Secondary School Level

Children who participate in youth sports benefit in many ways. While some benefits are immediate and short term, others are not easily visible but will last a lifetime.

The very first immediate benefit is that children learn the sport and become proficient in it. Children learn to socialize with not just their teammates but also their peers and adults. They gain self confidence, there is an increase in self esteem and the overall health and fitness of the child improves. They learn to take losses in their stride and victories give them a sense of achievement which serves to boost their self esteem. Team sports teach the youth how to be a part of the whole and how each one's contribution is vital to the overall performance of the team. They learn not just how to cooperate but also how to put aside their personal goals for the good of the team. They develop agility, endurance and strength.

The important thing they learn is discipline which will stand them in good stead in later life. They learn to deal with a lot of emotions like anger, joy, disappointment and regret. You learn at a very young age that competition is really about the survival of the fittest. Exercise becomes a way of life and these athletes transform into adults devoted to fitness and health. Youth participation in sports is necessary because they are our future and it is important that we invest in our future.