Sports Affecting Young Athletes

Many high schools have started to pull away from the “sports scene” which isn’t fair to the kids who work day and night to achieve their dreams of playing a varsity sport at their high school. Kids can benefit from playing sports by having better relationships and exhibiting personal growth. While it is true that young athletes can get hurt from playing sports, the positive impacts sports can have on a kid is too great to take away.
First of all, it is shown that athletes have better relationships from playing sports. They make better friends, have closer ties to the school, and have an increased amount of self confidence. CBS news said that “the loneliest kids don’t play sports.” proving the fact that being a part of a team gives athletes more connections and opportunities to have friends. Another perk that comes from playing a school sport is having a closer bond with the school. Dr. Daniel Gould, director of the institute for the study of youth sports announced that “children who participate in sports have closer ties to the school.” Closer ties will help athletes participate more in school wide events like spirit day for example and …show more content…
It is shown that students who play sports have increased educational aspirations, increased occupational aspirations, and they are healthier. Dr. Daniel Gould says that students who play sports have better educational goals, and occupational goals. Increased educational aspirations will result in students being more devoted to their school work which would give them better grades. Increased occupational aspirations are also healthy for kids to have. An occupational goal could be playing sports or doing community service. Both of those concepts are occupational goals, but they also keep athletes healthy physically and mentally. In conclusion, athletes get better grades, have better goals and stay healthy all while playing