Sports can serve a wide range of importance in peoples' lives. For top athletes and those who coach them, it can be the source of a very comfortable livelihood. For sports fans, it can be the most enjoyable aspect of life outside work and school. Others feel that sports is not worthy of any attention even though others are consumed by it.
Role Models
Athletes can serve as role models for impressionable youngsters. Children learn from their parents and teachers, but they also see an outside world in which politicians, actors, religious leaders and athletes play an important role. It's easy for youngsters to gravitate toward athletes because they see them succeed and fail, often in dramatic fashion. Watching an athlete play well in a game can provide a teaching moment for the youngster. If he sees his sports hero get the game-winning hit or score the overtime goal, he may aspire to do the same thing himself. When an athlete combines an outstanding performance with a message that includes practicing hard and making sure education is a priority, for example, that message can have a huge influence on young people.
Entertainment
Sports can be the dominant form of entertainment for many individuals. Watching NFL football on Sunday afternoons is a ritual for many American sports fans. Others would not miss opening day during baseball season no matter what else happens in any aspect of their lives. Hockey's importance in Canada, meanwhile, has been compared to religion.
Health
Playing sports can be the key to a longer and healthier life for people who participate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that that childhood obesity tripled in the United States between 1980 and 2008, noting that one of the best ways to combat this problem is through sports participation. Playing active sports for 1 hour a day can help anyone develop a healthier lifestyle --- and it's particularly beneficial for youngsters.
Shared Experience
Going to a sporting event can provide a lifetime of memories for sports fans. When you go to an event like a basketball or hockey game, you are sharing the experience with the other fans in attendance at the arena. In many cases, you will roar with approval or moan with disappointment --- and so will most of the others in attendance. This makes the event more memorable and may serve as a reference point in your life.
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