How Sports Can Change Lives

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How Sports Can Benefit Lives
Tyson Andrizzi
English 2010
2/14/14
The Choice:
When kids reach the age of five or six years old,
parents have a choice as to whether or not their
kids begin to participate in sports. Now
obviously team sports are not for everyone and
that is just fine, there are plenty of individual
sport options that come with the same benefits.
Encourage your child to try numerous activities
at a young age to see which one(s) fit them best!
In America nearly 35 million children (ages 5-18)
play sports each year.
Of these 35 million athletes, 60 percent play
sports outside of school.
to
Sports can help kids become stronger physically, mentally,
emotionally, and socially.
Being part of a team and working with others can help prepare
kids for challenges later in life, such as a career or a family.
73 percent of corporate executives engaged in sports as a child
or teen.
Sports helping kids in school with
academics
The American College of Sports Medicine conducted a study that
showed kids who engage in over 20 minutes of physical activity a
day do better in school and have higher grades than those who
don’t.
When playing sports for a school team, kids have to maintain at
least a 2.0 GPA to be eligible to participate. If the GPA is not a
2.0 the athlete is not allowed to play until he or she raises
grades.
Schools also have attendance policies for their student athletes.
If a student athlete is absent more times than the school’s limit,
he or she is not eligible to play.
A study was conducted in a Los Angeles school district where
there were approximately 35,000 student athletes.
The study showed that student athletes attend nearly 21 more
days of school annually than those who don’t play sports.
The study also showed that student athletes GPA’s were
between 0.5 and 0.75 points higher than non-athletes.
Girls Who play sports in school
• According to the Women’s Sports Foundation
girls who are student athletes are:
• 80% less likely to get pregnant.
• 92% less likely to try drugs.
• Three times more likely to graduate from high
school.
• More self confident and have lower rates of
depression.
• More likely to have a higher positive body image.
Physical benefits of sports
• The Better Health Channel states that children who engage in physical
sports benefit in the following ways:
• reduced risk of obesity
• increased cardiovascular fitness
• improved cordination and balance
• Nearly 18% deeper sleep after physical sports or activities
Mental and Social benefits of sports
• Healthline states that sports can mentally benefit those who
play in the following ways:
• Improved mood
• Reduced stress
• Less anxiety
• Higher self confidence
• More friends
• Better social skills
• More frequent interaction with parents
• Higher will-power to avoid risky behaviors
Quotes:
“The benefits of sports outweigh the negatives, so it's the
responsibility of parents, schools and others involved in the lives
of kids to help make sports a successful and pleasurable
experience.” Marianne Engle, PH.D, sports psychologist and Clinical Assistant
Professor at the NYU Child Study Center
“I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't
accept not trying.” Michael Jordan
“It's the lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting
challenges, and I believe in myself.” Muhammad Ali
“Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The
opportunity to play.” Mike Singletary
Conclusion:
Sports can be very beneficial to children of all ages, races, and genders.
Student athletes have higher graduation rates and higher GPA’s than nonstudent athletes.
Kids who play sports are more likely to be happier and experience less stress
than those who don’t.
Sports help kids stay away from drugs, sex, and risky behaviors.
Sports can bring children and parents closer together.
Physical activity while young helps prevent future health problems and risks.
Works Cited:
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Hatter, Katherine. “How do sports help kids in school?” Livestrong. 21, October
2013. Web. 28, January 2014. http://www.livestrong.com/article/362903-howdoes-sports-help-kids-in-school/
Jones, Heather. “The Mental Benefits of Sports, Sports and exercise help your
mind and body.” Healthline. 6, May 2013. Web. 13, February 2014.
http://www.healthline.com/health/mental-benefits-sports
Prebble, Dennis. “Sports and Children.” Better Health Channel. 14, Junes 2013.
Web. 13, February 2014.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Sport_and_childr
en
Unknown Author. “Study: Physically Active Kids Perform Better Academically.”
Spark. 12, November 2012. Web. 12, February 2014.
http://www.sparkpe.org/blog/study-physically-active-kids-perform-betteracademically/
Zeller, Jodie. “Sports and teen pregnancy.” Women’s Sports Foundation. 24, June
2013. Web. 28, January 2014.
http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/home/research/articles-andreports/mental-and-physical-health/sport-and-teen-pregnancy
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