Benefits
Participating in youth basketball at a young age, along with other active sports, is not only a
fun activity for both the kids and their families, but it also provides several other positive
benefits for the lives of a young individual. Beyond competitive drive and motor skills that a
child innately learns from being involved in a sport such as basketball, they also have a
tendency to reap advantages in their health, their academic performance, and their social
skills.
Benefits of Health: Being physically active every day as a young
individual is extremely
important to that individual’s current and future physical well being. One
specific health
benefit of participating in youth sports is that it promotes weight loss.
Children who are
overweight are more likely to have issues with obesity and other medical
conditions such as
high blood pressure and cholesterol at an older age. Furthermore, exercise
through sports
increases one’s flexibility, stamina, and endurance. One of the best, most fun
and engaging
ways to keep an active schedule is to participate in a sport such as
basketball. Basketball is a
game that involves an incredible amount of movement and activity, whether it is
in practice
or in games, and will certainly ensure for an adequate amount of exercise in
any given day
Additionally, basketball leagues and tournaments present themselves in all
sorts of different
varieties so the amount of playing one wants to participate in lends itself to
endless options
Benefits of Grades: In the past, some have seen sports as a deterrent or
sort of distraction
when it comes to kids and their education. Some parents have been under the
assumption that the time spent while their child participates in sports could
better be used as time spent in the classroom to improve on their grades, The
truth is, sport such as basketball provide a sense of balance for a young
individual between all the stresses and Pressures of school. They provide an
outlet and a chance for genuine fun. In a recent article through Yahoo.com, a
discovery was reported that there is a “striking correlation between Students’
participation in interscholastic athletics and their performance in both attendance
and the classroom.” In addition, “according to the study, student athletes
attended an average of 21 more days of
school per year than their counterparts, while they also sported GPAs some .55
to 74 points
higher than non-athletes,” Being involved in a sport such as basketball can
make a difference in the classroom as well.
Social Interaction: Team Sports are one of the best ways to improve one’s
social skills at a
young age. Being a part of team allows for an individual to communicate and
connect with
their peers on a daily basis. Team involvement also promotes friendships
between peers and helps a young person learn Social cues and norms between groups
that will greatly improve social interaction skills later
in life. Also, with a sport such as basketball that involves a coach’s
instruction, lessons on dealing with authority can be learned. Youth sports also teach
leadership. In a study conducted at the University of Michigan it was reported
“middle school children who scored highest in leadership skills were more
physically active than their counterparts, along with being more apt to show
high scores in empathy.”
Sports prove beneficial beyond the impact of winning or losing a game.
Basketball game is
one that will allow young individuals to be the beneficiaries of all the life
advantages it can
provide. Youth Basketball provides positive benefits for.,.health of an
individual, education,
and social skills.