Learning to play a sport can be fun, no matter how old you are. It can also teach you a lot of life skills. Learning how to play a sport when you are young instills these skills in you for life. Sports also do wonders for self-esteem and confidence, giving kids who play sports a leg up over those who don’t.
The Benefits of Playing Sports are for Life
The benefits of playing sports as a child carry on well into adulthood, and there’s plenty of research to prove it.
- A study of college students showed that those who played sports in their youth reported higher self-esteem and happiness than those who didn’t.
- Those who played organized sports as children were likelier to be physically active in their forties than those who simply played outdoors.
- A study of high school students showed that those who played sports were likely to perform better academically than those who didn’t.
Apart from helping your child gear up for adulthood, playing sports – particularly team sports— have plenty of immediate benefits too. Read on to learn more.
Benefits of Team Sports
The collective benefits of playing sports result in building a child’s confidence in a myriad of ways. Team sports help them meet kids with the same interests as they do, enjoy the triumphs of winning, learn to motivate others, and much more.
1. Boosts Self-Esteem:
Children who play sports uncover the joys of discovering their talents, including the feeling of triumph when they master a particular skill. Exercise also releases endorphins which add to the positive feelings. Praise from teammates, coaches, and parents also boosts self-esteem.
2. Physical Literacy:
Sports require children to develop their physical coordination. This carries on into their day-to-day lives acting as a big confidence booster. Playing a team sport means that children need to coordinate their physical movements with their team, making them more confident while participating in group activities.
3. Improves Communication Skills:
Playing as a part of a team means communicating with your teammates. Sometimes, like during a game, it means communicating in a high-pressure situation. Children who play team sports also learn to motivate their teammates and keep a positive mental attitude in times of stress. Strong communication and motivational skills will give them the confidence to take up leadership roles in the future.
4. Learn to Trust:
Team sports require you to trust your teammates to win. Children who play team sports usually learn how to do this pretty quickly. Being able to delegate responsibilities while pulling your own weight with confidence is another important life skill.
How Tennis Can Help Boost Confidence
Playing tennis helps your children develop as individuals and to work as a part of a team. Playing tennis doubles helps children develop friendships with their doubles partners while learning to coordinate strategies on the court. Unlike sports with larger teams, doubles tennis means there’s nowhere to hide, and children learn to motivate each other and play off each others’ strengths to win.
Tennis camps allow your children to explore the different aspects of their personalities, learn to work as a team, and, most importantly, have fun. The National Tennis School has nearly 40 years of experience helping children develop their tennis skills and offers tennis lessons, group lessons, and camps across the greater Ottawa/Gatineau area. Explore lessons here, or get in touch with us to learn more.