It’s Not Always Easy, But It Is Always Worth It!
Coming up with the money and shuttling kids to practice and games is not always easy, but extensive research indicates that children that are involved in organized sports tend to be better students and are more successful in their adult lives.
Physical
Sports benefit players physical health. Sports increase an awareness of one’s body and how it responds to different stimuli and circumstances, sports help prevent drug and alcohol abuse. Most athletes value what their bodies can do and want to maintain those abilities. Being an athlete also gives kids an acceptable reason for telling their friends no to drugs, booze, and other high-risk, unhealthy behavior.
Behavioral
Participating in youth sports:
- Builds self-esteem, self-respect and dignity
- Provides social interaction with peers and adults
- Helps develop talents
- Teaches sportsmanship and how to control emotions
- Teaches teamwork
- Shows kids how to play within the rules
- Teaches kids how to deal with adversity by showing them it is all right to make a mistake
- Instills self-discipline and an awareness of the value of preparation
- Teaches kids how to deal with criticism
- Provides leadership opportunities
- Fosters a sense of community by providing a sense of belonging or to be part of a group
- Teaches time management and the value of planning ahead
- Develops skills for handling success and failure
- Provides a stress relief from academic and social pressures
