Are Sports Beneficial or Detrimental to Youth?

W In the same article by Anne Josephson(15 Reasons Competitive Sports Are Good For Kids(That have nothing to do with winning) says this exact thing. She also says it gives kids a healthier mind.With a healthier mind you can do a lot more with your everyday life, when it comes to grades, attitude, etc. In her article it also says that kids who played sports for their school were less likely to drop out of school because of education issues.This may be because not only that there minds are healthy, but that many sports are run through the schools themselves, so if they skip school or get bad grades they literally can not play.Another detail to support this is, Kirk Mango believes that with obesity on the rise it seems fitting--pun intended--for more kids to play sports and get into shape. Almost 19 million kids, ages 2-19 are obese. If all kids play competitive sports there would be a lot less obesity in this world. Youth sports could solve a problem that many people

I think participating in sports deffently has a positive effect on children and teens. One of the very many reasons, is that kids will learn a lot from being on a competitive team. They will learn about rules, sportsmenship, obidence, and teamwork. Most kids love sports, and when they are younger they will do anything to join with there friends. They get to seek out what sport they love most, and participate in it until there senior year in high school or college.

Benefits of Youth Sports“Sports do not build character. They reveal it,” said John Wooden, legendary UCLA basketball coach. Playing sports not only provides physical activity, but also other positive benefits. This is especially true for children. A well-structured and organized youth program will provide benefits and positive experiences for young athletes. While children are having fun participating in sports they are also building character, learning to work as a team, and playing fairly. Most people think the only benefits of sports are physical. Sports are more than just developing hand-eye coordination and burning calories, youth sports provide many developmental benefits, physical benefits, and psychological benefits.

Each year in the United States, more than 36 million school-aged children participate in an “organized sport” (“Youth Sports Statistics”). Especially over the past few years, many studies have proved or disproved the idea that sports are beneficial for young kids. Those studies have found that youth sports have both positive and negative effects on young children, and research shows parents and coaches have the greatest effect on a child’s experience.

Sports can be viewed as a learning environment that helps individuals learn life lessons, foster strong work habits and develop core values all the while learning a sport skill. Youth sports that truly benefit young athletes should be structured to emphasize participation more than just competition. Children enjoy a sport more when they are able to have fun (Humpries). Despite many excesses some sport programs still manage to promote important virtues like self- confidence, teamwork, personal responsibility, coping skills, and persistence. Through sports kids can learn to stay organized and learn how to prioritize (Ferguson). Sports enables development of physical skills and increasing proficiency makes kids feel good about themselves. It teaches kids that failure is something to overcome and and not to fear (Meyerhoff 8-9). Youth sports has many aspects that are truly benefiting for children, but these benefits are slowly being clouded by the negatives that are prominent in today's youth sports.

In the essay, “Children Need to Play, Not Compete” Jessica Statsky puts an argument on how competitive sports activities for children between the age of six and twelve can leave a negative impact on their well-being; both physically and psychologically. She mainly focuses on the damage that occurs due to the involvement in non-contact as well as contact sports, at every level from local to that organized nationally.

A point of disagreement among the people whose youth play in competitive sports, is that some think they are too dangerous because the youth can get many injuries that can change their life forever. But on the other hand people think that it is a way to learn life skills and have great confidence, because they will need to know those simple key skills when they are out in the real world and have a job. Research shows, however, that competitive sports are good for youth because the children are meeting new people and they are building up their self-esteem.

High School sports are a major part of the American society with over 5 million adolescents participating in sports every year. In the news broadcast “Kids and Sports” by CBS News it tells you that youth sports can greatly benefit a child in many different ways. Youth sports are helpful because they help develop character and confidence, keeps children healthy, and has positive effects on adolescents academics.

It’s been debated that having kids participate in sports can be either a positive or negative factor in a child’s development. Is participating in sports a positive outcome in a youth’s development? Through my own personal experience and through the research that I have conducted I believe that participating in sports is a true benefit to a child’s development. Participating in sports can contribute to a healthy individual, developing problem-solving skills, social interaction, promotes following direction and rules, goal setting and creating plans, promotes self-esteem, reduces stress, helps academic success, and a higher quality of life.

Youth sports in America has become a trend that has touched every household. Sports has become so ingrained in American culture, that toddlers have even begun to experience it. Almost all children from the ages of six to ten have kicked a soccer ball or hit a ball with a bat. While studies have shown that youth team sports have a tremendous positive impact on a child’s social development, many children have run into serious injuries. Some of these injuries can require extensive surgeries, rehabilitation, and could cause developmental problems in these young children. Many of these injuries stem from overuse and children not being developmentally ready for the intensity of a certain sport. In today’s competitive sports culture, children are more at risk for serious physical injuries and psychological consequences than children twenty years ago.

Sports are good for exercising but it can become very intense in the future. Intense practicing among youth sports programs can be damaging to youth athletes. Sports involve teaching tactics, some children may be at that point where they are not able to do it. Some parents argue about their child's coach is too tough on them and emotionally that could damage for young athletes. There is instances that children

Many parents wonder how their children are spending time after school. They are concerned about what they are doing at home, at the mall, with their friends, or during time spent alone. Others worry about their children's health or their tendency to be overweight, something that can cause them to be the object of ridicule. There is one good solution to many of their concerns, and it involves physical activity that is the result of being involved in sports. Youth Sports are important to keep kids healthy and out of trouble.

First of all, sports could make kids healthy. According to the article “Sports Activity and Children” by The Aspen Institute stated, “A wide-ranging study and analysis of existing research found that free-time physical activity is associated with reduced risk of 13 different types of cancer. (National Institutes of Health, 2016).” In fact, even do that there is a lot of kids that have cancer, sports could help make sure you don’t even get cancer. Also, the text also says, “Adolescents who play sports are eight times as likely to be active at age 24 as adolescents who do not play sports (Sports Participation as Predictors of Participation in Sports and Physical Fitness Activities in Young Adulthood, Perkins, 2004).” Although, when you get older, you get kinda lazy when you grow up, sports could help your body in the future. Even though that when kids get very old,

Sports may not be all that good for children. Some people might say that sports can cause injury, children won’t get a chance to play if they are not very good, or children may be made fun of for lacking skill in that particular sport. I believe that participating in sports has a much more positive impact on children. Sports can help children’s health approve, help them develop new friends, and can help improve the children’s self confidence.

One thing that is a positive outcome in sports is the overflowing happiness people get when they participate in competitive sports. One example is that “children who were involved in sports were more assertive, had greater confidence in their skills and physical appearance, and reported more positive feelings than those who didn’t participate. (Merkal, Donna, Youth sport: positive and negative impact on young athletes, 201, May 31).” If children hold an extreme love for the sport they play, most children use that sport as an escape. Playing sports blows off steam and helps people relax. “Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ,Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity, 1998).” Playing sports can help bring families or other kids together to build strong bonds. “It appears that US children are healthy and happy as they engage in this traditional pastime, and families report higher levels of satisfaction if their children participate. (Macdonald, Brian, Kids in Sports, Part 5: Can sports help shy kids to make friends?, 2009).” A pat on the back from a parental figure is enough to keep kids going and doing their best. Because sports make children happier, they are more prone to keep playing which all in all makes children happier and it teaches kids to do what makes them happy. With suicide being the second biggest fatality for adolescents doing what makes them happy can be a life or death situation.