when the jacket becomes a fashion trend instead of a trophy.

So let’s protect the meaning behind the varsity jacket. Let’s continue to wear them with pride and make sure they’re only worn by those who’ve truly earned them. Because when everyone can have one, the honor means a little less for those who gave everything to get it.