We all know that there are too many negative influences in the world today. Many children have become accustomed to bad grades, bad behavior, and even small crimes. There have been many more reports of crimes at younger ages than in many years past. Young boys are out killing small convenience store owners for cigarettes. Young girls are out shoplifting a new pair of jeans. How are these things healthy? Youth sports have always been a way to channel all of that aggressiveness and turn it into something positive, something that every parent can be proud of. Most athletes must keep up a certain grade point average in order to play any sport that is school affiliated. Most players of a sport must make required attendance in school. If a child is in school and practicing all the time, when would they have time to do something they would regret, something that could possibly cause harm to them or someone else, in later years? The players also have many opportunities to be drafted by one of many colleges to make their future even better. Continuing their education would be the greatest feat of all. There have been many players that have turned their life around by playing an organized sport.
These players came off of the street and went into the big leagues, even though crime was the road that these players were headed down. Egendorf (1999) writes that “The development of high self-esteem is critical to help buffer the negative influences experienced by youth in today's society”. For example, the Women's Sports Foundation has proposed that girls who have high self-esteem are less likely to become pregnant as teenagers and are more likely to leave an abusive relationship than girls with low self-esteem (Sports Can Benefit Children). Couldn't the same be said for a boy? What mother wants to know that her baby is having a baby? What father wants to know that daddy's little girl is being hit by a man twice her size? In an article called “Sports Do Not Benefit Children” Torr writes that organized sports are not beneficial to children. He also states that parents are taking over the game time by screaming and hollering about miniscule mistakes that are made by the children playing that game. Torr states that children should be taught the elementary skills of game play and be left to their own device. If this is so, would children learn the rule of organization and equally share? Would children not fight amongst themselves if they did not have a referee?
It would seem that if there were no parents to be proud of the players, it would defeat the purpose of giving a positive outlook on the game. Would there still be a feeling of self-worth if there were not a parent to encourage these children on and to tell these children “Good job”? Is leaving children to their own not how many accidents happen in cities where basketball games go wrong, when there is a dispute about what rules were not followed? Usually in a setting like this a child gets hurt and badly. What would the purpose be then? Pediatrics (2006) states that “Regular physical activity is also beneficial psychologically for all youth regardless of weight. It is associated with an increase in self-esteem and self-concept and a decrease in anxiety and depression.” Even as a child, depression is still over whelming, and just as big of an issue as with adults. Only most of the time depression in young children is not seen until it is too late. What parent does not want to see their child happy? What parent does not want to make their child happy? Encouraging a child to do his or her best and then giving the child praise makes a child happy. When playing a youth sport, the child receives all this and more. If asked, would a child not want to hear his or her parents cheer them on in a game? Who could deny any child a moment of pure satisfaction?
Bryan Rank wrote “Cooperative play, when introduced at an early age, can provide an alternative to the aggressive behavior and violence.” Another major factor in positive outcomes of playing sports is the atmosphere in which the sport is played. If the parents and coaches all work together, then the experience is a wonderful one. Perkins (2000) also states “The evidence from research is clear- children and youth who are involved in physical activities such as sports fare better in school, have higher social skills, are more team-oriented, and are healthier as determined by fitness standards.” If higher achievement and better behavior were an outcome of a child playing youth sports, would you keep your child from participating?
