Creating A Positive Relationship Between Sports and Education
Sports and education have always been intertwined. Both activities involve learning and self-improvement, but over the years, some have claimed that they should not occupy the same space. Opposition has come in the form of concerned parents and citizens who claim that high school sports provoke bullying and low self-esteem, while college sports have become a giant industry that takes advantage of the athletes. Yet, when we create a positive relationship between sports and education for the student, there’s no doubt that it produces positive results.
Skill Building
There’s a reason that team sports are so popular from such a young age – playing and competing alongside others builds valuable life skills. The first that usually comes to mind, particularly with team sports, is leadership. This doesn’t have to come from a “team captain.” Any student who has the opportunity to teach a peer a new skill or rule is developing leadership skills. Sports also creates the need for decision-making skills. Almost every sport requires snap decisions that build actionable skills that will help both on and off the field. They also teach students to work under pressure. This ability will translate to person who is better at meeting deadlines and working in stressful situations in the future.
Improving Fitness
On the physical side, playing sports has obvious benefits for students, now more than ever. As more students play with phones and tablets instead of a ball, it’s becoming more important that they see exercise as an opportunity for fun and not a bothersome chore. When students participate in sports at a younger age, it builds healthy habits that encourage lifelong participation in physical activity. This is not to say that schools or parents should force students to play sports that they dislike – research shows excessive and intensive training for competitive youth sport can act as an obstacle to fulfilling educational and academic pursuits. The key is to create a positive association between education and physical activity in the minds of students.
Creating Values
Finally, weaving sports and education can instill important values within students of all ages. When they learn these values on a field or court, they can use them in the classroom to yield a better education experience. One of the most central is teamwork. The ability to work with another person or group of people is vital at any level of schooling, as well as into adulthood. Playing sports also teaches students how to strive for their best. It’s much easier to see the rewards of their effort when there are literal points on the table. In the same vein, participating in a sport also teaches honesty. Students learn how to follow rules and how consequences can affect not only the individual, but the group as well. In addition, committing to a group such as a sports team introduces organization and time management skills. These are an important part of self-discipline and can have lifelong positive effects on every area of a person’s life.
As the debate for sports in school continues, it’s important to remember that context is key. Naturally, if a student has experiences that create a negative association between sports and academics, they will not reap all of the benefits that it can bring. We need to ensure that we provide the best education for students by balancing sports with traditional academia.