Today, we live in a technology-driven world where people spend most of their time working behind the screens. The growing dependence on technology is opening doors to many health concerns. Firstly, the lack of physical activity makes muscles and brain rusty, while increasing screen time leads to vision problems. Therefore, it is essential to engage in some form of exercise. Schools are an ideal place for developing healthy habits.
With increasing access to gadgets, students fail to acknowledge the world beyond it. Instead of football, badminton, or basketball, their hobbies revolve around Netflix and video games. Do you think this lifestyle is healthy? Schools and colleges are emphasizing athletics and sports, encouraging students to lead a healthy life. In addition to allocating one period to sports every day, many interschool athletic competitions happen every year.
From long-distance races, jumps to swimming championships – students get to participate in many activities. As the interest in these activities is declining, it is crucial to highlight its importance and attract more students. Here we are unfolding eight reasons why athletics is vital in the betterment of students.
1. PROMOTES LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Can you call yourself a leader? More than being CEO of a multi-national firm, a leader is someone who inspires people, displays resilience, vision, and empathy. Surprisingly, athletic activities are one of the most significant ways to develop leadership skills. Every sports team has a captain who supervises the entire team. If not a captain, a sports information director provides mentorship to athletes while spending one-on-one time for the betterment of students. They also offer guidance and encouragement to help the players succeed. These qualities inspire students to carry their responsibilities with confidence and lead by setting an example for others.
2. BOOSTS CONFIDENCE & SELF-ESTEEM
The feeling of winning a tournament is second to none. Students feel happy, confident, and motivated to perform even better in the coming competitions. All these factors contribute to their self-esteem and confidence and the betterment of students. As a student, the words of praise and appreciation from coaches can mean the world, letting you believe in yourself. Likewise, it builds trust in your abilities with a feeling of confidence that you have the potential to do great things. However, don’t become overly competitive, nor let your self-esteem and spirit depend on winning. After all, one should play to enjoy and have fun.
3. IMPROVES HEALTH
These days, parents are quite afraid because children’s lack of physical activity is increasing obesity rates. According to after school network, students who engage in sports and athletic activities have more lean muscles than body fat. And with a more significant proportion of lean mass, a body can burn more calories in less time, reducing obesity concerns. In addition to this, here we are listing more health benefits of athletics for the betterment of students.
I. Stronger Immunity: Whether it is baseball, football, or swimming – regular exercise strengthens the immune system. It boosts the flow of white blood cells, removes toxins from the body, and decreases the chances of contracting diseases.
II. Bone Strength:Playing sports also positively impacts bone health, improving strength and mineral density.
III. Lowers Hypertension: With increasing academic pressure, many students face high blood pressure problems. Indulging in sports keeps the blood pressure normal as it releases endorphins.
4. DEVELOPS SPORTSMANSHIP
Believe it or not, but athletics and sports teach us many life lessons. You will learn to assent and cope with defeat, which a super essential thing. After all, in sports, there is always a winner and loser. And the experience of being on one or the other side is meaningful. While winning builds self-esteem, losing allows players to learn from their mistakes. Unsurprisingly, coaches play a vital role in developing sportsmanship. They help students understand that one should not feel ashamed of losing, building resilience. After all, life brings many obstacles and defeats, but knowing how to stand up and bounce back is taught by sports.
5. TEAMWORK
Undoubtedly, teamwork is the key to success. Despite its importance, most students don’t know how to work together as a team. Sometimes, individual objectives take precedence over the team’s goals, while other times, they lack unity. Sports and athletics require different strengths and levels of participation. Whether you are playing volleyball, cricket, basketball, or tennis – every player has to contribute. Thus, students master the art of collaboration and teamwork. Later in school or the workplace, they will be open to working with fellow subordinates, creating a culture of teamwork.
6. DEVELOPS PERSISTENCE & PATIENCE
In the athletic world, we go by the phrase – practice makes a man perfect. It teaches students to wait and be patient while achieving goals. Likewise, it encourages them to work hard and show dedication to their ambitions. With the help of healthy competition, athletic activities also motivate players to keep improving and avoid defeat. As a result, they apply the same principles of dedication, persistence, and patience in the classroom and real life. In addition to advancing educational aspirations, sports can create pathways to academic success.
7. NURTURES DISCIPLINE
Sports and athletics are all about playing by the rules. Coaches and authority figures lay out the ground rules that require discipline and respect for the decisions. Thus, students have to obey rules that will foster good interactions and cooperation crucial in every aspect of life. Likewise, constructive criticism is also a significant element of sports. Players learn to respect those in authority even when they disagree with their opinions and beliefs. These things come in handy when a person enters the professional world, promising growth and success.
8. ENHANCES SOCIAL SKILLS
Athletics and sports bring people together. It allows studentsto build connections outside of the classroom, enhancing their social skills. Similarly, when playing at other schools, they interact with new people, developing a sense of belonging. It also teaches how to cooperate with other players and deal with conflicts. For instance, if there is a practice match, and team B insists on going first, students will learn to deal with situations. These social and communication skills are essential for career development and establishing networks.
TO CONCLUDE
In this tech-savvy era, parents struggle to persuade children to take part in athletics and sports. Although parents can raise interest by exploring sports together, schools play a crucial role. They are making athletic activities a part of the course curriculum to encourage students to participate. At the same time, authorities and sports coaches are also conducting state and international competitions. After all, sports teach us some real-life lessons which are beyond books and lectures and they are betterment of students.
