5 Good Reasons To Join Sports

Sports encompass a wide range of activities, from organized team play, such as professional leagues of football and basketball, to recreational play, such as intramural or children's leagues structured to let you try a sport, such as soccer or baseball. Individual pursuit of a goal is also a form of sport; for example, when a runner decides to focus her training on a 5k, 10k or marathon. Regardless of the structure, sports offers significant benefits that extend beyond the obvious.

Physical Benefits

Regular participation in sports keeps your weight down, improves your endurance and increases strength and flexibility. Moving around as part of a team or following an individual regimen burns calories, helping maintain your weight. If you are part of a vigorous sport, such as competitive soccer, the intensity burns more calories, helping you lose weight if you eat less than your burning off in practice and at games.

Mental Health

Playing sports makes you feel better. Engaging in physical activity is a natural mood booster. As you're playing your sport, your brain releases chemicals that make you relax and feel happier. In addition, post-game or practice, you feel better about your physical appearance, improving your self-confidence and self-esteem. In seniors, regular participation in sports also improves brain function, minimizing memory loss and cognitive impairment.

Camaraderie

Playing a sport makes you naturally a part of a group, providing friendships and support. Even if your sport is an individual one, such as tennis or running, being on a team or part of a group that plays regularly provides social connection and minimizes isolation, particularly important for seniors.

Healthy Lifestyle for Teens

For young athletes, sports participation is directly linked to decreased use of illicit substances. According to a 2000 study of more than 14,000 high school students published in the "Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine," involvement in sports minimized participants use of cocaine and tobacco in both girls and boys. The study also reports female athletes were less likely to engage in sexual behavior.

Better Eating Choices

In the 2000 study of high school students, both girls and boys involved in sports report making healthier eating choices. Both genders report a higher incidence of eating fruits and vegetables than their counterparts who were not involved in sports.