Pros And Cons Of Youth Sports

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.

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.

Youth sports are important for a variety of reason. They provide students with physical, psychological, academic, and social benefits. Some psychological benefits of sport include gaining self-esteem from intrinsic motivation, developing social skills, leadership skills, and teamwork. Another important psychological benefit includes avenues for young people to take initiative, meaning that they can commit energy to a goal over time. This can transfer over many areas including school, work, and sport. There are also academic benefits. These benefits include but are not limited to ties with physical activity and a higher

The most obvious benefit to playing sports as a youth is health

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.

Youth sports are like violent attack. Some kid may tackle you or harm you. You can never trust anyone. Studies have shown that youth sports had a significant impact on the health of children all through their life. The texts “Youth sports -- too dangerous? / Are youth sports too harmful?” by Tony Cooper, “The Psychology of Youth Sports” by Marilyn Price-Mitchell Phd, and “Many kids are overdoing it when it comes to sports, and that’s dangerous” by Ryan Basen convey that youth sports have become a huge issue, as more and more children are getting injured and harmed everyday. Youth sports may seem like fun activities that build social interaction and make them personable but, can be harmful since many children can end up in the hospital due to

Organized youth sports are one of the most popular activities in the US and have been for many years. There are approximately 45 million children who play youth sports. [Merkel] This number translates to about 75% of families have at least one child who participates in an organized sport. [Gajula] The most common reasons for children choosing to play a sport are to: have fun, learn new skills, and make new friends. The reasons for parents placing their child in sports are so: their children can compete against others, receive a challenge and strive to be better, and to set winning as a goal for sports and for life. Other important benefits are building good character, obtaining confidence and high self-esteem within themselves, earning respect and leadership roles and skills, acquiring assertiveness, and learning how to deal with conflict.

Rochelle M Eime et al. also found out that, “ Parents reported benefits for their children in personal and in social development from sports participation.” (15). It has been proven that participating in activities, such as sports, can help develop social skills. I met most of my friends through sports and some of the best things that I have been apart of have come through sports. “ Social benefits included: positive relationships with coaches, making new friends, and developing teamwork” Rochelle M Eime et al. (15). “ Personal benefits included children being emotionally controlled, enjoying exploration, having confidence and discipline, performing well academically, managing their weight and being kept busy” Rochelle M Eime et al. (16). I believe playing sports at a young age is extremely beneficial and helps children develop themselves much faster. Studies have shown that children involved in sports had higher development outcomes. “ Liner et al. (2009) found that, “participation in sport and other organised activities had the greatest youth development outcomes, and low involvement in organised activities outside of school was associated with less positive development across the board (41). Children who are not involved in any organized activities have a higher chance of getting over weight and not getting out of the house to get any physical

153). Social play through organized sports gives the adolescent a means for physical activity thus, increasing self-esteem through appearance. By increasing the participation rate, the physical ability of the adolescent increasing once again provides an “opportunity to demonstrate these attributes” (Findlay & Coplan, 2008, p. 158). Sports participation increases the athlete’s self-esteem and well-being over their non-participant peers. The psychosocial benefits for adolescents through sports participation provide an advantage context for skills (physical and social), self-esteem, and anxiety reduction.

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.

Regardless of the result, the successful implementation of a training drill during a game boosts self-esteem. Coaches, families and teammates can also boost a child’s self-esteem by cheering and encouraging a child’s skill development. These coping skills transpose into lifetime benefits such as reduced levels of anxiety, a more positive view on life, fewer social problems hence less chance of giving in to social pressure, a better body image and being less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drug use.

When kids participate in a sports they will learn the lessons they will need throughout their whole life. Kids will understand and get taught discipline, commitment, and dedication. Sports will definitely help kids grow better emotionally. Kids will need to learn these lessons eventually, and sports would be the best way to show them; kids learn the most when they are having fun. It goes without saying, children will definitely be a whole new person after participating in a sport because they will always try in everything they do all the time. The days of repetition in a sport will help the kids learn the skills they need when competing for anything whether another sport or even in class. When they have to dedicate their time to what they love they will learn to value the discipline. It is better to learn these amazing life skills at a young age rather than an adult. The sooner children learn the more they will succeed. Children will learn commitment and how to commit

Many youth sports are part of community organized after-school programs. There are many different types of these programs such as T-Ball, Little League Baseball, Pop Warner Football, soccer, martial arts, cheerleading, and so forth. “There are over 40 million youth participating in organized sports, and both girls and boys have a dazzling array of choices and can play a sport year round” (Le Menestrel and Perkins 13). Communities use youth sport as an outlet to encourage social activity, a healthy lifestyle, and skill development for that particular sport. For example, “Participation in organized sports can provide opportunities for youth to learn more about specific skills and exercises associated with a particular sport” (Perkins and Noam 76). These programs offer opportunities to boost skills and connect positively with others. Without these activities, parents will have to find another developmental setting that may not give similar or beneficial outcomes as those of organized youth sport. Studies found that, “Sports

Sports can help improve children’s self confidence. Some people against youth sports might say that children can get made fun for lacking skill in that particular sport. However I believe this is false because all the children work as a team. It doesn’t matter if children win or lose, all that matters is that they’re having fun. I believe that participating in sports can improve children’s self confidence. Sports can improve feelings about themselves by 85% (Doc 1). When adolescents play sports they feel as though they are a part of something important. As a result children are left feeling self-confident.

One must admit that there are some downfalls to youth sports. Parents place a lot of pressure on youth athletes, the injury rate has increased greatly, and sports are lopsided compared to other extra curricular activities. However, there are many parents realizing their mistakes and help their kids have a fun experience in sports. Same schools are investing in safer equipment. Schools are realizing that lopsidedness of sports, and acknowledging other activities as well.