What are the positive effects of playing sports?

HEALTH BENEFITS

Frequent physical activity provides numerous health benefits, including assisting in the formation and maintenance of healthy bones, muscles, and joints; aiding in weight control and fat loss; and preventing or delaying the onset of high blood pressure (GAO, 2012). One study found that exercise prevents chronic diseases as efficiently as medication.

4 MENTAL BENEFITS OF SPORTS

1.	Sport improves your mood
2.	Sport improves your concentration
3.	Sport improves sleep habits
4.	Sport boosts your self-confidence

Exercise is one of the least expensive strategies to maintain good health (British Journal of Medicine, 2013). Physical activity during leisure time is connected with a lower risk of 13 different forms of cancer, including breast, colon, liver, and myeloid leukemia, according to a comprehensive study and meta-analysis (National Institutes of Health, 2016).

Participation in sports is a major predictor of participation in sports and physical fitness activities among young adults. Eight times as likely as adolescents who do not play sports to be physically active at age 24 are adolescents who play sports (Sports Participation as Predictors of Participation in Sports and Physical Fitness Activities in Young Adulthood, Perkins, 2004).

77% of adults aged 30 and older who currently participate in sports did so as school-aged children. Just 3% of individuals who currently participate in sports did not participate as children (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Harvard University/NPR, 2015).

Active communities promote better health. The Aspen Institute analyzed the top 10 (overall) cities in the 2019 ACSM American Fitness Index to determine the values, financial and capital investments, and settings of a community that invests in sport and recreation.

The highest-scoring cities are deemed to have a high level of community fitness, which is comparable to an individual’s level of personal fitness. Go to the associated graph for the results.

Active children are less likely to be obese. In a 2014 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers assessed the efficacy of obesity preventive interventions in reducing obesity by 2032.

They discovered that after-school physical exercise programs would lower obesity among children aged 6 to 12 by 1.8%. That is double the predicted effect of any ban on child-directed fast food advertising.

Earlier research on college students concluded that “motives for sport involvement are more desirable than those for exercise and may allow greater compliance with physical activity recommendations” (Kilpatrick, Journal of American College Health, 2005).

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

According to a study that followed children from kindergarten through fourth grade, physical activity helps youngsters develop and improve cognitive skills (Piche, 2014).

Physical activity is connected with enhanced academic performance, as measured by grades and standardized test scores. Also, such activity can influence attitudes and academic behavior, including greater concentration, focus, and classroom conduct (GAO, 2012).

High school athletes are more likely than non-athletes to attend college and get degrees, while team captains and most valuable players have an even greater likelihood of academic success (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2005).

According to statistics collected for the Healthy Sport Index (Women’s Sports Foundation, 2018), high school athletes are more likely to anticipate graduating from a four-year college (73% females, 59% boys) than non-athletes (67% girls, 53% boys). Compared to non-athletes, a greater proportion of high school athletes earn A/A- grades (Women’s Sports Foundation, 2018).

The advantages are extended to the workplace. According to a survey of 400 female corporate leaders, 94% played a sport and 61% believe sports helped to their professional success (EY Women Athletes Business Network/espnW, 2014).

MENTAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS

There has been proven to be an association between regular exercise and the mental health of adolescents in general. In the preceding 12 months, 25.1% of students who exercised six to seven days per week felt depressed for two weeks or longer, compared to 35.7% of students who exercised zero to one day per week (Women’s Sports Foundation, 2004).

15% of students who exercised six to seven times per week reported suicidal ideation and 6.4% reported a suicide attempt in the previous year, compared to 24.6% and 10.3%, respectively, of students who exercised zero to one time per week (Journal of American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2015).

A 2019 study found that children who reported no physical activity were twice as likely to have mental health issues, especially anxiety, and depression, compared to those who met the daily exercise recommendation of one hour, and a 2020 study suggested that more physical activity adolescents engaged in, the less likely they were to report depression as 18-year-olds (The New York Times, 2020).

The elimination of sports during COVID-19 negatively impacted the emotional health of numerous children. According to a 2021 poll by Project Play and Utah State University, 1 in 4 parents of youth athletes reported that their child’s mental health worsened.

Many parents said that their child’s mental health improved when sports limitations were eliminated. In addition, the majority of parents say that their child’s physical health, emotional stability, and social well-being have improved since returning to sports.

Various sports offer distinct social and psychological advantages. According to a 2018 survey conducted by the Aspen Institute and the University of Texas, team sports performed better than individual sports like tennis, track and field, and cross country.

As part of the Healthy Sport Index, this study assessed the personal and social skills, cognitive abilities, goal-setting skills, initiative skills, health skills, and negative experiences of high school athletes based on their major sport.

There appears to be evidence that more traditional team sports can be arranged – or, at the very least, interpreted by the participants – in a way that generates more tangible sensations associated with well-being.

Moreover, adolescents value these health benefits. According to a national survey conducted by Project Play and Resonant Education in 2020-21, the top two reasons for doing sports among high school students are enjoyment (81%) and exercise (79%).

Sixth-ranked was winning games/championships (53%). Students indicated positive emotional health at a higher rate (49%) than those attempting to win a college scholarship (39%). Learn more about the Reimagining School Sports initiative of Project Play.

FINANCIAL BENEFITS

Increasing physical activity might save the global economy approximately $68 billion per year in medical costs and lost productivity. Alone, the United States might save up to $28 billion. And individuals might gain up to $2,500 if they exercise for 30 minutes five times per week (The Lancet Physical Activity Series).

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