Sports have been popular in practically every region of the globe for many years. There are so many sports to choose from that it seems unlikely that somebody couldn’t find one sport to be interested in. That is why community sports have been a popular choice of activity for many children. There are many benefits to getting your children involved with community sports.
Making Friends
Playing in team sports can be a great way for kids to meet other children in the community. Making friends is very important at any age, and learning to work together to achieve a common goal along with team unity can forge and reinforce many friendships.
Teaches Great Values
Playing sports is one of the best ways for children to learn various values such as teamwork, hard work, humility, perseverance, discipline and more. These are all valuable lessons to learn, and they will be important to keep in mind as they get older.
Learn Various Skills
Sports can be a great way to learn various skills such as strategy, problem solving, motor skills, leadership skills and more. These skills can be very useful in school and later on in life.
Exercise
A major issue that plagues many children is obesity. Children just don’t seem to get as much exercise as they used to. With video games, television and the Internet becoming increasingly bigger parts of our lives, it’s not a big surprise that many kids usually want to stay inside instead of play outside. However, once your child realizes the fun and excitement of community sports, they’ll be setting down the controller or computer mouse for a uniform in no time.
Sports also exercise the entire body and provide a great cardio workout. With some games going on for hours, they’ll be getting more than enough exercise. Participating in sports at a young age also inspires children to be more active as adults.
Family Bonding
Children aren’t the only ones who can participate in community sports. Parents can get involved by practicing with their children, participating in official practice sessions and games, and helping their children master difficult maneuvers. Remember, the most important team a child could have is right at home.
Fun Factor
One of the greatest benefits to community sports is the fun factor. It’s hard to find value in any of the other benefits if your child isn’t enjoying themselves while playing. Sports are games, and games are supposed to be fun. With all of that action and energy going on down on the field, it’s difficult not to have fun. Children get excited about running around to play the game and to help their team score, and parents get excited simply by knowing that their child is having fun.
Community sports can be a great thing for the whole family. If you believe your child would enjoy participating in a local sports team, ask them about it. See what sports they’re interested in, and encourage them to do their best while never forgetting to have fun.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’][/author_image] [author_info]Jody Pemberton is a Physical Education teacher in Etobicoke who signed his kids up to a Little League Baseball Team and Pakman Volleyball Club to further develop their teamwork skills, meet other kids outside of school and increase their weekly exercise time.[/author_info] [/author]
