The Benefits of Team Sports and Why Participation is Declining.
by Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer, The Recess Doctor
Reasons Team Sports Participation in Decline
Did you know that participation in team sports has declined in recent years? According to the Aspen Institute, in 2018, only 38% of children participated in a team sport, down from 45% in 2008. There are a few reasons for this decline, including:
The rising cost of youth sports. The cost of equipment, travel, and registration fees has made it difficult for some families to afford to participate in team sports.2. The increasing time commitment required for team sports. Many youth sports leagues now require players to commit to multiple practices and games per week, which can be a burden for families with busy schedules. Many high school athletics teams now require a year-round commitment to a sport including summer leagues or travel ball and practices leaving little time for other team sports participation.
3. The emphasis is on winning at all costs. In some youth sports leagues, the focus is on winning rather than on having fun and learning new skills. This can create a pressure-filled environment that can be off-putting to some children. Combined with selective commitment to a single sport burnout and injuries also can come into play for many athletes.
Benefits of Team Sports
The decline in team sports participation is a concerning trend. Team sports can provide a number of benefits for children, including:
Physical activity.
Team sports are a great way for children to get regular exercise, which is important for their physical health.
Social skills.
Team sports can help children develop important social skills, such as teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution.
Stronger Relationships.
Team sports help you to build strong interpersonal relationships. These relationships help you to decrease stress and learn how to behave in social settings among friends and opponents.
Teamwork.
When playing on a team you learn to work on coordination and communication with teammates. This will help you to achieve your goal and that of the entire team, victory.
Self-esteem.
Team sports can help children build self-esteem.
Increased self-confidence.
Team sports can help children develop a sense of self-confidence and self-worth. This is because they are able to learn new skills, achieve goals, and make friends through participation in team sports.
Communication Skills.
Team sports require good communication skills for success. The ability to verbally and non-verbally communicate with teammates is an important skill in school and life in general.
Responsibility.
Team sports make you aware that you are accountable to yourself and your team. You learn that your actions and others’ actions have a direct effect on the team, good or bad.
Stress Management-
One of perhaps the greatest benefits of team sports for young people and adults alike is a natural hormone that is released during physical activity. This hormone serves to relax a person and reduce stress which leads to an improvement in mood.
Improved academic performance.
Children who participate in team sports tend to have better academic performance than those who do not. This is likely to the fact that team sports can help children develop important skills such as time management, teamwork, and discipline.
Critical Thinking.
Team sports help to develop critical thinking skills. A person learns good problem solving skills which is an important academic skill.
Reduced risk of obesity.
Childhood obesity is a serious problem, and team sports can help children maintain a healthy weight.
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Reversing the Trend
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There are a number of things that can be done to reverse the decline in team sports participation. These include:• Making youth sports more affordable. Local governments and community organizations can help to make youth sports more affordable by subsidizing costs or providing scholarships.
• Reducing the time commitment required for team sports. Youth sports leagues can reduce the time commitment required for team sports by shortening practices and games.
• Changing the focus from winning to having fun. Youth sports leagues can change the focus from winning to having fun by emphasizing skill development and sportsmanship.
Overall, team sports can provide a number of benefits for children. If you are looking for a way to help your child stay active, learn new skills, and make friends, then team sports may be a good option for them.
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