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Children growing up in 2021 have the chance to be involved in a multitude of sports. The benefits of these sports are astronomical and reach far beyond just the child who participates. Youth sports benefit the child, the family of the child, and the community in which the child lives.
Child
According to Sue Castle, executive producer of PBS Sports,
“The evidence supporting sports participation for young people is overwhelming…It has the power to combat everything from racism to low self-image, to the high-school drop-out rate.”
In an athletic environment, children learn crucial life skills such as how to listen to instructions and follow them, how to work on a team with people unlike themselves, how to handle pressure and nerves, and how to move on after a loss. Even if a child ends up not liking a certain sport, they will take these positives with them wherever they go in life.
Playing sports as a child also has an obvious impact on health. Playing sports keeps children active, and keeps them from going home and watching TV all night. When children are working hard to be in good physical shape, they are paying more attention to what they put in their bodies, and how much sleep they are getting. Many times, children end up educating their own families on how to live healthy lifestyles when they join sports.
The Kids Play USA Foundation is dedicated to helping every child play youth sports, and believes that no child should sit out based on their family’s financial status. They have conducted research that proves children who participate in sports are more likely to graduate high school, go to college, and contribute to society in a positive way.
Family
While the time commitment for youth sports is a lot, it should be looked at in a positive way. Youth sports are a bonding experience for the families involved. Parents get the chance to connect with their children over shared interests and spend more time with them by driving them to practices, and games.
Parents of child athletes feel more connected to their children, and their children feel supported when parents come to watch. This bond is important to children, and they will carry it with them for the rest of their lives.
Community
Children who play sports are less likely to get into trouble, and more likely to be hard-working members of society. Investing in children is the best way to invest in the future.
Another great benefit of youth sports is the monetary benefits it brings to a community. Youth sports teams and leagues have the potential to fundraise and raise money for improving community spaces such as athletic fields and facilities.
As a community, scheduling youth sports leagues can be overwhelming. Spotz is the perfect space management software to handle all scheduling and booking of spaces. Simply search findspotz.com for athletic spaces in your area, and book right online. Recurring bookings can be made on Spotz, so you can schedule your whole season in one sitting.
Youth sports are a vital part of any community. They keep children and families happy, healthy, and connected.
