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Today’s youth have access to a wide range of organized extracurricular activities. With all the options available, it is no wonder many parents allow their children to participate in youth sports. In addition to the direct rewards an individual receives, families and communities benefit as well.
Individual Benefits
Not only does a young athlete learn how to play a particular sport, he or she also gains physical strength, coordination and mental confidence.
In The Young Athlete: A Sports Doctor’s Complete Guide for Parents, Jordan Metzl, M.D., and Carol Shookhoff, Ph.D., write, “Participation in sports provides opportunities for leadership and socialization, as well as the development of skills for handling success and failure. They also learn about competition, but within a restricted and safe system, where the consequences of losing are minimized.”
