Nearly everyone has played some sport at one time or another.

It could have been Little League or softball as a youth. May be it was intramural volleyball in high school. Or a golf league.

But it seems we all get involved with sports sometime.

This year's Progress edition, titled "Games People Play," focuses on the wide variety of sports in Butler County.

These games are intertwined in our lives. We schedule our days around them. We schedule our children's days around them.

Some of us coach these teams and others volunteer in concession stands or trim grass and pick up trash to keep the playing fields neat.

Businesses get involved by sponsoring teams and supporting employees who play.

This 44-page special report looks at these games and also shows why we all care so much about these events.

But people play sports for more than just winning. They get personal satisfaction from the competition.

Here is what some county residents say about why they play.

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"Some of my most painful memories have come from being on the losing end of those big contests, and feeling the pain of disappointment of failure. However, it was during those difficult moments that I learned the most about my personal character. It is my belief that people are not defined by who they are when things are going well, but rather who they are and how they deal with times of failure and defeat. I believe that the 'roller coaster ride' of athletics is what life is truly all about."

Heather Kearney, a former basketball star at Slippery Rock High, is an associate head women's basketball coach at California (Pa.) University

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"One of the great concepts of running is that you are constantly competing against yourself. Winning a trophy was not important; personal improvement was the goal."

Tom Murray of Zelienople competes in the Ironman Triathlon

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"It's about getting out and having fun. It's about the camaraderie for me."

Chuck Young of Butler, who pitches horseshoes and has the county league record for the highest ringer percentage in a season at 72 percent

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"We try to teach them to be a better person."

Master Robert Zang of Young Brothers Tae Kwon-Do Institute

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"There are no excuses. There's more of a sense of responsibility."

Ian McLaughlin is a Butler High School wrestler

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"The thing about swimming is I'll be able to swim for the rest of my life. There aren't many other sports that you can say that about."

Stephanie Karwoski coaches swimmers at the Butler County Family YMCA and Knoch High School

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"I think it's that golf is the only sport that doesn't have a referee or an umpire. You have to call penalties on yourself. I think that makes for absolutely wonderful people."

Joe Boros is the golf pro at the Treesdale Golf and Country Club

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"In track, you put everyone on the line and fire the gun and the fastest person wins. There's no politics, there's no nepotism — the first one across the line wins."

David Douthett is the coach of the South Butler Flyers

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"You definitely learn social skills because there are a lot more people at every race than you meet in high school. You have to talk to people and know people to be good at it and get to the next level."

Darren Durbin, 17, of Saxonburg is a professional motocross rider

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"I enjoyed it more than the alternatives, like racquetball or other sports. The ability to perform at that long-distance level, it's a great challenge. Early morning sunrises. Climbing a mountaintop you could not ride up before. The camaraderie among friends."

Ray Sielski of Adams Township is a member of the FoxVelo Cycling Club