Why kids should play youth sports!
Submitted By GMSA on Monday, February 10, 2020
There are several benefits that playing sports will have on your child. We have gone through many articles and have found our top 6 reasons why kids should play youth sports!
#1 - Physical Health Playing sports helps kids to stay physically active, and will help strengthen their bones and muscles and develop coordination, balance and posture. Improving health and wellness in children is extremely important, not just for when they are young but also for later in life.
#2 - Social Skills When playing team sports kids will communicate and interact with other kids and adults (coaches). One of the most important traits children need to develop are their social skills. The best way to develop your child’s social skills is by having them participate in team sports. In team sports, kids will have to communicate with coaches and teammates on a regular basis.
#3 - Children are taught lifelong skills through sports – Sports are an irreplaceable activity for children to learn fundamental life skills, like teamwork, goal-setting and hard work. Children who collaborate with others toward a common goal through sports exhibit traits like cooperation and persistence, which provides the foundation for them to become successful in their careers and family lives when they reach adulthood.
#4 - Developing Self-Esteem - Gestures such as a high-five from a teammate, a pat on the back, or a handshake, when a match is over, helps build confidence. Also, words of praise or of encouragement from the coach or players help build self-esteem. This also helps them learn to trust their own abilities and push themselves in their pursuits. However, one thing that should be remembered is that their self-esteem should not be distinguished based on winning or losing. Constructive criticism should be a major part in helping children learn about accepting their weaknesses and working on them to improve themselves. To do this you could encourage your child to play sports, and always ask them whether they enjoyed it or not, rather than whether they won or lost.
#5 - Reduce pressure and stress with sports - Exercising is a natural way to loosen up and let go of stress. You can also make new friends who can be there for you as a support system. When you feel under pressure or stressed, call up a teammate, head to the gym to talk and play it out.
#6 - Many athletes do better academically - Playing a sport requires a lot of time and energy. Some people may think this would distract student-athletes from schoolwork. However, the opposite is true. Sports require memorization, repetition and learning — skillsets that are directly relevant to class work. Also, the determination and goal-setting skills a sport requires can be transferred to the classroom.
Find a sport and register today!
guelphminorsoftball.ca
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