Introducing Sports At a Young Age Improves the Child's Life

Have you ever been told that you are too young to be playing in competitive sports?

Research shows that introducing sports at a young age can make a positive impact on a child’s life. Sports gives children a great foundation in life. It teaches them lessons that will help them grow into well rounded adults. Although there are many people who will say that children playing competitive sports is a negative, studies prove that competitive sports creates competence, confidence, connections, and character.

Kids playing sports helps cognitive and academic development. Playing sports help children manage their time better. Everyday i have volleyball practice after school so when I have homework due sometime that week, I will do what I can on the weekend. Every Thursday I have volleyball practice from 3:15 - 4:45 and then I have softball practice from 6:00-7:30. When I come back from volleyball, I do all the work that I can do and then I will go to softball practice and come home and finish my homework. Most times if I have a test on Fridays, I study for them that whole week so I don’t to do it that night. Children who play sports typically make better grades than children who don’t. This is because in order to stay on a team you have to maintain a C average. If you get below that average, you have to sit the bench for the next game. Youth athletes also has to have good organizational skills by learning the art of multi-tasking and observation. When your team isn’t playing a game, always watch another team so you can see what to expect when you play them. When I play softball, I always try to remember where the girl hit the ball last time so I can set up so I know where to play the ball. Also, always listen to your coaches even if...

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...es also learn how to cope with winning and losing. A team is a group of individual players trying to be the best that they can be. “Win with class, lose with dignity.” “Don’t get too high when you win and don’t get too low when you lose.” These are some of my favorite sayings. Did you know that children who play sports can cope with frustration easier than children who don’t play sports? My volleyball coach, Ms. Brink, told the team that “Whenever you make a mistake, don’t dwell on it. Move on.”

In conclusion participating in youth sports can make a very positive influence and life teaching experience in a child’s life. In the right environment, it helps children build competence, instill confidence, create connections, and defines character. John Wooden, a legendary UCLA basketball coach says it best. “Sports do not build character, they reveal it.”