Playing sports is an important element in the lives of many American children. More than 40 million kids between the ages of six and 17--both male and female--participate in athletics in the United States. Most engage in sports to simply have fun, but the benefits of such activities go far beyond the love of the game. Some benefits can be seen, others felt, while several occur without even being noticed at all.
Physical Health
The health benefits of sports are numerous, especially for kids. In 1997, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) published the "Guidelines for Schools and Communities for Promoting Lifelong Physical Activity," where the agency noted that regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight, reduces anxiety and stress, increases self-esteem, and may improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Psychological Health
Children who are actively involved in a sport are more likely to describe themselves as being in good physical health than students who do not participate in sports, according to a 2006 article published in the "Journal of Community Health." A 2006 article published in the "Journal of School Health" found that the interaction a child has with her coach helps to improve self-esteem as well as lower the chance of depression.
Social Skills
Social responsibility and leadership skills are two other reasons why sports are good for children. According to "Youth Sports in America: An Overview," sports can provide excellent educational opportunities for social development because many of the social and moral requirements for participation in sports are parallels to how individuals must function in a law-abiding society. The "Handbook of Research on Sports Psychology" states that understanding the competitive process entails an appreciation of the social nature of competition, particularly with regard to the cooperative and strategic aspects of sports and an awareness of the nature of individual roles within a cooperating group.
Academic Benefits
Kids can also show the benefits of sports in the classroom. A 2002 study published in "Sociology of Education" concluded that participating in athletics helps high school students perform well academically more than any other extracurricular activity. A 2007 study published in "Educational Psychological Review" stated that systematic exercise programs may actually enhance the development of specific types of mental processing known to be important for meeting challenges encountered both in academics and later in life.
Future
The benefits of kids' participation in sports can long outlast their youth. Some can parlay their athletic prowess into scholarships for private schools and colleges. There are also the lucky few who are able to use their particular talent for sports as a career. Many adults credit their ongoing participation in sports to the love of the game they cultivated as kids.
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