Many parents all over the country and all over the world encourage their kids to participate in sports. But it’s not just to develop their athletic skills; it’s also to help them perform better in school.
Youth sports offer many benefits for its young athletes. They learn what it takes to compete while enjoying being part of a team. They are taught responsibility and valuable lesson of teamwork.
Focus
Physical activity increases the brain’s function thus supporting brain nourishment. This leads to greater energy levels and contributes to the overall ability to concentrate. This increase in brain function has a positive effect on academic performance.
The more a child participates in sports, chemicals in their brain such as dopamine in increased throughout the body. These chemicals improve focus and reduce impulsive behavior. This improved concentration translates well in the classroom where kids are known to lose focus and get bored easily.
Confidence
Because youth sports can improve a child’s self-esteem, it leads to improvements in overall behavior. Playing sports boosts the young athlete’s self-esteem and self-worth because they are surrounded by teammates who become their friends.
This increase in social activity is known to improve the attitudes of kids towards various activities outside of sports. Their confidence can be seen in dealing with other people, peers, and their community and in the classroom. The confidence they gain through sports promotes their enthusiasm for life in general.
Potential for Scholarships
Because sports opens up many opportunities for young athletes, the knowledge that there is the potential for a better future through sports is often enough motivation for a young athlete to do well in school.
Athletes who perform well may qualify for academic scholarships and be given the opportunity to play sports on the next level before going pro. This prospect is exciting particularly for student athletes who dream of playing their favorite sports professionally someday. While the scholarship may be based primarily on their athletic abilities, they know that it is also their best chance to get a quality education that they may not otherwise be able to afford.
Young athletes are smarter now with their futures compared to young athletes from the past. They know that they have to prepare for a life well after their professional athletic career is over, and they know that a proper education is what will prepare them for what will come next. They also know how important it is to be educated enough to self-manage their futures so as not to be taken advantage of.
Student First
Student-athlete is a student before an athlete, after all. They know that in order for them to be able to play the game they love, they have to perform well in school to qualify or be allowed to play. The thought of not being able to play their favorite sport simply because of failing grades is reason enough for many student-athletes to not only meet the academic requirements but often, exceed them.