8 Reasons Your Child Should Join Youth Sports

Knock Knock! Who's there? Canoe! Canoe who? Canoe come over and play. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), 60 million children between the ages of 8 and 18 participate some sort of organized youth sport. Why isn't your child one of those 60 million?

1. Belonging and Purpose

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According to Britton Brewer, psychologist at Springfield College, being part of a team gives children a sense of belonging and purpose. With practices and games, spending two or more days a week with the same teammates allows children to form close relationships with their teammates. Sports allow children to feel part of something bigger than themselves and give them a sense of purpose.

2. Learn Sportsmanship

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According to Tom Robinson, young athletes are taught at a young age the importance of good sportsmanship. For example, after the completion of games, athletes are required to shake hands of each player on the other team. The Positive Coaching Alliance concluded that the unwritten rules of sports help teach children good sportsmanship like shaking hands at the end of the game, taking a knee during an injury and clapping for an injured player on the other team.

3. Health Benefits

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According to the Handbook of Sports Medicine and Science, Sport Psychology, the health benefits of sports include increased aerobic exercise, muscle strength and decreased obesity. These health benefits will allow young athletes to have a better body image. Sports make exercising fun for children and get them excited to exercise.

4. Better Academic Performance

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According to Michigan State University’s Institute of Youth Sports, children involved in sports perform better in school. In most schools, students are required to obtain a certain grade point average in order to participate in a sport. Therefore, according to Steve Silverman, students are more motivated to do better in school in order to play their desired sport.

5. High Self-Esteem

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The Government of Alberta, Canada proves that youth sports allow children to be acknowledged for individual successes outside of the classroom. Not only can a child get awarded on how they are playing but they can also get awarded for their leadership and sportsmanship on the field. According to the The Oxford Handbook of Sport and Performance Psychology awarding an athlete captain, even if it is just for one game, will raise their self-worth and make them feel apart of the team even if they are not the best player on the field.

6. Form Relationships with Other Adults (Besides YOU)

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Sports allow children to form relationships with not only their peers but also their coaches. Forming a relationship with a coach also teaches children how to talk to someone with respect and be able to confront an adult respectfully. The Handbook of Sports Medicine and Science, Sport Psychology proves that a young athlete’s relationship with their coach could lead to positive psychological outcomes, like a strong self-worth and personal empowerment.

7. Manage Conflicts

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With any group of people, problems always arise, but on a team these issues need to be solved or the team will not play up to the same caliber. Therefore, according to Britton Brewer, psychologist at Springfield College, sports allow young athletes to manage conflicts, either on their own or with the help of a coach.

8. THEY ARE FUN

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Sports give children a sense of pride for something. Sports are simply just fun to play.