Can sports have a positive impact on children? Can it really teach them important life lessons? Does playing sports as a child help one succeed in school?
As society trys to deter from the "win at all cost" attitude and move towards using sports as an effective tool in youth development, these are some questions that are frequently asked. I recently read an article called Coaches Making Youth Sports a Positive Experience by Daniel Perkins that gives simple but yet profound reasons for youth sport development.
The full article can be read here. Below is an excerpt from the article that answers the questions above.
Sports can be a fun and engaging way for children and youth to learn some important lessons about life. Studies suggest that participation in sports can be very beneficial, fostering responsible social behaviors, greater academic success, and an appreciation of personal health and fitness. Participating on a team also can give children or youth an important sense of belonging.
The atmosphere set by organizations, parents, and coaches is a major factor in determining whether or not youth will have a positive experience in a sports program. A “win-at-all-costs” atmosphere can be harmful to a developing youth. This bulletin provides information to assist coaches in fostering a positive climate that enables children and youth involved in sports to enjoy themselves and reach their full potential. Two related bulletins provide similar information for parents.
Few children possess the talent to play competitive sports at the highest level—most will not grow up to be professional athletes. Therefore, in this series, we take the perspective that the primary goals of youth sports are to foster the development of general physical competence and to promote physical activity, fun, life skills, sportsmanship, and good health. Sports that foster personal competence help youth develop their abilities to do life planning, to be self-reliant, and to seek the resources of others when needed.
Sports are opportunities for children and youth to learn; they provide a “practice field” for life. For example, learning to work as a team teaches young children social skills that will help them in their growth as people, not just as athletes. For youth, participating in sports may develop teamwork, leadership, self-confidence, self-discipline, and coping skills. Sports also can teach youth about sportsmanlike behaviors and respect for authority. In fact, according to a survey of teachers and school administrators, youth that participated in sports had better grades and behaved better in the classroom because of the associated discipline and work ethic. The evidence from research is clear— children and youth who are involved in physical activities such as sports fare better in school, have higher social skills, are more teamoriented, and are healthier as determined by fitness standards.
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