Sports are a great way for children to stay active and have fun at the same time. They help them develop important skills for dealing with the ups and downs of life and can also increase their self-esteem and confidence.
Sporting competitions are often governed by rules or customs that ensure fair competition and allow consistent adjudication of the winner. The winner can be determined by physical events or by judges who score elements of the sporting performance, including objective and subjective measures such as technical performance or artistic impression.
Athletes may feel a wide range of feelings, from the excitement of performing before an audience to anxiety and fear during a game. Some sports have “feeling rules” that govern the way emotions are expressed and how athletes cope with them.
Taking accountability: A key characteristic of successful student-athletes is the willingness to take responsibility for their own actions and outcomes, whether on the field or in the classroom. Young people can learn how to hold themselves accountable by focusing on their own goals and developing strategies for reaching them.
Teamwork: The ability to work as part of a team is a crucial skill for youth to acquire, and one that can transfer into their daily lives. Sports provide opportunities for students to develop and practice these skills in an environment where they have no choice but to collaborate with their teammates and coaches to achieve a common goal.
While sports socialization programs are promoted as training young people in self-discipline, leadership, and other highly prized traits and behaviors, research suggests that participation can encourage children to engage in socially destructive behaviours such as cheating. Moreover, the values of those involved in sports socialization can vary widely and can affect the long-term outcomes of sports involvement.