Youth Sports and Athletics are Critical to Youth Development
Even though a lot of attention is given to the role of curricular choices in the overall academic experiences of school aged youth, the reality is that we should not be discounting how important extracurricular activities are for not only providing opportunities for physical and creative outlets, but also for producing the character and self-confidence that we want young people to exhibit. Athletic programs, physical education, and other sports initiatives are precisely what is needed in-school and out-of-school to help youth discover and engage their athletic interests and abilities as well as their capacity to work well with others and build their own measures of self-esteem, commitment, success, and personal maturity. When young people participate in team or individual sports, they learn very quickly how important it is to discipline themselves in ways that produce the results they want, which often means being dedicated to practice time, trusting one's teammates, and taking care of your body. Respecting and submitting to the authority of coaches and mentors also helps to teach youth how to work within preestablished boundaries and systems that are designed to provide opportunities for individual growth as well as success in a chosen sports activity. While some students may appear to be more athletically inclined than others, what's always been evident is that the role of play, leisure, and exercise in their lives cannot be underestimated because all students seem to benefit in some way from the time that they share on the playground or in athletic settings during or away from school.
Whether it's learning to appreciate the skills of a classmate or understanding that not all kids can run or jump as fast or high as the next person, sports programs teach school aged youth things about themselves personally and offer lessons in life that they may not learn by sitting in a classroom. The intangible benefits that they gain through playground activities, physical education classes, afterschool sports, and summer sports leagues are definitely invaluable as they progress through the different stages of life. The fact that a child does not excel in PE classes or sports at a high level should not be interpreted to mean that there is not something to be gained from participation in these activities. We must be careful not to minimize how important it is for our youth to learn how to interact with others in extracurricular settings and how to value the impact of play, sports, and exercise on a person's physical and mental well-being. The adults need to make sure that they encourage all youngsters to engage in athletics, not just those who are perceived to be the most gifted. Our focus ought to be on the intrinsic values of sports programs as they relate to youth development --- the capacity to build self-discipline, self-confidence, perseverance, and physical fitness. Each of these attributes is certainly important for the development of young people as they become working adults and productive citizens.
Whether it's learning to appreciate the skills of a classmate or understanding that not all kids can run or jump as fast or high as the next person, sports programs teach school aged youth things about themselves personally and offer lessons in life that they may not learn by sitting in a classroom. The intangible benefits that they gain through playground activities, physical education classes, afterschool sports, and summer sports leagues are definitely invaluable as they progress through the different stages of life. The fact that a child does not excel in PE classes or sports at a high level should not be interpreted to mean that there is not something to be gained from participation in these activities. We must be careful not to minimize how important it is for our youth to learn how to interact with others in extracurricular settings and how to value the impact of play, sports, and exercise on a person's physical and mental well-being. The adults need to make sure that they encourage all youngsters to engage in athletics, not just those who are perceived to be the most gifted. Our focus ought to be on the intrinsic values of sports programs as they relate to youth development --- the capacity to build self-discipline, self-confidence, perseverance, and physical fitness. Each of these attributes is certainly important for the development of young people as they become working adults and productive citizens.
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