The COVID-19 pandemic created an opportunity to reexamine many of the research findings associated with high school athletics. Utilizing a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology, specifically an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, the research evaluated commonly held theories and beliefs associated with high school sports. Focusing on the lived experiences of nine high school administrators, through semi-structured interviews, the researcher identified possible opportunities to enhance the positive impact of high school athletics. The study analyzed the validity of the zero-sum (Coleman, 1961), developmental perspective (Holland & Andre, 1987) and commitment-to-school (Marsh, 1992) theories. The study investigated the impact of the pandemic on student-athletes regarding participation rates, academic performance, school attendance, student discipline, development of life skills, mental health, and collegiate athletic opportunities. At the institutional level, the research explored how the pandemic affected school policy as well as the perceived importance of high school sports among the community, school leaders, student-athletes, and parents. The study supports many of the existing positive outcomes identified in the literature associated with athletic participation. The research also found that the value of athletics was high prior to, during and after the pandemic. How this value was manifested in student and parent behavior changed significantly during the pandemic. The study demonstrates and reinforces the substantial role that athletics can have on the mental health of students. The impact of the pandemic on participation was mixed based on timing and age of students. Few lasting policy changes associated with athletics were implemented as a result of the pandemic. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]