Benefits of Sports to Students

Why are sports so important to students? Athletes have higher grade point averages and feel less stressed than non-athletes, according to research by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. But beyond these concrete advantages, sports can teach athletes about dedication, discipline, and respect for authority – values that translate into success off the field as well as on it. With this in mind, here are some of the many benefits of sports to students that you can use as you decide which programs to sponsor at your school.

Health Reasons

Fitness: When kids are participating in sports, they’re building cardiovascular health and muscular strength. This will result in a healthy, active lifestyle which can reduce the risk of future illness. #2 Sleep: Working out can help people sleep better because the body produces melatonin, a natural hormone that aids in restful sleep. The body requires exercise just as much as it does food to maintain its energy levels throughout the day.

Career Benefits

Playing a sport can give you a variety of skills, such as the ability to work in a team and learn how to work with people. More specifically, if you’re on a sports team or playing on your own, you’ll be able to get into shape and learn important lessons about yourself. You’ll also have an opportunity to meet new people, build relationships with coaches, and make friends that last far beyond your time on the field.

Emotional Support

Athletics offer a host of benefits that students can enjoy both in and out of the classroom. Student athletes may find themselves more confident as they interact with their peers or as they take on new tasks, including math, science and physical education. Research has shown that for every point below average on academic measures, student athletes gained .2 points on IQ tests when compared to non-athletes.

Leadership Opportunities

Participating in sports can be a great way for students to develop skills such as leadership and teamwork. There are also individual opportunities. The coaches in the locker room, who most students will never interact with outside the sports field, are there not only to coach but also as role models. Most team captains were voted by their teammates because they have good leadership qualities.

More Active Minds

The benefits that students get from playing sports in school are endless. Not only does the physical exercise help reduce obesity rates, it also helps with their concentration and mental health. In a recent study, teachers found that students who participated in after-school sports were more conscientious than those who didn’t. But before any parent signs up their child for a class or begins teaching them themselves, they should consider the type of sport.

Less Anxious Students

Making time for sports in school can provide students with a lower risk of developing anxiety disorders, depression, and schizophrenia, as well as help them sleep better. School-based physical activity is also associated with reduced absenteeism and improved academic performance. The increased self-esteem gained from playing team sports can also lead to an increase in attention span, helping the student stay focused on tasks at hand.

In schools where many students come from low socioeconomic backgrounds or are minorities, the effects of athletics have been shown to be especially beneficial.

One study found that participation in school-sponsored extracurricular activities decreased the likelihood that minority high schoolers would engage in violent behavior by one third during adolescence.