How Beneficial is Organized Sports for Children?

In most schools it’s compulsory for children to participate in sports activities which in most cases involve team sports such as basketball, baseball, cricket and football. These are taught to children as a part of their physical education syllabus and usually children like to take part in school sports except for a few who are not into exerting themselves.

Modern parents know the value of team sports and encourage their children to take part in any sport they think the child is good at. There are a few parents who prefer children to concentrate more on their academic studies and frown on too much emphasize being placed on sports activates by school authorities. Such parents stress on their children on the importance of learning their Math’s and science in the belief that only a sound academic education will be of use to their child to stand on their own feet.

I personally think that there should be a balance between academic studies and organized sports because both are required to face a future that will be full of challenges. While it is necessary for a child to grow up with a sound educational background, sports, and especially team sports help to come to terms with winning and losing as well as gaining leadership qualities. By being involved in organized sports or team activities a child learns how to work in a team environment where he has to learn cooperation rather than think only of himself. It also teaches him to play for the team and encourage other team members to reach their highest potential.

Even if a child is a bully and someone who works for himself, before long, he will realize that he cannot survive with such a mentality in a team environment. When the other members start to isolate him or not allow him to be a part of a lively and enthusiastic group, he will soon realize that he has to change his attitude if he wants to be accepted as a member of the team. Gradually, he will learn to work with others as a team and accept the fact that it’s only through team work that everyone can be winners.

Organized sports also play a great part in helping children with not only their physical well being, but also their social and emotional development. We all know how popular most sportsmen are and how everyone else, especially younger kids look up to them. That is because they see themselves in their idols and hope that some day they too would be able to reach those heights. While it is not every child who has a liking for outdoor games and sports, parents should encourage the more backward ones to take part in some sport or other.

Some children refrain from taking part in organized sports due to various reasons such as shyness, fear of failure, fear of being rejected or laughed at or even because of some disability which they feel will be made too obvious if they take part in sports. Parents and teachers however should do their best to put the fears of these children to rest by handling their insecurities with gentleness and care so that they will gradually feel at ease in a team environment.

Parents must encourage children to get involved in at least one organized sport which will teach them about fair play, sharing and discipline, all of which will help them greatly later on in life.