Shaquille O’Neal once said, “I agree that participating in sports keep teens out of trouble. First, they want to be apart of a group, any group, and the old saying that idle hands are the devils instruments are at least partially true then teens have too much fun doing their favorite sport to be causing trouble. Games can cause trouble but be sports.” In the course of the teenage years, an individual is presented with many opportunities to engage in inappropriate behavior. Many people constantly search for a way to prevent students from consuming dangerous substances or drugs, breaking the law, or simply developing disrespectful attitudes. Sports are beneficial to students by giving them a strict set of rules to follow in order to participate
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Many critics argue that some teens will still get into trouble even while participating in sports, but this could be the teen's choice of peers, lack of parental involvement or a number of other factors. A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study found that teens who didn't participate in athletics were 57% more likely to have dropped out of high school by their senior year, 49% more likely to have used drugs, 37% percent more likely to have become teen parents, 35% more likely to have smoked cigarettes, and 27% more likely to have been arrested. Sports are a very beneficial way to keep teens out of trouble. Other critics argue that teens who participate in sports may become too obsessed with the sport and their grade point will drop because of their overinvolvement in the sport. In reality, it is just the opposite. Research done by The University of Missouri compares the GPA of an athlete vs. non-athlete. The group of athletes was determined to have a higher GPA, averaging 3.25. “The non‐athletes averaged a GPA of 3.01, significantly lower than the athletes” (Stegall “A Study In the Grade”) .To continue to participate in a sport, most teens have to maintain a certain grade …show more content…
At risk youth often lack a positive role model, and sports help provide one usually in the form of a coach or a teammate. Being in sports, it is easy to find additional positive models for teens to turn to and immitate. The more adults a teen has to turn to, the more likely he is to go to someone when he faces challenges. Research indicates that teens benefit from the stability of a trustworthy coach, constant supportive teammates and focusing on something outside of themselves (Logan). Teen’s teammates also have a big impact on behavior. Teens have friends and those friends have a large influence on what other teens say, do and how they act. Involvement in sports introduces teens to a new group of peers with at least one common interest. This new group of friends will have a positive influence on the teen. Team sports can help teens have healthy relations with their family and friends in a positive way by having fun and exercising instead of doing something dangerous or
Many critics argue that some teens will still get into trouble even while participating in sports, but this could be the teen's choice of peers, lack of parental involvement or a number of other factors. A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study found that teens who didn't participate in athletics were 57% more likely to have dropped out of high school by their senior year, 49% more likely to have used drugs, 37% percent more likely to have become teen parents, 35% more likely to have smoked cigarettes, and 27% more likely to have been arrested. Sports are a very beneficial way to keep teens out of trouble. Other critics argue that teens who participate in sports may become too obsessed with the sport and their grade point will drop because of their overinvolvement in the sport. In reality, it is just the opposite. Research done by The University of Missouri compares the GPA of an athlete vs. non-athlete. The group of athletes was determined to have a higher GPA, averaging 3.25. “The non‐athletes averaged a GPA of 3.01, significantly lower than the athletes” (Stegall “A Study In the Grade”) .To continue to participate in a sport, most teens have to maintain a certain grade …show more content…
At risk youth often lack a positive role model, and sports help provide one usually in the form of a coach or a teammate. Being in sports, it is easy to find additional positive models for teens to turn to and immitate. The more adults a teen has to turn to, the more likely he is to go to someone when he faces challenges. Research indicates that teens benefit from the stability of a trustworthy coach, constant supportive teammates and focusing on something outside of themselves (Logan). Teen’s teammates also have a big impact on behavior. Teens have friends and those friends have a large influence on what other teens say, do and how they act. Involvement in sports introduces teens to a new group of peers with at least one common interest. This new group of friends will have a positive influence on the teen. Team sports can help teens have healthy relations with their family and friends in a positive way by having fun and exercising instead of doing something dangerous or