How does participating in sports improve cardiovascular health. What are the mental health benefits of regular physical activity. How can sports help manage weight and reduce stress. Why do athletes often perform better academically.
The Cardiovascular Advantages of Sports Participation
Regular engagement in sports activities offers significant cardiovascular benefits. The heart, being a muscle, requires consistent exercise to maintain optimal function. Through sports participation, individuals can significantly improve their overall cardiovascular health.
Cardiovascular exercise strengthens the heart muscle, enhances blood flow, and improves the efficiency of the circulatory system. This increased efficiency leads to lower resting heart rates and reduced blood pressure, both indicators of a healthy cardiovascular system.
Reducing the Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke
How does sports participation impact the risk of severe cardiovascular conditions? Regular physical activity through sports can substantially lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. This reduction in risk is attributed to several factors:
- Improved blood lipid profiles
- Enhanced insulin sensitivity
- Reduced inflammation throughout the body
- Lower body weight and decreased visceral fat
These combined effects contribute to a healthier cardiovascular system, reducing the likelihood of developing life-threatening conditions.
Weight Management and Metabolic Benefits of Sports
Engaging in sports provides an effective means of managing body weight. The caloric expenditure associated with physical activity helps create a negative energy balance, essential for weight loss or maintenance. However, the benefits extend beyond simple calorie burning.
Regular sports participation can lead to long-term improvements in metabolism. This metabolic enhancement occurs through several mechanisms:
- Increased muscle mass, which boosts basal metabolic rate
- Enhanced mitochondrial function, improving cellular energy production
- Improved insulin sensitivity, leading to better glucose utilization
- Increased post-exercise oxygen consumption, resulting in continued calorie burn after activity
These metabolic improvements contribute to more efficient weight management and overall health enhancement.
The Impact of Sports on Mental Health and Cognitive Function
The benefits of sports extend far beyond physical health, profoundly impacting mental wellbeing and cognitive function. Regular physical activity through sports has been shown to have numerous positive effects on mental health:
- Reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Improved mood and emotional regulation
- Enhanced self-esteem and body image
- Better stress management and resilience
- Increased cognitive function and mental clarity
How does sports participation affect brain function? Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, promoting the growth of new brain cells and improving overall cognitive performance. This enhanced brain function can lead to improved memory, concentration, and learning abilities.
Sports and Academic Performance
Contrary to the misconception that sports might detract from academic pursuits, research indicates that student-athletes often perform better academically. This improved academic performance can be attributed to several factors:
- Enhanced time management skills
- Improved discipline and focus
- Increased cognitive function due to regular physical activity
- Development of goal-setting and achievement-oriented mindsets
- Stress reduction, leading to better overall mental health
These skills and benefits translate directly to improved classroom performance, helping student-athletes excel both on the field and in their studies.
Bone Health and Osteoporosis Prevention Through Sports
Participation in sports, particularly weight-bearing activities, plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health and preventing conditions like osteoporosis. How does physical activity contribute to stronger bones? Regular exercise stimulates bone formation and increases bone density, especially during adolescence and early adulthood.
The impact of sports on bone health extends throughout life:
- Increased bone mineral density during growth years
- Maintenance of bone mass in adulthood
- Slowed bone loss in older adults
- Improved balance and coordination, reducing fall risk
These benefits collectively contribute to a reduced risk of osteoporosis and related fractures later in life, highlighting the long-term skeletal health advantages of regular sports participation.
Enhancing Immune Function Through Regular Physical Activity
Regular engagement in sports can significantly boost the immune system, leading to improved overall health and reduced susceptibility to various illnesses. The immune-enhancing effects of sports are multifaceted:
- Increased production and circulation of immune cells
- Enhanced antibody response to vaccination
- Reduced inflammation throughout the body
- Improved sleep quality, which supports immune function
- Stress reduction, which positively impacts immune response
How does exercise specifically impact the immune system? Moderate, regular physical activity stimulates the production and circulation of various immune cells, including T-cells and natural killer cells. This enhanced immune cell activity improves the body’s ability to detect and neutralize pathogens more efficiently.
Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effects of regular exercise contribute to a more balanced immune response, potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases associated with low-grade inflammation.
The Role of Sports in Stress Reduction and Mental Resilience
Participation in sports serves as a powerful tool for stress reduction and the development of mental resilience. The stress-relieving benefits of sports are multifaceted:
- Release of endorphins, the body’s natural mood elevators
- Reduction in cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone
- Improved sleep quality, essential for stress recovery
- Enhanced sense of control and self-efficacy
- Social support through team interactions and community involvement
How does regular physical activity impact the body’s stress response? Exercise acts as a form of controlled stress on the body, which over time can lead to improved stress adaptation. This enhanced adaptation results in a more balanced stress response in daily life, with individuals experiencing lower baseline stress levels and more effective stress recovery.
Building Mental Toughness Through Sports
Beyond stress reduction, sports participation fosters the development of mental toughness and resilience. Athletes learn to:
- Set and pursue challenging goals
- Overcome obstacles and setbacks
- Manage performance anxiety
- Develop a growth mindset
- Cultivate perseverance and determination
These mental skills, honed through sports participation, translate into increased resilience in other areas of life, enabling individuals to better navigate challenges and adversities.
Social Skills and Teamwork Development in Sports
Participation in sports, especially team sports, provides an unparalleled platform for developing crucial social skills and teamwork abilities. These skills extend far beyond the playing field, benefiting individuals in various aspects of their personal and professional lives.
Key social skills developed through sports include:
- Effective communication
- Leadership and followership
- Conflict resolution
- Empathy and emotional intelligence
- Adaptability and flexibility
How does teamwork in sports translate to real-life situations? The collaborative nature of team sports fosters an understanding of roles, responsibilities, and the importance of working towards a common goal. Athletes learn to leverage individual strengths for collective success, a skill directly applicable to professional environments.
Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills
Sports participation enhances problem-solving and decision-making abilities through:
- Quick thinking in high-pressure situations
- Strategic planning and execution
- Adapting to changing circumstances
- Analyzing opponents and adjusting tactics
- Learning from failures and setbacks
These cognitive skills, honed through repeated practice and real-time application in sports, contribute to improved decision-making capabilities in various life scenarios.
Long-Term Health Benefits and Longevity
The cumulative effect of regular sports participation contributes significantly to long-term health and increased longevity. The multifaceted benefits of sports engage in a synergistic interaction, promoting overall health and reducing the risk of various chronic diseases.
Key long-term health benefits include:
- Reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases
- Lower incidence of type 2 diabetes
- Decreased risk of certain types of cancer
- Improved cognitive function and reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases
- Enhanced quality of life in later years
How does regular physical activity impact life expectancy? Studies have consistently shown that individuals who engage in regular physical activity, such as sports, tend to live longer than their sedentary counterparts. This increased longevity is attributed to the combined effects of improved cardiovascular health, better metabolic function, enhanced immune system, and reduced risk of chronic diseases.
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Quality of Life in Later Years
Beyond extending life span, sports participation contributes to an improved quality of life, especially in later years. Regular physical activity helps maintain:
- Muscle strength and flexibility
- Balance and coordination
- Cognitive function and mental acuity
- Social connections and engagement
- Independence in daily activities
These factors collectively contribute to a more active, fulfilling, and independent lifestyle in older age, underscoring the lifelong benefits of regular sports participation.
In conclusion, the myriad benefits of sports participation extend far beyond physical fitness, encompassing mental, social, and long-term health advantages. From cardiovascular health and weight management to stress reduction and cognitive enhancement, sports offer a comprehensive approach to overall wellbeing. The development of social skills, teamwork abilities, and mental resilience further highlights the transformative power of sports in shaping well-rounded individuals. As research continues to uncover the intricate connections between physical activity and health, the importance of regular sports participation in promoting a healthy, balanced lifestyle becomes increasingly evident.
Benefits of Sports – MU Health Care
Organized, well-structured youth sports and on-going physical activities can provide many benefits for children and adolescents. Positive experiences that sports and an active lifestyle bring play an important role in a young person’s life.
At University of Missouri Health Care, our adolescent medicine team encourages all children to participate in sports or other regular physical activity. Physical exercise is good for the mind, body and spirit. Team sports help teach adolescents accountability, dedication, leadership and other skills.
Many athletes do better academically
Playing a sport requires a lot of time and energy. Some people may think this would distract student-athletes from schoolwork. However, the opposite is true. Sports require memorization, repetition and learning — skillsets that are directly relevant to class work. Also, the determination and goal-setting skills a sport requires can be transferred to the classroom.
Sports teach teamwork and problem-solving skills
Fighting for a common goal with a group of players and coaches teaches you how to build teamwork and effectively communicate to solve problems. This experience is helpful when encountering problems at work or at home.
Physical health benefits of sports
Clearly, sports can help you reach your fitness goals and maintain a healthy weight. However, they also encourage healthy decision-making such as not smoking and not drinking. Sports also have hidden health benefits such as lowering the chance of osteoporosis or breast cancer later in life.
Sports boost self-esteem
Watching your hard work pay off and achieving your goals develops self-confidence. Achieving a sport or fitness goal encourages you to achieve other goals you set. This is a rewarding and exciting learning process.
Reduce pressure and stress with sports
Exercising is a natural way to loosen up and let go of stress.
You can also make new friends who can be there for you as a support system. When you feel under pressure or stressed, call up a teammate, head to the gym to talk and play it out.
15 Health Benefits of Sports
It’s no secret that physical activity is good for you, but do you know about all the ways that exercise can improve your health? Check it out:
- Improved cardiovascular health. The heart is a muscle, it needs to be worked out! Regular exercise can help improve the overall health of your entire cardiovascular system.
- Lowers risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. A healthier heart means reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes.
- Helps manage weight. Not only does physical activity burn calories, it also improves your metabolism in the long run.
- Reduced blood pressure. Physical activity keeps your heart and blood vessels healthy, helping to prevent hypertension.
- Enhanced aerobic fitness. Participating in aerobic activities — such as running, cycling, or swimming — can improve your body’s ability to transport and utilize oxygen in the lungs and blood.
- Improved muscular strength and endurance. Resistance exercises challenge your muscular system, resulting in bigger, stronger muscles.
- Improved joint flexibility and range of motion. Improved flexibility reduces risk of injury.
- Stress relief. Exercise is a great mood-booster and has proven to be an effective method of stress relief.
- Lowers risk of certain types of cancer. People who exercise regularly are less likely to develop breast, colon, and lung cancer.
- Control cholesterol. Exercise decreases LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and increases HDL (good cholesterol) levels.
- Ward off osteoporosis. Building dense, strong bones is another benefit of physical activity.
- Strengthens immune system. Exercising more = getting sick less.
- Improved sleep. We know just how important sleep is, and exercising can help you capitalize on these benefits.
- Mental health benefits. Exercise is good for your mental health too, as it can battle feelings of anxiety and depression, sharpen your focus, and improve self esteem.
- Prolonged life. When you add all of these benefits together, what do you get? A longer, healthier, more enjoyable life!
Looking for more ways that physical activity can improve your overall health? Check out this article from BuiltLean.com.
Get up and get moving at Insports Centers, Connecticut’s largest indoor sports facility. We host year-round leagues, tournaments, camps, and open play which are perfect for athletes of all sports, ages, and skill levels. Call us at (203) 268-1214, or join the thousands of others who have connected with us on Facebook.
The Social and Academic Benefits of Team Sports
This might have to do with the increased cognitive ability that comes from playing sports. Physical activity naturally increases blood flow to the brain and activates endorphins, chemicals that are released when you exercise. Endorphins can impact your mood and work performance, meaning athletes may be more willing and capable of tackling that next big problem.
Team sports can also help with emotional development. Research published by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute states that exercise can lead to a unique state of short-term relaxation. That relaxation can promote increased concentration, better memory, enhanced creativity, more effective problem solving, and an improved mood — all benefits that will extend into the classroom.
Team athletes are constantly working with a slate of other people, many of whom can become positive role models along the way. Team sports foster mentorship between older players and younger players, coaches and athletes, and more.
Coaches in particular can play an important role in a young athlete’s life. Players who have positive sports mentors when they’re young are also more likely to seek effective role models throughout their life.
Soft skills are personal attributes that allow people to build positive social relationships. Team sports are an excellent source of soft skills development, as they allow athletes to grow within a supportive environment. Here are just a few of the soft skills fostered through team sports:
Communication Skills
While it might not be as obvious as sitting down and discussing a group project, team sports take a lot of communication — both spoken and unspoken. Communication skills are key in maintaining a functioning sports team, whether it’s listening to locker room pep talk, picking up on nonverbal cues given by other players, or expressing a thought during a post-game debrief.
As Jill Prudden said in her book “Coaching Girl’s Basketball Successfully,” players are expected to express their concerns, hopes, and disappointments to their coaches and their teammates.
She also encourages her players to seek feedback from coaches as well as their classroom teachers, as a result fostering communications skills that will help them succeed in their academic endeavors.
Decisive Action
Sports plays happen fast, and athletes develop the skills needed to make effective snap decisions. Whether it’s a basketball player deciding to shoot or a soccer player realizing his best move is to pass to a teammate for the assist, athletes learn critical decision-making skills that will benefit them both during and after game time.
Any athlete who has played in a championship game knows the meaning of pressure. Sports create an environment where athletes learn to conquer their natural “fight or flight” instinct to make consistent and difficult decisions under high pressure situations. This ability to function under pressure translates to person who is better at making deadlines and working in stressful situations in the future.
Teamwork
This is an obvious one. Teamwork is all about collaborating with others to reach a common goal. The diverse pairing of personalities and scenarios will help your athlete become adaptable, persistent, and patient. Team sports also teach a sense of group and individual responsibility.
Being on a team with a dozen or more of your peers is an excellent way to recognize the individual talents each person brings to the table. As the Janssen Sports Leadership Center says, working with teammates teaches athletes important life skills such as to respect one another, act in unselfish ways, make good decisions on behalf of the team, and not cut corners.
Time Management
The time commitment required by athletes can be comparable to that of a full-time job. Think of all the different commitments an athlete needs to juggle: competitions, strength and conditioning, team meetings, sports physiotherapy — and these are just the sports-related obligations!
Necessity demands that athletes learn valuable time management skills, otherwise they would never be able to keep up with academics and sport.
Effective time management planning is part of why a recent article published by Fast Company argues employers should consider hiring a former student athlete.
Team athletes know that every second counts, and this value of time will translate to their everyday life. As Shannon Miller, a member of the 1992 and 1996 United States Olympic women’s gymnastics team told Forbes, she kept a schedule that was almost minute by minute when she was an athlete. This careful planning and precision helps athletes focus on reaching their goals sooner than non-athletes.
Build Self-Esteem and a Sense of Community
Team sports are said to bolster the five C’s: competence, confidence, connections, character, and caring. At the heart of this is self-esteem – an increased sense of self as a result of better social interactions, stronger relationships, and higher academic performance.
Team sports provide athletes with a natural community.
A report from True Sport says that youth who play sports have higher levels of social support, and that the sense of community created with teammates, coaches, and family members incubates the perfect setting for critical self-esteem development.
In the end, the opportunity to participate in team sports provides athletes with valuable skills that will take them beyond the field, pitch, and court.
5 Benefits of Sports for Kids
There are several benefits of playing sports for kids, such as having a healthier life, gaining more academic integrity, improving medical fitness, etc.
Allowing children to participate in outdoor extracurricular activities, such as sports, helps them explore and develop skills which are considered beneficial throughout their lives. By participating in sports, children are exposed to various mental, social, emotional, physical and educational benefits. Some of these benefits are:
Developing Self-Esteem
Several studies have suggested that taking part in a sport can help in the development of your child’s self-esteem and confidence.
Gestures such as a high-five from a teammate, a pat on the back, or a handshake, when a match is over, helps build confidence. Also, words of praise or of encouragement from the coach or players help build self-esteem. This also helps them learn to trust their own abilities and push themselves in their pursuits. However, one thing that should be remembered is that their self-esteem should not be distinguished based on winning or losing. Constructive criticism should be a major part in helping children learn about accepting their weaknesses and working on them to improve themselves. To do this you could encourage your child to play sports, and always ask them whether they enjoyed it or not, rather than whether they won or lost.
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Social Skills
Playing a sport helps children develop social skills which would benefit them even when they grow older. Playing sports teaches them about teamwork and cooperating with others. They learn to interact with people from different ages.
Also, joining a sports team helps give children a sense of belonging and gives them an opportunity to make friends. With more friendship circles it would help improve their communication skills, which will help them in their future careers and relationships.
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Accept Defeat at Times
In most of the things you do in life, there will be a winner and a loser. Through sports your child can learn sportsmanship. They can learn how to accept and cope with losses rather than feeling completely defeated. You cannot win them all, and through sports, your child can understand that sometimes it’s okay if you lose. The important part is to get back up and try again.
There’s no harm in being competitive, but if you lose you should show good sportsmanship and accept defeat. No one likes to be around a sore loser who doesn’t respect the rules, and this brings us to the next point.
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Maintain Discipline
Any sport requires the athletes to maintain discipline.
This discipline could be mental, physical, or tactical. To become better in any sport you require discipline. Without self-restraint it would be hard to succeed in any sport. Discipline helps the player achieve their goals and also reach their fullest potential.
In sports your child would need to follow a set of rules, take orders and accept decisions made by the coach. Good discipline is appreciated in sports, as there are penalizations for bad discipline. By listening to the coach and peers, your child would learn an important life skill which would help him throughout their career and life.
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There’s No I in Team
Teamwork is a necessary skill to learn from an early age. A team cannot succeed unless they work together. Sports provide children with the important lesson of learning how to work in a team. Everyone has to come together to achieve the goal. By working together they will learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses and will be better able to decide and strategize the best plan for the team.
This will without a doubt help them in their future lives and careers as well.
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There are various benefits of sports for your child. This list is not exhaustive. There are several other benefits such as a healthier living, more academic integrity, medical fitness, etc. All of these benefits just goes to show how much a child can learn outside the classroom as well. However, to get your child to play a sport you may need to encourage them. You can help your child become active in sports in several ways:
- You could be physically active in sports yourself. This would help them as you are leading by example.
- Support your child’s efforts in sports. Try to be there for every match that your child plays, for encouragement.
- Try to limit the time spent on sedentary activities such as watching television or playing computer games.
- Play a sport along with your child.
So why wait any longer? Get your child enrolled in a sport which they want to learn. While you’re at it you should try learning it as well!
The Mental Benefits Of Sport – News
The mental benefits of sport and physical activity cannot be overstated.
Sport has always been known for their physical benefits. In recent years, research has also found that sport participation can also positively affect your mental health.
For more information about how physical activity specifically affects your mental health and wellbeing, check out our resources page, or read on to find out more about all the mental benefits of sport.
Sport improves your mood
Want a burst of happiness and relaxation? It’s time to try physical activity!
Whether you are playing sports, working out at a gym or taking a brisk walk, physical activity triggers brain chemicals that make you feel happier and more relaxed.
Team sports in particular provide a chance to unwind and engage in a satisfying challenge that improves your fitness.
They also provide social benefits by allowing you to connect with teammates and friends in a recreational setting.
Sport improves your concentration
Regular physical activity helps keep your key mental skills sharp as you age. This includes sharp thinking, learning, and using good judgment. Research has shown that doing a mix of aerobic and muscle strengthening activities is especially helpful.
Participating in this kind of activity three to five times a week for at least 30 minutes can provide these mental health benefits, which will last as you age.
Sport reduces stress and depression
When you are physically active, your mind is distracted from daily stresses. Being active can help you to avoid getting bogged down by negative thoughts. Exercise reduces the levels of stress hormones in your body.
At the same time, physical activity stimulates production of endorphins. These are natural mood lifters that can help keep stress and depression at bay. Endorphins may also leave you feeling more relaxed and optimistic after a hard workout on the field. Experts agree that to determine the relationship between sports and depression, they need more research.
Sport improves sleep habits
Sport and other forms of physical activity improve the quality of sleep. It does this by helping you fall asleep faster and deepening your sleep.
Sleeping better can improve your mental outlook the next day, as well as improving your mood. Just be careful not to engage in sports too late in the day. Evening practices within a few hours of bedtime may leave you too energized to sleep!
Sport helps you maintain a healthy weight
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend sports participation as a healthy way to maintain weight.
Individual sports, such as running, cycling, and weightlifting, are all particularly effective ways to burn calories. Staying within a recommended weight range reduces the likelihood of developing diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension.
Sport boosts your self-confidence
The regular exercise that comes with playing sport can help boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. As your strength, skills, and stamina increase through playing sports, your self-image will improve as well. Sport provide you with a sense of mastery and control, which often leads to a feeling of pride and self-confidence. With the renewed vigour and energy that comes from physical activity, you may be more likely to succeed in tasks off the playing field as well as on it.
Sport has been linked to leadership traits
Team sports such as football, baseball, and basketball are breeding grounds for leadership traits. Studies done in high schools reveal a correlation between sports participation and leadership qualities.
Because of the opportunity to train, try, win, or lose together, people involved in sports are naturally more inclined to adopt a “team mindset” in the workplace and in social situations. The team mindset leads to strong leadership qualities over time.
Mental benefits of sport for young children
Sport can benefit children in many of the same ways that they benefit adults. The biggest difference is that when children start participating in sports at a young age, they are far more likely to stay active as they grow older. The same source also suggests that participating in a team sport improves academic performance, leads to better scholastic outcomes, and results in more after school participation.
Mental benefits of sport for older people
Sports isn’t just for young people! On the contrary, older people who are active are shown to be healthier and on average live longer. In remaining active as you get older, you can strengthen your muscles and bones, and reduce risks such as falls and heart disease.
Want to find out more?
If you want to get started, check out our sports for mental wellbeing resources to start your journey. We also have a load of insight and data surrounding sport, physical activity and wellbeing which you can find here.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for ways to get active yourself, why not explore our site to find an activity that’s right for you?
At Your Own Risk | Benefits of High School Sports
BETTER GRADES
For starters, high school students who participate in sports are far less likely to drop out of school.71 In fact, participation in high school sports actually has been shown to deliver consistently higher grades.79
HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF COLLEGE
In addition to improved concentration and classroom behavior31, those who participate in high school sports are 15 PERCENT more likely to attend college.32
MORE LIKELY TO ATTEND COLLEGE IF THEY PARTICIPATED IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
A 2007 study revealed that women who played sports in high school were 73 PERCENT more likely to earn a college degree within six years of graduating high school.
68 This was even true for women from disadvantaged backgrounds.
BETTER LIFE SKILLS
People who played competitive sports in high school demonstrate more confidence, leadership, and self-respect.74 They are better at setting goals and managing their time.85 They have a better appreciation for diversity and a more developed sense of morality.85 High school sports participation can also make a difference in earning power. People who played competitive sports in their youth tend to earn significantly higher incomes than those who did not.7382 PERCENT of female executives played organized sports after elementary school and 60 PERCENT of these women execs agreed with the statement that sports participation gave them “a competitive edge in the business world.”70
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↑BETTER LIFE SKILLS
People who played competitive sports in high school demonstrate more confidence, leadership and self-respect.
74 They are better at setting goals and managing their time.85 They have a better appreciation for diversity and a more developed sense of morality. 85
High school sports participation can also make a difference in earning power. People who played competitive sports in their youth tend to earn significantly higher incomes than those who did not.7382 PERCENT of female executives played organized sports after elementary school and 60 PERCENT of these women execs agreed that sports participation gave them “a competitive edge in the business world.”70
Greater well-being
Student athletes manifest stronger peer relationships, better attachment with adults, higher self-esteem, a closer sense of family and participate more in volunteerism.76 They are less likely to engage in high risk behavior. They have a greater sense of initiative, persistence and personal responsibility.
88 88 A survey of more than 14,000 teens found that those who participated in team sports were less likely to use drugs, smoke cigarettes and carry weapons.69
Better health outcomes
Participation in youth sports and other physical activities is a lead indicator in improved health and fitness. It’s little wonder why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children ages six to 17 participate in one hour of physical activity daily. Sadly, by the time they reach 6th grade, only 21.8 PERCENT of girls and 41.4 PERCENT of boys achieve this level of activity.86By contrast, those who participate in high school sports and remain physically active are less likely to experience obesity, have a lower incidence of heart disease, stroke or even cancer and, consequently, face lower health care costs in their lifetimes.83
Benefits of Playing Sports Aren’t Just Physical – Sports Psychology – Youth Sports
The Benefits of Playing Sports Aren’t Just Physical!
The physical benefits of competitive sports are the most obvious.
Much attention has been given to the role of sports and exercise in decreasing the rates of obesity in our nation’s youth. While lower body mass among athletes is certainly a desirable marker, it is not the only purported advantage of the regular exercise that comes with sports participation. Athletes experience lower rates of diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as improved cardiovascular and pulmonary function.
However, the benefits of sports are not simply limited to physical health. Here are just a few reasons to consider playing sports or encouraging your children to play sports…
READ MORE
The Pros and Cons of Youth Sports Aren’t Only Physical
Be mindful of a young athlete’s psychological well-being.
Against a backdrop of increasing childhood obesity, the physical benefits of sports participation are clear. Kids today need to move more, and being on a team or involved in a sport is a great way to stay healthy.
But there’s also been more discussion of the physical risks that children face in sports, and with good reason. As a nation, we are coming to terms with the epidemic of knee (soccer and track), shoulder (tennis and baseball), and head (football) injuries related to specific sports. What’s talked about less often are the psychological risks and benefits related to youth sports…
Psychological Risks and Benefits of Youth Sports: CLICK HERE
Win the Game of Life with Sport Psychology
What separates good athletes from elite athletes? While skill, talent and athletic ability all factor in, mental skills are the major difference maker. Mental conditioning is useful in all walks of life. Whether you’re in the batter’s box, on a date, or in the conference room giving a presentation, we are all looking to get better. Dr. Jonathan Fader, Director of Mental Conditioning for the New York Giants, will show you how you can use the techniques of sport and performance psychology to win at life…
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Psychological & Emotional Benefits Of Playing Sports
Sport as we know keeps one fit and healthy, but did you know how many psychological and emotional benefits there are involved, too? We share some of the great benefits you kids could be getting from doing a sport or two.
♦ It Teaches Teamwork: Playing a sport helps children work as a team, in turn helping them achieve goals. This will help them as they grow up, and play a role in the working field when they encounter problems at work.
♦ It Boosts Self-Esteem: Not only will they be in great shape, which will boost their ego, but playing a sport or two could boost self-confidence and allow them to work hard to achieve their goals. It’s rewarding and exciting.
♦ Helps De-Stress: It’s a great way to relieve stress and cut down on added pressure from daily life.
It allows kids to let loose and put their all into something they enjoy…
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What are the Social Benefits of Youth Sports?
Naming the physical benefits of participating in youth sports is easy. But did you know that there are just as many social benefits in kids joining sports?
Here’s a look at how sports participation helps your child’s social development:
Self-confidence – Sports serve as a wonderful outlet for children to express themselves. A good coach encourages their athletes to not only have team goals but individual goals as well…
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90,000 The benefits of sports for children!
The benefits of sports for children!
Modern children amaze with their early intellectual development. Some already at 3-4 years old boldly handle a computer and a mobile phone, know the alphabet and begin to count and read. But not everything is so rosy with the physical health of babies.
Few of them know how to jump over an obstacle encountered on the way, or somersault on a home carpet.
Parents will need to know that insufficient physical activity of babies leads to a number of diseases that can manifest themselves already in adolescence.
Playing sports from early childhood, the child grows stronger and more resilient, his body copes well with diseases, colds are less common. Exercise is good for your child’s immune system.
A child who is keen on exercise spends less time on useless activities, such as playing games on the computer and mindless being on the street. The baby has new friends, passionate about the same business, new aspiration interests.
Going to the gym and exercising regularly helps your child learn better.After all, sport helps the body to get saturated with oxygen, which activates the brain. In addition, discipline in training, in the future, is discipline in school.
Children with cardiovascular, respiratory and musculoskeletal problems need to attend sections.
Not only healthy children can go in for sports. Now you can pick up special sections for children with disabilities and limited physical activity. These children definitely need sports. Exercise will give you confidence and strength to resist illness.Sections should be selected in consultation with the doctor.
There are a lot of sports for children, but whichever you choose, consult your child, take into account his preferences. After all, you can only achieve results by doing what you love.
Rehabilitation physician (head) of the OMP
State Institution “State Enterprise No. 5 Grodno”
Gulida Larisa Ivanovna
How does sport affect human health?
Sports activities and any physical activity provide great benefits for the human body, its health, improves the cardiorespiratory and muscular system, bones, and prolongs life expectancy.Sports activities can also prevent the development of diseases such as cancer and give a positive development to the psychological health of a person, reduces stress and depression.
Sport has a positive effect on the following aspects:
1. Body weight is reduced and maintained in the norm. Sports training contributes to the long-term reduction in your body weight and, with constant training, does not give you the opportunity to gain it. Training in various outdoor sports always increases all metabolic processes, and makes it possible to increase muscle mass while burning calories.The amount of physical activity required should vary depending on the person’s body type and body constitution. Experts say that 2.5 to 5 hours of more or less intense physical activity can help you lose weight and achieve weight stability.
2. State of the cardiovascular system. Sports training allows people of all ages to maintain and improve heart health, lungs and blood vessels. Exercise and activity reduce the risk associated with heart attacks and strokes.As medical statistics show, mainly forty percent of deaths due to coronary heart disease, which are caused by lack of exercise, obesity, stress, depression or high blood pressure.
Exercise and exercise can naturally prevent some health problems and can also lower the risk of ischemia by as much as fifty percent.
3. Healthy and strong bones and muscles. The older you get, the more important athletic training becomes to you, your health, bones, joints and muscles.For training, it is imperative to practice in special and comfortable sportswear and shoes.
4. The risk of oncology diseases is reduced. Physical activity reduces the risks of various types of cancer, especially colon cancer, by almost ninety percent, as research shows. Also, training in any sport reduces the chances of getting sick and developing breast and lung cancer.
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90,000 Everything about sports: why is it useful?
All those who talk about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle emphasize the need for sports. The phrase “movement is life” is known to the majority. It is moderate physical activity that ensures beauty, longevity, and good health.
Why play sports?
Physicians have found that for good health and longevity, a person must, on average, walk 10 km or 15 thousand steps per day. Previously, people did this unconsciously, but now, when there is no need to get food, build housing, constantly migrate, few people fulfill the specified norm. Therefore, the number of heart pathologies, people with increased weight and high blood pressure has increased. There are now several main reasons to exercise on a daily basis.
Oxygen supply
With constant physical exertion, every cell of the body is supplied with oxygen. Training promotes improved blood circulation, including in the smallest capillaries.
Oxygen enters the most distant parts of the body, where stagnation occurs in people leading a sedentary lifestyle.
Muscles are strengthened
Regular sports activities tone muscle tissue, make it more enduring and strong.This applies not only to the muscles of the arms, legs or the press, but also to the heart muscles, as well as most internal organs. The musculature becomes firm and taut.
Attention! Sport affects joints that are naturally capable of moving with greater amplitude than usually occurs in sedentary people.
Deep and restful sleep
During exercise, endorphins are produced in the human body. They help to relieve daytime stress, remove nervous tension, make the entire nervous system relax. At the same time, a person falls asleep calmly, does not get up several times during the night. That is why athletes always look rested in the morning.
Sport increases self-esteem
Regular physical training helps to overcome yourself. As a result, the athlete’s self-esteem rises, he gains confidence in his abilities and capabilities. All this is supported by the appearance, which improves regardless of age, state of health.
Metabolism
People with a slow metabolism are simply obliged to regularly spend time in the gym. Physical activity accelerates metabolism and activates the intestines. Even quitting smoking with sports is much easier than sitting on the couch at home.
Physical form
Physical fitness is not only the appearance, but also the endurance of the body. Those who regularly train, tolerate any diseases faster, recover from injuries, difficult operations and childbirth.This is due to the fact that strong muscles can easily process oxygen, unlike flabby, unprepared tissues.
Mood
When training is at will, the production of endorphins contributes to a good mood. Many active people go to the gym or to the jogging area to relax.
Relieves chronic fatigue
Sport provides additional vitality that relieves accumulated fatigue.
Attention! If it’s getting harder and harder to get up every morning, it’s best to stay awake for another hour and put on your sneakers – and on the treadmill.
Most common sports
Everyone chooses the sport that suits him best for practicing:
- Swimming. It has a positive effect on the skin, heart, blood vessels, and also strengthens the psyche, the nervous system. Suitable for both the elderly and children.
- Running.Develops leg muscles and endurance. It has a positive effect on immunity. If running is difficult, you can substitute race walking for your workout.
- Yoga. It has a beneficial effect on health in general, helps to relax, strengthens the spine, gives the muscles elasticity and flexibility.
Everyone chooses the types of training at will, based on the initial physical condition. But everyone needs to go in for sports in order to prevent diseases and complications that will necessarily manifest themselves in old age.
Sport Benefit
Those who do not lead an active lifestyle lose a lot. Regular exercise strengthens your heart, lungs, muscles and helps you lose weight. The one who knows about it like no one else – Laysan Utyasheva will tell about the benefits of sports for the human body.
No one will argue with the fact that sports are necessary. Rather, not even playing sports, but physical activity, because not all of us are ready to go to the gym or do a set of exercises at home.
But walking, cycling and rollerblading with children, swimming are all components of an active lifestyle.
Is it possible without preparation to answer the question, what is the use of sports? The answers can be very different: endurance training, a good body shape, maintaining a figure, and in general for general health. We learned the opinion of the famous sportswoman and TV presenter Laysan Utyasheva, who is currently the ambassador of the Herbalife brand:
– Playing sports is the time you spend on yourself, to find your optimal shape.This is those half an hour or an hour a day that should bring you pleasure, and not become a terrible test. Exercise in a rhythm that is comfortable for you, let it be 15 minutes a day, let it be gymnastics at home, but do not forget about it.
There are two important aspects to our physical activity: well-being and good mood, because during sports we are distracted from problems. But besides this, there are several more important points that I would like to say.
The most important point associated with sports is stress resistance. Trained people, and I know this from my own experience, have an active life position, do not bow to the hardships of life, and react more easily to problems. There was a lot of stress in my sports life, and I can confidently say: muscles are our “bodyguard”.
It is difficult to keep the body in good shape without training. Now I’m not just talking about weight loss, although this is also important, and physical activity helps in this.Your volumes may not correspond to the standards of supermodels, but the muscles will be toned, and this creates a completely different look, a different silhouette. A good tone is an important part of a good appearance. Plus, good muscle tone slows down aging.
The invaluable benefit of sports is that during training, mood often improves. Of course, it happens that you get tired and only dream about the workout ending faster. But this is not always the case. Quite often, people come to the gym to forget about troubles at work, problems at home, and get distracted.
It is during classes that you can switch to physical fatigue and get rid of unpleasant thoughts for a while. And if you have achieved your goal, for example, have run a long distance or have taken a record weight for yourself, then this increases your self-esteem. And hormones of joy – endorphins – are released.
As strange as it sounds, exercising helps your muscles relax. While I was engaged in professional sports, I did not notice this. Now, when I do not have constant high loads, I feel that my muscles relax after playing sports no worse than after a sauna or massage.
And of course, the most pleasant benefit of sports, as I have already mentioned, is that physical activity, combined with proper nutrition, helps to fight excess weight. This is especially important for many women. I will not say anything new, but we lose weight when we spend more energy than we consume. At the same time, you choose the type of physical activity for yourself, so that you feel comfortable doing it.
If you want to speed up the effect, you can play sports in thermal underwear – this will help you reduce the volume faster.
And maybe the most important thing for me: people who go in for sports are passionate people. Their eyes are burning, they are discussing the latest events (and not only in the field of sports), they are ready to move, learn new things, see new things. People who are keen on sports usually have very lively interests, very sincere emotions. And I am always happy to be in such companies.
And I would like to say especially: if you go in for sports, take care of yourself, do not forget about proper nutrition.Watch what you eat, choose the best foods, and don’t squash your efforts to get fit by eating poorly. Do not sharply limit yourself in everything. Avoid sweets, fried foods, drink more water, try protein shakes that feel full and don’t contain extra calories. Love yourself and enjoy sports.
90,000 About the benefits of physical education and sports
Exercise, regular fitness, exercise in the gym are all significant health benefits.
Modern man began to understand that smoking and alcohol is harmful to health, therefore, such habits must be abandoned in favor of physical education and sports.
A trained person tolerates various overloads, cooling, fluctuations in atmospheric pressure, infections, viruses much better. The benefits of physical education, especially the choice of individually suitable activities for you, will help develop endurance, increase lung volume, and strengthen the heart muscle.
With regular exercise, the human skeletal system is effectively strengthened.People, for whom physical education has become an integral part of life, are able to easily cope with physical, emotional, stressful situations. Working capacity is greatly increased, a person quickly gets rid of excess weight.
It is not necessary, to get the maximum benefit from physical education, to spend time and a lot of money for visiting gyms. Simple walking, included in the daily routine, with regular exercise, can save a person from many health problems.
Recently, various types of gymnastics have become widespread. There are athletic gymnastics, Pilates, calanetics, stretching, fitness yoga. You can engage in such types of physical education both in sports clubs and at home.
The benefit of physical education is undoubtedly the regularity of classes. About a year of constant training will bring an obligatory improvement in the physical condition of the body. Physical education, according to doctors, is a significant decrease in the level of blood clotting.This irrefutable fact proves the need for physical education for people at risk of patients with vascular diseases, as well as those who have suffered myocardial infarction, stroke.
Choose according to your taste, physical capabilities, age group physical education. Exercise regularly, constantly monitor your well-being, change the load to get all the benefits for your body. Know that you are not wasting your time in the pool, on the treadmill, or in the gym.
Take care of your health!
90,000 What are the benefits of sports for seniors?
Activity is needed not only by young people and middle-aged people. For those over 60, sports will be no less useful, because regular exercise is a guarantee of health and good spirits. How, when and what can older people do to keep their bodies in good shape?
If we are talking about people of age, then sport is useful, first of all, for three reasons: 1. Coordination of movements improves. People over 60 often find it difficult to maintain balance, so at this age there is a high probability of falls and injuries.In addition, older people are prone to osteoporosis when bones become fragile. Exercising helps to improve coordination and reaction, which significantly reduces the risk of falling and injury. 2. You can control your body weight. Most passive seniors gain excess weight quickly. They spend less energy, despite the fact that metabolic processes slow down with age. Diets after 60 are undesirable, because it is necessary that vitamins, microelements, and fatty acids enter the body in sufficient quantities.
The only way out in an effort to maintain a normal body weight can only be physical activity. 3. Prevention of diseases of the heart and blood vessels takes place. Older people who regularly do moderate exercise are statistically less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease. The percentage of the incidence of hypertension, the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes among elderly athletes is an order of magnitude lower than among passive elderly people. Also, physical activity helps to cope with ailments of the respiratory system and digestion.
What do doctors recommend?
Usually, physicians assess the physical activity of elderly patients positively. It is only necessary to consult a doctor if a person has not been involved in sports for a long time, as well as if he has any chronic diseases. It is also better to choose the type and intensity of classes with a doctor. Usually, the doctor gives admission to training only after a complete medical examination. On average, according to the recommendation of WHO experts, people over 60 years old can
train more than 150 minutes per week, choosing sports that do not require intense vigorous training.
What to do?
Of course, the choice of sport depends on the wishes and preferences of the person. You can do fitness. In this case, the instructor must select the appropriate load based on the age and state of health of the person. Especially this sport will appeal to women who have the opportunity to practice in the company of like-minded people. In the gym, the elderly will benefit from training on a stepper, treadmill and bicycle trainer. Such simulators, by the way, can be installed at home.They take up little space and allow you to adjust the intensity of the loads, as well as independently choose the frequency of exercises. If it is possible to install the simulator at home, then you can practice at any convenient time. However, a wide variety of activities and exercises will be useful for people in old age. You can play table tennis, ride a bike, swim in the pool or open water, dance, do yoga, and just walk regularly for long walks. You should not choose only those sports that require intense training.
This, for example, barbell press, fast running, ice skating. Such sports can be dangerous for the elderly due to excessive stress on the body, as well as due to the high risk of injury, so they are best avoided.
90,000 What are the benefits of sports activities for children?
The main source of physical culture and upbringing of a child, the basis for his harmonious development, the formation of a hardened healthy organism, volitional qualities, anaerobic endurance, education of morality, aesthetics, regulation of mental processes and the organization of active leisure are sports activities for children.
Everyone knows that health is the greatest value in our life, therefore sports should be in the first place in the life of every child. In order for a baby to grow up cheerful, harmoniously developed and able to work, it is necessary not only mental, but also physical activity of the child . For modern children, activities that do not require physical activity have become traditional.
They spend a lot of time playing computer games and watching TV. It is the duty of all parents to be able to help their child become interested in some kind of sport.
The role of sports activities for children
It is difficult to overestimate the role that sports activities play for children. Regular training contributes to the formation of not only a beautiful and strong figure, but also the correct posture, which is so important for a growing body. Thanks to physical exercises, the speed of reaction improves, all systems of the child’s body are strengthened. Any sport has a beneficial effect on health. In addition, sports activities develop intelligence, forge character.
It is also necessary to ensure that children are provided with the necessary clothing and equipment. Leotards for rhythmic gymnastics and swimming, leotards and sports shoes must be of good quality and fit for the child.
Systematic training develops both the body of a young athlete and his logical and strategic thinking. Therefore, parents need to be able to create a positive atmosphere of achievement around the little athlete, and he will be able to feel the achieved success as a natural result of the efforts he put in.
Organization and discipline
Thanks to sports activities, children from childhood learn to use their time rationally. After all, they need not only to learn their lessons, but also to rest between workouts. For a child under the age of 11, it will be ideal if he can devote 5 hours to sports activities during the week. In preparation for sports, the amount of time can increase.
In such cases, a special regime is made up so that the little athlete has time to get the necessary education and devote a lot of time to training.Promising young athletes from early childhood are taught to save time and tough discipline. Therefore, sport will play a positive role in your child’s life if he does not become a professional athlete. And he will definitely become an organized and confident strong-willed person.
