The Importance Of Participation In Sports

1612 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Physical, mental and social benefits of sports

Athletics, for a majority of the student population, provides a very meaningful experience in education. People that participate in athletics will have better self-esteem, social confidence, and more academic achievement. Participating in an athletic program will help the student contribute to the school community, which will help them identify with school values. One factor that may be overlooked in the participation of sports is that it helps students have better physical health. Students who participate in sports learn to respect their health and they will try to stay healthier than students who have never participated in a sport. There are so many numerous reasons to get involved in athletics in the school setting, but there arise …show more content…

There are intrinsic and extrinsic reasons to why they participate in sports. The intrinsic reasons can include playing for enjoyment and the athlete wants to better their skill development. Some extrinsic factors include having a chance to socialize with peers and having a chance to achieve physical and psychological factors (Allison, Dwyer, & Goldenberg, 2005). Even with these positive reinforcements there are people that don’t participate in sports or drop out. The reason people don’t participate can be attributed to external barriers. Male athletes report that their peers and parents have influenced their decision to not participate. They had stated that if their friends did not engage in physical activity, they were more likely to not participate. This is seen more predominantly at the middle school level where peer pressure from friends can cause students to not participate in sports (Allison et al., 2005). As a coach if I want to counter the effects of peer pressure, I need to be a positive role models for students that are conflicted. In my career, I have had many athletes quit athletics because of their friends. I need to make sure that if they love playing sports that I provide them support if they feel that their friends are pressuring them to

Show More
Related

  • Amanda Ripley's Article: High-School Sports Aren T Killing Academics

    1361 Words  | 3 Pages

    Athletics in American schools have always been controversial for many reasons. Some of these reasons include health concerns, safety precautions, and academic significance. Daniel H. Bowen and Colin Hitt wrote an article titled, “High-School Sports Aren’t Killing Academics” to present the factors of positive correlation between success in athletics and academics. I believe that athletics in high schools not only benefit students socially, but also academically.

    Read More

  • The Case For High School Sports?

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    Playing a school sport enables you to bond with your teammates, making lifelong friends. Sports are fun and thrilling; they help kids get into shape. For years now there have been kids who play sports who also are very good in academics. Sports help kids get organized and teach them to balance their school work with sports. The article to start all the buzz about no sports in high school is written by

    Read More

  • High School Friday Night Lights

    857 Words  | 2 Pages

    High school sports are approached with clashing opinions. Some of these opinions are positive, and supportive of athletics. “Athleticism, among many activities, offers teens a physical outlet to exert their troubles, anger, emotions, and other feelings” (Chen 1). This can be observed in nearly all of the football players in Friday Night Lights. This can also be noticed in the world today. “Athletics help high school students understand their own abilities and talents” (Chen 1). This piece of evidence is very accurate when describing high school athletes. Sports can make a high school student humble. As can be seen by the preceding information, high school athletics can have a positive impact on a student’s life.

    Read More

  • Effects Of High School Sports Essay

    730 Words  | 2 Pages

    Students who participate in sports remain physically active. Student athletes have practice and must keep “in shape” to compete against other high school teams. Researchers have said the younger population has grown obese. Students who remain in high school sports have a lower risk of becoming obese. Obesity is growing rapidly in the nation and having kids participate in sports will help the nation’s obesity rate decrease. The reason students stay healthy is because the practice may involve running, weight training, and flexibility to help stay in “shape”. Students involved in sports are also encouraged to eat better to ensure the best body to perform at top level. Athletes have a desire to win and be the best. This forces an athlete to live a healthier

    Read More

  • Essay On Sports Specialization

    1315 Words  | 3 Pages

    More specifically, children are also increasingly pressured--again, usually by parents and coaches--to specialize in one sport and to play it year-round, often on several different teams (Perry). Now, if sports specialization is such a great idea, then why are kids being “pressured”? As stated before, sports specialization can result in severe injury or even retirement from sports all together. Evidently, parents would not want to risk their athlete’s entire athletic career just because of an overuse injury. Knowing this, a diversity in sports activities is the solution to the problem. Additionally, a specialization in sports can lead to the young athlete not experiencing a sport that he or she may truly enjoy in their life. If a parent already makes a child decide on a sport to play, how will the child know if that is the sport they truly want to participate in? As the child ages, they could realize that the sport they play now is not one that they love anymore, so they could just quit. Deciding at such a young age is not only a hasty decision, but also a terrible one. Finally, this specialization can also create social problems. If a child is already so competitively involved in a sport, then their social lives and relationships with friends are at risk. The clear choice here is to let the child live a normal life by allowing them to make friends and play, rather than taking over their lives with competitive

    Read More

  • Informative Speech: Attention Getter For High School Athlete

    1578 Words  | 4 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Coaching Philosophy

    1210 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Sports Specialization

    1826 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • What Is Softball Essay

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    It will encourage students to try their best to accomplish superior grades. It opens their eyes in a different perspective on behavior as well as stronger scholastic peer relationships. It gives students activities excluding school work, because teenagers generally focus their mind on unacceptable actions. Parents commonly show passion along with appreciation when their child/children play a sport. They get to have a closer relationship and be elaborate with them more often than normal. Frequently, students do not care about their reputation or acknowledge the adults’ opinions on themselves; but in my opinion, playing sports and being mostly involved with their schools presents an improved character while in school and once they graduate. I was once told that “Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” Additionally, self-esteem in high school is hard to come by, occasionally sports help! Sports cause you to interact with other people and uplift you to do better. It presents a sharpened perspective on your schoolwork, career, future, and life altogether. In some cases, playing a sport can benefit you in an enhanced form. Scholarships can be a broad opportunity for valuable players with a good education on their shoulders. As well as, college recruitment can be another option. Money is hard to come by for college and if that seems to be a struggle for a student playing a sport can help tremendously. That

    Read More

  • Effects of Youth Involvement in Organized Sports

    2054 Words  | 5 Pages

    By now almost everyone has heard about child obesity in America, but just how high are the rates? The answer might surprise you. According to Nate Whitman, a writer for The Huffington Post, “rates of obesity have doubled in 2- to 5-year-olds, quadrupled in 6- to 11-year-olds, and tripled in 12- to 19-year-olds” (par. 2). This is due to more children staying inside and only doing activities such as video games. They do not interact with anyone besides whomever they are talking to online. These findings are astonishing to say the least. What can we do to combat this? Involvement in organized sports helps children develop their social skills, improve their academic progress, and stay active.

    Read More

  • Should Athletes Be Paid?

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    The connection between academic performance and athletics continues to spark considerable debate. Should students who have poor academic performance be allowed to participate in sports? Good academic performance prepare students for college, and secure scholarships to assist with the cost of college, and also prepare them for a career. Sports is not part of the curriculum and is not a requirement to graduate therefore it is a privilege to be able to participate in athletics. Sports could be viewed as a motivation for good academic performance or it could take too much time and decrease their academic performance.

    Read More

  • The Drawbacks of Pushing Children in Sports

    1588 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to statistics gathered by youth sports organizations, “Up to 50 million kids play youth sports in America, and 73 percent 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 of grades in school. A parent putting his/her child in sports gives the child something to do and keeps them fit. Parents also put their child in a sport hoping that he/she will get success out of it “Eager to nurture the next A-Rod or Michelle Kwan, parents enroll their 5- or 6-year-olds in a competitive sports league or program” (Stenson). While not all parents are pushing for future Olympians, the fight for a sports college scholarship is competitive and parents may feel that their child will have a better chance of gaining one if he/she starts competitive sports early. Parents push their children to succeed, and children--not wanting to disappoint their parents--push themselves, sometimes harder than they should. If done right, pushing a child into sports can have a positive effect on the child’s interaction with other children while teaching them commitment and healthy competition. However, focusing on winning and earning a scholarship versus having fun may backfire, because the cons...

    Read More

  • The Positive Impact of Sports on Academic Performance

    616 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Participation in Team Sports Builds Character

    999 Words  | 2 Pages

    The involvement in team sports builds good character and social development skills in children. According to LHSAA executive director, Kenny Henderson “Children who participate in sports have heightened self-esteem, social skills, ability to work well with others and more respect.” Young adults who have played team sports are less likely to take illegal drugs. Adults who played sports as children have better social and leadership skills. Sports provide children with experiences and interactions necessary to grow into an adult with good character and sufficient social skills. Team sports in grade school can offer children and teenager an outlet for stress and negative emotional build-up. Coaches, practices, games or meets and traveling all have a large impact on a person’s charter. Most children who have played a team sport at some time have character traits found in highly successful adults.

    Read More

  • The Benefits of Team Sports Participation

    778 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are many benefits gained from participating in team sports. Team participation can build self esteem, promote social interaction and help one gain a sense of responsibility. Being involved in a team sport can also help you to attain personal fitness goals and maintain wellness. The time spent practicing with a team, will improve your skills and give you countless hours of enjoyment.

    Read More

More about The Importance Of Participation In Sports

Open Document