Children and Sports

1056 Words3 Pages

Children who participate in sports are developing rapidly in sports skills, sportsmanship, and psychologically, but does this come from organized sports are just nature’s process. Children develop emotional and social benefits from participating in sports. Children experience character and leadership development through peer relations leading to an increase in self-esteem and a decrease in anxiety levels. Children will get opportunities to experience positive and negative emotions throughout their practice and games trials. It is important for the coach to understand the “psychology of youth sports and physical activity participation” (Weinberg & Gould, 2011 p.516). The type of sport adolescents choose to participate in can be considered masculine, feminine, or neutral which causes stereotypes among peers. Society has set the stereotypes for competitive sports based on gender. According to Alley & Hick (2005), “despite legal and social changes, sexist ideology still pervades sport” (p.273). Sports are seen as masculine, male dominated, and males receive higher media coverage and pay than the majority of female sports. The gender stereotype is learned through socialization and “for certain sports appear to be learned by grade school” (Alley & Hicks, 2005. p. 274). Gender role conflicts may appear in some athlete depending on the sport(s) one chooses to participate in, but this can alter by demonstrating acceptance for the opposite gender in sports. It is important to indentifying the social effects of sports participation in both genders and how beneficial it can be to the adolescent. Through sports participation adolescents learn those gender roles are based on self-perception, and not social interactions. Peer interactions dev... ... middle of paper ... ...rganized sports participation. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 40(3), 153-161. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/220525541?accountid=8289 Goldstein, J. D., & Iso-Ahola, S. (2006). Promoting sportsmanship in youth sports: Perspectives from sport psychology. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 77(7), 18-24. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/215757725?accountid=8289 Linver, M. R., Roth, J. L., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2009). Patterns of adolescents' participation in organized activities: Are sports best when combined with other activities? Developmental Psychology, 45(2), 354-367. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0014133 Steptoe, A., & Butler, N. (1996). Sports participation and emotional wellbeing in adolescents. The Lancet, 347(9018), 1789-92. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/199054311?accountid=8289

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