Why Your Child Should Participate In A Team Sport

When it comes to sports and fitness, Socrates said it best: “It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” Team sports have been supported for generations for a variety of reasons, and are important not just for boys but for girls as well.

Your child may or may not be a natural born athlete, but regardless of his or her natural talents, it is healthy to involve your child in sports for at least a portion of their young life.

Some children love sports and take to them immediately, while others groan and complain. In addition, some kids have health concerns that the outdoor environment can aggravate. However, if it is possible, it is highly beneficial to expose your child to an athletic team environment. Here are just a few reasons why you should involve your child in team sports.

Critical thinking skills

Team sports have to, literally, make your child “think on their feet.” In the heat of the game, your child will have to visualize how to solve a problem. In any team sport, whether it be baseball, football, soccer, tennis, or more, your child will be forced to constantly trying to figure out how to score the goal with the cooperation of his or her teammates. The field or court is always changing, and so this practice will sharpen your child’s skill to think on and off the field.

Develop responsibility

When your child is part of a team, he or she does not exist in a vacuum. His or her skills are not enough by themselves, but instead, are part of a larger picture that includes and relies upon the skills of others on the team. It requires your child to want his or her teammates to be successful, so that your child too can become successful. Sports naturally urge your child to support his or her teammates so that they can drive each other to a common goal. When your child misses a game or practice, they are responsible for the athletic skill they do not gain, and the possibility of letting their team down.

Alternative sports

Your child may be more independent in nature and may not have the drive to work as part of a team on a daily basis. He or she may prefer to sit in the middle of the field picking dandelions while their teammates struggle to defend the goal. This doesn’t mean your child is a failure. On the contrary, your child can gain many of the same skills, or different skills, through independent athletics. For many, running or yoga provide this alternative. Both are meditative sports that require focus and meditation. When responsibility falls solely on them, they only have themselves to thank or disparage if they fail or succeed. He or she can still learn the discipline of physical fitness, and even foster an individualist spirit.

Handling the costs

There’s no getting around the fact that children’s sports leagues can present a hefty cost. Regardless of sport choice, you’ll likely be spending quite a bit on gear and equipment. To help them succeed and stay safe on the field, it’s important to invest in high-quality options, but there are ways to minimize cost. Instead of shopping at your local sports store, shop online. You can find virtually any piece of equipment required on the web: check out the catcher’s mitts online here for the little baseball star or browse soccer cleats online to ensure your daughter can run down the pitch with speed.

Never miss real stories from India's women.

Register Now

Children can benefit greatly from sports involvement. Encourage your child to try a variety sports to find the perfect fit.

Comments