Lat1 Final Paper

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Let Them Play! : Benefits of Sports

Briana N. Benson

Western Governors University

WGU Student ID #: 0000227824

Let Them Play!

Childhood sports have been proven to provide multiple developmental benefits to all children involved in such programs. The best way for kids to reap all the benefits of sports participation is to submerse them into a program which offers a positive environment with encouraging coaches who instruct with constructive criticism and work to “minimize negative experiences” (Seefeldt & Ewing, 1996, p.3). Research has shown that children who participate in frequent physical activity, such as sports, experience improved academics, have better mental health, and are less likely to take part in risky health behaviors than their less active counterparts. Dr. Daniels, author of “Interscholastic Sports and the Middle School Student”, finds six main points of interest pertaining to the benefits of and liabilities for children who get involved in sports. Out of the six, four are beneficial, and only two are considered to be liabilities. The four positive characteristics of sports are scholastic achievement, competency, fitness, and self-esteem. Whereas the two negative characteristics are sports injuries, stress and anxiety (as cited by Daniels, 1999, p.2). Although Dr. Daniels doesn’t talk about it in her dissertation, one more benefit of kids getting active is their likelihood to avoid the appearance of evil, in other words they are unlikely to get involved in risky health behaviors such as, unprotected sex, drugs, gangs, and violence (Jones-Palm, Palm, 2004; Pate, Trost, Lexin, & Dowda, 2000; Seefeldt & Ewing, 1996). Since fitness is an obvious benefit of physical activity it will not be discussed in further detail as to how or why, however all other benefits and liabilities will...