At least once in their lives, all children should play a team sport. Team sports have numerous health benefits, including improving physical health, mental health and leadership skills. Often, when students enter high school, they tend to drop out of their physical activities to focus on academics. According to the University of Georgia, 75% of teens do not get enough exercise to meet the expectations with school work.
Regular participation in sports that involve working with a team can highly benefit a person’s mental health and overall well-being. According to Saybrook University, in a study involving 11,235 children ranging between the ages of 9 to 13, the children who participated in an organized sports team had 10% lower anxiety and depression rates. This is due to one’s physical activity releasing endorphins, which tends to act as natural mood boosters. Additionally, sports can regulate a person’s mood as it releases serotonin and norepinephrine. Team environments create more opportunities for leadership and teamwork. Team sports teach cooperation and the importance of everyone’s contribution. The constant interactions with a team creates a sense of belonging and provides a support system.
A study conducted by the University of Kansas focused on the academic performance of high school students. The study highlighted that about 97% of student athletes graduated high school, which is over 10% higher than students who have never participated in sports. It also proved that athletes also had a better Grade Point Average (GPA.) than non-athletes. This may be due to the increased cognitive ability, which comes from playing sports. Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain and activates endorphins, which impacts your memory and work performance. Additionally, sports require mental discipline while focusing on a fast-paced game or practice. This trains students’ brains to concentrate, eliminate distractions and perform under pressure. These skills transfer to academic situations like staying disciplined during a test, exam, projects and homework.
Finally, sports create an environment where students learn to appreciate different people’s strengths and ideas. While playing in a game, it is important for a player to understand their teammates’ abilities and find ways to utilize them to ensure their team’s success. Leadership is an essential skill for students to learn. Captains have to encourage their teammates, make quick decisions under pressure and take accountability for performance. Sports also teach students to set achievable goals and work hard to accomplish them. These experiences allow students to work at achieving both immediate and long-term dreams.
Team sports foster a variety of crucial life skills, which students can develop by finding a sport that they enjoy. Not only do sports allow students to have fun while participating in physical activity and staying in shape, but it also benefits academically and socially. Being surrounded by a team can create long lasting friendships and a supportive environment which will motivate a person to be the best that they can be.
