Effect of sports on children

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Over the past few decades, children are engaging less in unstructured games and free play and more in organized sports. Parents should carefully consider how being involved in sports will affect their children, especially when their children are young. While participation in organized sports has both social and physical benefits for young children, concerns about safety and benefits increase as participants get younger, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Two little sibling boys playing soccer and football on field

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Exercising Made Easy

Though most children are naturally inclined to be physically active, not all kids are self-motivated to get up and move. In the UMPC newsletter "Pros and Cons of Youth Sports Participation," soccer coach Joseph Luxbacher says that participation in organized sports introduces structure and direction to children's physical activity. Following a team schedule gives kids a set time and place to exercise. Kids are also given opportunities to learn how to engage in physical activities safely through participating in sports.

Role Models and Socialization

Participating in organized sports gives children time to interact with other kids and learn important social skills such as working cooperatively with others and showing good sportsmanship. For young children who may still be very egocentric, participating in team sports teaches them to think about the group as a whole and encourages them to be happy for the success of their teammates. Kids can also benefit from spending time with their coach and having a chance to develop a positive relationship with an adult other than their parents, especially if the coach is both skilled and dedicated to being a positive mentor.

Added Stress and Increased Commitment

Though it can come from many different sources - - parents, coaches, teammates or themselves - - many children involved in organized sports feel pressured to succeed. While a little stress can be beneficial because it can heighten alertness and lead children to perform with increased focus, strength and stamina, too much stress can leave young kids burnt out, according to KidsHealth.org experts in the article "Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play it Cool." Young children who participate in sports can be exposed to too much organization, which may hinder development of other important skills such as decision making and problem solving.

Developmentally Inappropriate Demands and Procedures

Though coaches and parents urge kids to perform skills accurately, most young children won't develop basic motor skills such as kicking and throwing sooner because they have been exposed to them at an earlier age. In the publication "Organized Sports for Children and Preadolescents," the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that young children can experience feelings of frustration and failure if the demands a sport places on them are above their level of physical and cognitive development. Young children's self-esteem can also be affected when measures including trophies and tournaments are associated with involvement in sports.

The Impact of Sports on Middle School Students

ELIZABETH SULLIVAN  UPDATED ON JUNE 14, 2017

There are more after school activity options than ever before for middle school students, including clubs, tutoring and sports participation. If your middle schooler participates in sports, you must consider the potential benefits as well as the risk of injury and the demands on the time and energy of young athletes. The good news is that participation in sports has many benefits for young adolescents, both on and off the playing field.

Coach Giving Team Talk To Elementary School Basketball Team

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Academic

The positive effects of participation in interscholastic sports at the middle school level has been reported in multiple studies over the last several decades. Students participating in one or more interscholastic sports had an average grade point average of 3.151, while non-athletes had an average of 2.4, according to a study of interscholastic sports participation published in the NASSP Bulletin, the journal of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Athletes have higher grades than non-athletes even when socioeconomic status, gender, age and family composition are taken into account.

Social and Emotional

Participation in sports requires middle school students to work as a team and be persistent in order to succeed. It also gives students access to positive role models, such as coaches and older players who can set positive examples. Middle school students tend to be sensitive to criticism, self-conscious, loyal to peers and more motivated by social factors than by academic concerns. As a result, they benefit from sports programs that foster team work and skill-building through "no-cut" policies rather than highly competitive programs similar to those found at high school and adult levels.

Physical

Sports participation can improve motor skills and fitness in adolescents, who grow rapidly and might be physically awkward as a result. The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that adolescents engage in moderate physical activity, such as 30 minutes of jogging, or shorter, more intense bursts of activity to promote healthy joints, bones and muscles and to control weight. The CDC also notes that more intense and frequent activity can be even more beneficial, although excessive activity can result in injuries or weakened bones.

Long-Term Outcomes

Sports also help adolescents to develop lifelong habits of physical activity that will benefit them throughout their lives. The long-term effects of inadequate physical activity can include obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, so it is important that middle schoolers build active habits instead of spending their free time watching television, playing video games or using a computer. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, youth sports participation also reduces the likelihood that teens will eventually drop out of school and increases their chances of attending college.