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Do Sports Affect A Teenagers Life? Everyday.

Sports period was something we all looked forward to in school.  For some of us who were never interested in actually playing a sport, it was just 50 minutes of free time. For a lot of us 50 minutes as a sports period seemed too short a time. Playing a sport has always had an important and mostly positive effect on children and there is more than sufficient research evidence to support this. Adolescents participate in sports for many reasons. Be it for fun, due to personal motivation, to enhance fitness, acquire the status that playing a sport brings with, due to parental pressure, or a desire to be more like a famous sports person a child admires. Whatever the reasons for a child to engage in a sport may be, they most definitely reap the benefits of it.

According to a study conducted at the West Virginia University, teenagers who play sports are happier, feel healthier, and more fulfilled by life. Sports does not just help teenagers live a more active life and thus reducing the risk of obesity, diabetes and other complications it also helps boosts a child’s self esteem and  confidence. Playing a sport during adolescence increases the likelihood of the habit to continue throughout adulthood. Also, there is myriad research that proves that students need adequate amounts of physical activity throughout the school day, not only to facilitate a healthy lifestyle, but also to help the students perform better academically. The Child Development Centre at Columbia University states, “..physical activity can have an impact on cognitive skills and attitudes and academic behavior, all of which are important components of improved academic performance. These include enhanced concentration and attention as well as improved classroom behavior”. Although a significant amount of learning and development in various aspects occurs during adolescence it can be a very trying time for children. Amidst all the challenges that adolescence bring along with it, sports provide them with an outlet. It helps pump up endorphins,   sometimes called “feel good hormones”, thereby releasing the tensions and frustrations at the end of a bad day. It helps to channelize such negative emotions into more positive and productive outcomes. Donaldson and Ronan conducted a study to examine the effects of sports participation on young adolescents’ emotional well-being. The results of this study suggest that increased levels of sports participation had a positive relationship with aspects of emotional and behavioral well-being. Furthermore, team sports help foster leadership skills, a sense of discipline, and team spirit. Teenagers learn to cooperate with their team mates and learn to function in harmony with others and respect authority. Athletic teens also learn how to handle stress and pressure, manage time, set goals and work hard to reach a goal. Learning such skills during adolescence in turn helps the child adapt better to the roles that they would be expected to play in adulthood whether they may be at home, at school or on the job. The involvement of a child in extra-curricular activities also reflects the ability of the child to balance school work and other things and depicts how well rounded the child is.  Exceptional sports performances can help teenagers get a scholarship or admission to a particular college thereby enhancing the future prospects for the child.

Tips for Parents –

-  It is understandable that being a parent you would want the best for your teenager. However, it is important to not push your child into doing something that he or she does not enjoy or want to participate in. Activities such as playing a sport should be voluntary and an enjoyable experience for your child. Carl Pickhardt, a psychologist, states, “your teen's intrinsic -- or internal -- motivation is more powerful than any push or praise that you give him.”

Be open and accept your child’s decision to play a particular sport and do not try to force your opinion.

- If your child voluntarily chooses to play a sport that you are familiar with or used to play when you were a child, it would be easier for you to get involved and motivate your child. However, try not to be overbearing and let your child explore the sport and their abilities themselves. Use the sport as a common ground to get to know your teen better and spend time with him or her.

- Pressuring your teenager into doing their best and winning each and every game is not the best way to encourage your teen to love sports. This could actually be counterproductive as it could result in your teenager starting to hate playing a sport that they once loved.

 - Never forget to appreciate and congratulate your teenager for an outstanding accomplishment in the sport he or she chooses.

 - If your child fails to do well at a particular sport, do not berate him or her. Take time out to explain that sometimes it takes some time for a person to excel at doing something and if he or she continues to be dedicated towards their goals, they will begin to see improvement in due time.

 - If your teenager does not wish to play sports, it is okay. Respect their decision. Encourage them to get involved in some other extra-curricular activity. Provide your teen with options and let him or her choose. You have to realize that all you can do at times is provide information, guidance and support. Leave the rest to your child to decide.

Please note: The opinions expressed in this post are the personal views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of mycity4kids. Any omissions or errors are the author's and mycity4kids does not assume any liability or responsibility for them.