Children often get signed up for sports at a young age. Parents generally sign their children up to be active, burn off energy and learn new skills. The decision to put our children in sports had a slightly different motivation for us though—all the many lifelong benefits to being involved in sports! Having been a coach for the last 27 years, my husband has seen firsthand how life-changing being active in sports can be for children. Though there are definitely more, here are 10 life lessons kids can learn from playing sports.
Health: Playing sports teaches kids how to take care of their bodies. They learn what being physically active looks and feels like, how important rest and recuperation is, as well as how to best fuel their bodies. Kids learn they cannot load up on soda and junk food, then go play their best football or soccer game. Healthy eating habits, the importance of staying properly hydrated and steering clear of drugs and alcohol are all naturally taught through being involved in athletics. Not only do kids learn the physical benefits of being active and playing sports, they learn the mental health side as well. Being active releases endorphins to improve overall mood and promote a more positive mental health outlook.
Self-confidence: Molly Karagyaurov, former athlete and head women’s volleyball coach at MidAmerica Nazarene University, shares, “There is a famous line of jokes which goes something like, ‘If you can’t play, coach; and if you can’t teach, teach P.E.’ As a young woman I chose P.E. and coaching not because I couldn’t do other things but because almost everything that made me successful I learned through sports and fitness. My parents put me in sports and a variety of physical activities from a very young age. Looking back now, those activities built a foundation of self-confidence, which fuels my endeavors to this day. From sports, I knew and had confidence that my body was capable of speed, strength, dexterity, physicality, pain tolerance, etc. I also developed confidence in what my body couldn’t do. Either way, I live with confidence today because I had the opportunities to test this tool God gave me through sports!”
Time management: This one may not seem that obvious, but I believe being able to manage time is definitely a by-product of sports involvement. For example, if our son has soccer practice at 6:30, we know we have to leave our house at 6:10 to be there on time. This means he has to manage his time from when he arrives home from school until he leaves. He has to make sure everything gets done prior to leaving: being dressed and ready, homework, dinner, chores and more. This creates a natural and real-life learning situation that will be applicable for the rest of his life. Once kids are able to drive themselves, not only do they have to manage their time, but also plan accordingly to arrive on time for games and practices, too.
Teamwork: You’ve heard it a million times, but the statement is true: There’s no I in team! Kids learn the value of operating together as a team when playing sports and not relying only on themselves. Dilyn Davies, an Olathe North Sports Medicine and Exercise Science Academy student and athlete shares, “By learning to rely on one another and trust each teammate to do their own job, kids are able to focus on working as a team as well as learning to win and lose together.”
Hard Work: Sports, whether team or individual, teach kids the value of hard work, which is a necessary component of daily life. You don’t get very far if you aren’t willing to put in the work. We see this with our own children sometimes. Maybe it is a project they didn’t work very hard on or a test they didn’t study for, so consequently, don’t get the grade they were hoping for. Maybe it is not getting to play much during a soccer game because they were lazy at practice the week before. Maybe it is simply not earning their chore money because they didn’t want to put in the hard work to get the jobs done. Whatever it is, children will encounter this natural cause and effect reality the rest of their lives.
Sportsmanship: Being able to handle disappointment, wins, losses, competition and so much more are crucial life lessons. Things are not always going to go our kids’ way, and they are not always going to come out on top. Our kids need to learn how to handle these things graciously. Winning, too. We don’t go around bragging about having won but celebrate with grace—and a bit of humility doesn’t hurt either.
Friendships: Playing sports helps kids manage their social skills, exposes them to diverse people and helps them to understand everyone has a different skill set. Lifelong friendships can be forged through the blood, sweat and tears that go into being a part of a team. “I believe playing sports as a young kid teaches them how to mesh with different personalities to achieve the same goal. What a wonderful lesson to carry with you throughout the rest of your life,” says Crystal Krueger, an Olathe mom of two young athletes.
Courage: According to PBS.org, “Courage involves making good choices in the face of fear or obstacles. It’s another term for bravery. Remember: bravery doesn’t mean fearlessness. It means we do not let fear hold us back from exploring new opportunities, developing our skills, and doing what is right.” What a wonderful application to sports … and life!
I recently saw a Dick’s Sporting Goods commercial on TV, which sums up perfectly: “Teams change people, fields change towns, seasons change futures, coaches change character, sports change lives.”
Julie Collett is experiencing these life lessons with her children firsthand as they now begin to be active in sports!