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The importance of psychology to sport
Sports psychology is the science of behaviour
Sports psychology is the science of behaviour
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STARTING SPORTS AT YOUNG AGE
INTRODUCTION
It has been questioning by many people including experts that if starting sports at an early age is really beneficial to the individual. Most scientists agree that when it comes to starting sports, the earlier the better. First of all, the children would be fitter. In today’s world one of the most important health issues is obesity. To extend, almost 1 out of 5 children in the United States of America are dealing with obesity; triple of the rates from previous generation (cdc.gov, 2013). It is not only a health problem because it causes people to get depressed since their appearance is not considered good. Playing sports helps keeping the weight under control. Also because the heart rate increases the blood flow and more oxygen go to our muscles, as well as our skin, which makes our skin look better (Ekue, 2013).
Since all the sports have some rules, they are going to teach the discipline that individuals need. After getting used to the rules, one can live a systematic life. In terms of personality it has many benefits. A research proved that playing sports is good for psychological health; it reduces anxiety and depression and improves self-esteem (aboutourkids.org, 2013). However, it would be the opposite if the sports have competition among the players. One cannot be self-satisfied, or feel not confident while doing such sports.
Sports are good for physical development, especially when started young enough when the growth hormones are still produced. They can make the life easier. For example, one year of fitness makes one fit in terms of condition. If living healthy is the key of living long, sports might be the best thing that people can spend time on it. A popular saying suggests th...
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...d higher self-confidence than they had before they have started doing sports (Markowitz, 2012).
In conclusion, starting to do sports at an early age has many advantages on children’s both physical and psychological development, which can easily be observed by looking at the children around us who do and do not do sports. Although it is very easy to see the benefits of doing sports, there are still some people who make excuses and develop defense mechanisms about doing sports being bad. However, the psychologies of the individuals who are interested in doing sports are stronger than others and they can deal with stress and pressure more easily. Also, sports are important for individuals in avoiding major chronic diseases. Finally, as it is suggested earlier in this essay, people should start and encourage people around them to start doing sports as early as possible.
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.
The benefits of playing competitive sports include self-discipline, control, and confidence. Also not doing drugs, alcohol, and sexual activity. Students who are intensely involved in sports are less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol or join gangs, have a later onset of sexual activity, and do better in school and form good peer relationships. Parents have a
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.
According to statistics gathered by youth sports organizations, “Up to 50 million kids play youth sports in America, and 73 percent of those who begin playing a sport quit before they turn 13” (Binns). The children could have quit because they did not like the disappointment of losing, or because they are exhausted from their parents pushing them too hard. But parents have their reasons for pushing their children into sports. “Studies show that kids who play sports are less likely to become obese, abuse drugs or alcohol or to perform poorly in school” (McCormick). If children are not active, then they will most likely become overweight, and if they have nothing to do in their pastime, they may turn to drugs and alcohol, which usually leads to a decrease in grades in school.
To start sports can help keep kids in shape and help them maintain a healthy lifestyle. “As adults we should want our kids to play sports. They not only provide exercise, but also promote mental wellbeing and social development. Some studies even suggest that sports and exercise can lead to greater academic success.” Found in the article titled, “Give Children Variety and Time Off” written by David Geier, last updated on October 11, 2013.
The physical benefits of sports are undeniable and true, helping to fight childhood obesity through competitive activity. Sports, also help to create good work ethics in youth, and help promote organizational skills for their tight schedules. Sports continue to prove positive as they also help students create goals for themselves, in and outside of sports, they also help to consistently challenge the young players. However when weighing the pros and cons from playing competitive sports at a young age, the cons are ominously heavy, and easily outweigh the
According to Siegenthaler & Gonzalez (2010) the starting age for the youths participating in competitive sports have lowered intensely in the last two decades. When selecting the youths to compete in sports, one should consider the chronological and developmental age of the child being chosen to participate in the sports. According to psychological, cognitive and physical development, a child should have attained an age of 6 years before taking part in a structured team sport such as basketball and soccer. However, age is an imperfect measure for use by coaches and parents in gauging progress and setting expectations because children mature and different rates. Participation is sport has some benefits such as holistic development among the young people, higher self-esteem and giving the young children the opportunity to learn virtues such as honesty, adherence to rules, teamwork and fair play and in building healthy activity habits.
Several researches have revealed that physical exercise has relieved many people from symptoms of anxiety and depression. During physical activity and exercise, the body produces a type of chemical called “serotonin”, a chemical that aids while dealing with anxiety, stress and depression. Studies also have shown that people who participate in sports results in higher self- esteem and a more positive self- image. Many studies made conclusions that adolescents and students who take part in sports and physical activities tend to have positive and higher self esteem than students who do not play sports and often tend to result better in academic performances at school.
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.
As the article, “Sports Promote Healthy Weight in Teenagers” states, “ ‘I think being a part of some kind of team or organization gives kids the opportunity to have moderate to vigorous activity consistently,’ said Keith M. Drake, an author of the study and a postdoctoral research fellow at the Hood Center for Children and Families at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth”(O’Connor 1) This shows how sports teams help kids have vigorous activity which lowers weight, which can be linked to overall well-being. Also, the article, “Pros and Cons of Sports Competition at the High School Level”, states that “ Involvement in sports can actually help the body produce more positive chemicals, such as endorphins and adrenaline, which creates more stable moods, positive feelings of happiness, and decreased feelings of depression or sadness ” (Chen 8) This illustrates how sports can lead to positive feelings, and overall happiness, which is important for young children. Finally, the article, “Pros and Cons of Sports Competition at a High School Level states that, “Involvement in sporting activities keeps children moving and engaged physically, vital for their overall health and well-being”
“Sports are for fun, but they also offer benefits and lessons that carry over into all aspects of life”. This well-known anonymous quotation conveys the message that sport is the game which has some rules and customs. It is not only for fun and entertainment, but there are also some benefits of playing sports which give some important lessons for life. Every kind of physical sport is healthy because it involves running, jumping, stretching, mind skills and much more. There are so many sports available in the world nowadays, but we can categorize them by the numbers of players, the three main categories are individual sport, dual sport and team sport.
The easiest positive to athletics is indubitably the fact that they provide a full-packed time of exercise; therefore, sports are not only making us healthier but also making us smarter. It is proven that exercise actually allows our brain to produce more brain cells in which in the end will allow our brains to function at a higher levels. It is also known that one in every three kids and or teenagers are considered obese for their age. If more children were willing to participate in athletic activity, that statistic would change drastically as a result of the level of calories burned while being active.
Recently, there has been very discrete opinions on whether younger children should be allowed to participate in competitive sports. Many believe that said sports are a very decent way for children to be active, learn various non-academic skills such as hand-eye coordination and teamwork, and just to plainly have fun. Albeit the positive factors, many feel that competitive sports can be relatively harmful to a child’s physical and mental state. However, it stands more truly that participating in these sports are mainly positive to children.
Development of children in a never-ending, day-to-day process, striving to achieve. Physical Activity is a must when it comes to the development of young people, and determining their physical, social, and emotional health. Benefits of sports should never be underestimated. Sports reach way past the impact of a good, physical well-being, and the values of educational benefits. Today in almost every school, physical activities are required in some form. They don’t only promote physical activity, they also help improve academic performance under certain conditions (Sports Education). Sports have many positives such as keeping kids out of trouble. Kids who start sports at a younger age tend to stick with it for the long
The benefits of sports range from physical, mental, and social. Exercise keeps people fit, develops healthy muscle tone, and reduces heart and lung problems (Oak, Manali). Sports studies have shown that “youth are motivated and engaged in ways that do not happen regularly in any other parts of their lives. Their experience of sports stands out from nearly all other activities, including socializing and schoolwork, in providing enjoyment where they are exerting concerted effort toward a goal” (Larson, Reed, and Sean Seepersad). People who play sports bond over a common interest. This opens up children to meeting new kids and socializing with many more. In Kindergarten, I played baseball. Even though I did not truly understand all the mechanics of the game, I met new friends and began to develop motor skills. This was very useful starting at an early age and pushed me to stay active throughout my life.