According to the New York University Child Study Center, 30 to 45 million American children participate in a school- or community-based athletic program. In 2007 the American Academy of Pediatrics reconfirmed its position that organized sports provide “physical and social benefits for children” as long as expectations and demands for participation do not exceed the maturity and readiness of the child participating.
Social Benefits
Team sports provide children with the opportunity to develop and strengthen their social skills. Successful participation in team sports requires children to learn how to cooperate with their teammates, how to follow directions and how to develop friendships. Participation in team sports can also teach children about being "good sports"--helping them develop the ability to show appreciation and respect to others for their accomplishments and to empathize with those who may not be as successful.
Psychological Benefits
According to the University of Florida Family Youth and Community Services division, one of the important benefits of team sports is teaching children how to cope with competition in a healthy way. Other psychological benefits of team sport participation include learning how to think critically, solve problems, develop patience and persistence, and become self-disciplined. With proper adult guidance, children also learn how to cope with disappointment in healthy ways.
The New York University Child Study Center reports that girls who participate in team sports are less likely to have teenage pregnancies and less likely to have intercourse at an early age.
Physical Benefits
The Centers for Disease Control indicates childhood obesity tripled between 1980 and 2010. Budget restraints and increased pressure for academic achievement have forced many schools to cut their physical education and recess programs. These cuts remove many of the opportunities children have historically used to enjoy physical activity. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that children who participate in regular physical activity have reduced risks of “many adult health problems, including diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.” This is why one of the biggest benefits of team sports is that they provide children with the opportunity to be physically active.
