While it's easy to quantify the physical effects of sports on health, it's more complicated to determine how playing tennis, golf, soccer or baseball effects the psyche. Fortunately, a number of individuals and institutions have researched this and disseminated their findings, revealing that participation in sports can have far-reaching emotional benefits. From drug-use prevention and reduced instances of alcoholism to a decreased likelihood of teen pregnancy and school dropout rates, the psychological benefits of sports are clear.
Self-View
Findings showing a positive relationship between sports and self-esteem have been confirmed by a variety of researchers, including Dr. Joseph J. Gruber of the University of Kentucky, who analyzed 27 different studies on the subject and concluded that children who participated in physical activity had higher levels of self-esteem than those who did not.
According to the Women's Sports Foundation, "Girls and women who play sports have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem and lower levels of depression... have a more positive body image and experience higher states of psychological well-being than girls and women who do not play sports."
Socialization
Sports require children and adults to work together to solve problems and disputes, share victories and defeats and deal with bullies, gossips, cheats and teammates who do not pull their weight. Social skills learned and improved through sports include appropriate risk-taking, cooperation, teamwork, patience with lesser-skilled teammates and unselfishness. Researchers Ronald E. Smith and Frank L. Smoll of the University of Washington reported in 1991 that, ". . . the sport environment can provide socialization opportunities and place adaptive demands that are similar to those of other important life settings." According to the President's Council on Physical Fitness, youth sports help children transition to adulthood from childhood.
Anti-Social Behavior
Despite the many positive effects of sports on behavior, overbearing parents and coaches can mar the positive emotional aspects of sports by placing too much pressure on players to win. The Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association actually has a prohibition against clapping for any shot or cheering for either child during junior City Finals matches to prevent unsportsmanlike conduct by teammates, parents and coaches. Researchers Jeffrey Segrave, Skidmore College and Douglas Hastad, University of Wisconsin, Lacrosse found, "...students who played more highly publicized, physically aggressive team sports were involved in more seriously antisocial delinquent acts than those who participated in less publicized and aggressive sports."
References
- Goliath: The Effects of Sports Participation on Young Adolescents' Emotional Well-Being
- President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports: Youth Sports in America: An Overview
- Women's SportsFoundation: Why Sports Participation for Girls and Women?
- Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association: Jr. League Team Manager's Handbook; pp 28-29
- Questia: Does Aerobic Exercise Really Enhance Self-Esteem in Children? A Prospective Evaluation in 3rd - 5th Graders
