In today’s world, our adolescence is faced with many challenges and obstacles that make it hard for them to overcome. Involvement in sports is an integral part of child development and teaches youth to lead active, healthy lives while developing many of the fundamental skills necessary for a child to succeed. Sports challenge children to excel physically and mentally, and teach valuable skills; such as, leadership, hard work and perseverance which translate beyond the playing field to all aspects of life, whether it be in the classroom, at work, or in the community. The individual benefits of involving youth in sporting activities transcend into benefits for the community as a whole. Participants experience a high degree of interaction with other individuals within their community, which not only benefits the child, but such interactions also translate into the community's social and economic development. Thus, in addition to the personal benefits for the child, youth involvement in sports also has a broader impact on the overall community. Participation in sports has a positive effect on reducing the involvement and exposure youths may have to violence and unethical activity. Sports offer children a positive alternative to idleness; which, if a child is consistently left without constructive activity, can often lead to violence. Sports help to eliminate differences between each other and cultural barriers by removing the separation between such groups through healthy competition and the realization of shared goals. The youth who play sports are more inclined to do better in school and later, are more likely to go on to college and achieve a successful job.
There is a larger focus on males in sports opposed to females. The statem...
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... it gives god detailed reasons why it’s a positive reason teens should be involved in sports."
Watkinson, Michaela. "Does Being a Student Athlete Affect Your Grades?." The Breeze. N.p., 3 Jan. 2013. Web. 23 Oct. 2013
"Michaela Watkinson article is about how student athletes are successful on the court or on the field because they are successful in the classroom first. She states that there is a strong correlation between good academics and good grades. He says that sports team builds character that the players can take off the field and back to the classrooms and community. This is a good source for my article because it backs my opinion. I think teens should be involved in some kind of physical activity. If being active lowers diabetes rates, lowers obesity, improves grades and makes teens feel good about themselves I don’t know why anyone would not want that. "
Youth sports are a staple in nearly every American’s childhood as highlighted in “Children Need to Play, Not Compete” by Jessica Statsky. Statsky makes two contentions in favor of this argument: first, that the participants of youth sports are not physically and psychologically ready, and second, that the mentality of win or lose is more harmful than helpful during the formative years of a child’s development. I agree with Statsky that children’s sports are too often over competitive, but some competition is beneficial to their development.
Athletes in times of difficulty can be important role models.” This shows that sports are in fact helpful because they can grow children into being important role models for the rest of society. Studies have shown time and time again that playing sports can be beneficial to children and we also believe this to be true. Many people still think that sports cause “too many injuries”, or coaches “are not fair enough”, but adolescents will experience these things all throughout their lives because injury can happen anywhere and they will not always be the best at what they are doing. Sports are beneficial to the youth because they can teach children and teens important life skills, help them maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle, all while improving their mental health.
Participation in sports has proven to increase self-discipline and self-esteem, and can teach athletes to learn from their mistakes and move on (Issitt). Athletes playing team sports also develop the ability to work well with others and use teamwork in their everyday lives. Teammates form relationships that are strengthened over a common passion and goal. These relationships can last long after high school is over (Chen). These social skills translate into better communication used with an athlete’s family, peers, and in the community. Likewise, “A 2006 study in Maryland found that student athletes are 15 percent more likely than non athletes to be involved in their communities and to take the time for civic engagements, including participating in voting and volunteer activities” (Issitt). The same study also concluded that athletes are far more likely to be comfortable with public speaking than non-athletes. This study provides concrete evidence that high school sports can help to gain mental and social skills that will be used later in life
The journal article, “What does sport mean to you? Fun and other preferences for adolescents’ sport participation” claims that fun, social aspects, masculinity, and identity are the main reasons youth participate in sports (Skille and Østera˚ s, 360). Oftentimes, athletes forget they are on the same team, and they start to form cliques or groups based around who has the best bench press or 40 meter dash time. As a result, teammates start to compete with each other instead of working towards the same goal. For instance, one coaching journal article claims that “moral reasoning” in youth is determined through “collective norms” or group behaviors that the coach has a hand in influencing (Shields, LaVoi, Bredemeier, Power, 748-749). A proper coaching environment should therefore revolve around a fun, supportive, and collective environment where success is encouraged through the full support of the team. This support can further be developed through proper positive mindfulness and code of conduct guidelines set forth by the coach; for instance, hazing should be discouraged and proper communication and helpfulness among teammates should be
One of the many benefits of playing sports is the children will build character. Building character is important because with character they will obtain new friends and develop different skills. Playing sports at a young age can build character in many ways, “Playing sports at a young age enables children to participate in social interactions and build skills such as teamwork, leadership, and responsibility as they learn to work with others to achieve a common goal,” (Aspen Institute). This is a benefit because they will build character from learning how to deal with wins and losses from playing sports. Also, they will develop different skills. Developing different skills will build character because, “numerous positive developmental indicators have been associated with sport participation, including improved self-esteem, emotional regulation, problem-solving, goal attainment, social skills, and academic performance,” (Holt). This shows how when children play sports that some of them acquire different skills than others. Lastly, some of the benefits that the children will receive from playing the sports are obtaining new friends and developing different
Our society, in terms of world sports, has grown increasingly impressive. Most professional athletes have been playing their specialized sport since grade school, and although impressive, the people we are rooting for are wearing out quickly. Although youth sports programs are a health benefit to society, they also pose disadvantages to a young person’s growth and development.
Participating in a sport at an early age can be essential to the overall growth process during a child’s upbringing. Whether the participation is through some sort of organized league or just getting together amongst friends and playing, the lessons learned from this can help teach these kids and provide a positive message to them as they develop. There is a certain point, however, when organized sports can hinder progress, which is when adults get too involved and forget about the underlying reason to why they are helping. While adult involvement is necessary, adult involvement can sometimes send the wrong message to children when they try to make participation become more than just about fun and learning. According to Coakley (2009), “organized sports are worth the effort put forth by adults, as long as they do what is in the best interest of their children and put that thought ahead of their own agenda” (Coakley, p. 151). This is a valid argument because once adults put themselves in front of the children and their values, it needs to be re-evaluated as to why they first got involved in the beginning. Partaking in organized sport and activity from a young age can be beneficial to the overall development of children, as long as decisions actions are made in the best interest of the children and not stemming from ulterior motives of adults.
Sports are a popular pastime among all ages and types of people. People not only participate in them for fun, but also for money, physical fitness, rush of competition, and for many other personal reasons. Playing sports is especially common among young people in schools. Athletics are great and enjoyable for many reasons, but there can be a point where sports participation can go too far and become negative for children and adults. Sports specialization for young people is an increasing trend that results in sports having a negative impact on individuals and society.
First of all high school sports are not beneficial because it puts too much stress on the kids because they want to make their parents happy and want to keep their grades up or if they don’t they could get cut from the team . The pressure from the parents is sometimes too much. According to KCRA.com this statement is important because it highlights that they have to worry about not getting dropped from the team because they have to make sure grades are staying up and then they have to worry about their practice and being a valuable player on the team. According to helpguide.org this could lead to, a lot of stress and that could be bad for the student because they might get health
School funding cannot be solely to blame for the decrease in physical activity in the education environment. With the increased emphasis on the need to achieve academic aptitude, children as well as their adult parents see athletics as an extra, or something that can be done when and if homework is completed. Not to say that this is not commendable, but evidence supports the fact that athletic programs have the ability to turn at-risk youth in positive directions. Sports programs promote healthy social and physical development while offering positive alternatives to high risk behavior.
youth sports [were] the one haven for good sportsmanship," says Darrell Burnett, a clinical child psychologist and youth sports psychologist. "Not anymore. It's not just a game anymore." With technology (etc) distracting our children with violence and so on, we cannot afford to ruin what sports may do for them. With sports being just one of the few things left that can contribute to success in life, education, and health, parents need not to put any sort of unnecessary pressure on their kids at such a young age, or any age for that matter, ever.
In “children Need to Play,” Jessica Statsky talks about her concerns regarding the issues of the destructive effects of competitive sports on children. Parents need to acknowledge this reality because it has a great influence on children at this time of age and it has become an integral part of life. As these games are designed on the basis of an adult, there physical and psychological aspects are considered before hand and a child under 14 years of age can easily be damaged on physical and psychological levels because all these sports are dangerous to children. Extreme physical activities put an unbearable strain on the developing bodies. The idea of winning sometimes forces the little ones to go to such extents that sometimes that
Sports can help many at- risk youths. In order to participate in sports you need to be committed and willing to work hard. You also have to learn to respect others and accept that winning isn’t the only measure of success. Losing can build character as well. When youth participate in a sports they enjoy, they are less likely to engage in behaviors that are harmful or dangerous to themselves and others. It is for these reasons schools should strive to maintain athletic programs for their students.
Sports programs have been an integral part of all schools. They support the academics of the school and therefore foster success in life. These programs are educational and help produce productive citizenship. They help students experience and build skills that may help them in their future, like interpersonal and time management skills. Education may kindle the light of knowledge, but sports help to maintain the proper physique. Sports are also an important means of entertainment and a use for energy after long hours of study. Sports increase a student’s performance not only in the classroom but also in their life.
"Does Participation in Sports Keep Teens Out of Trouble?" ModernMom.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2014.