Considerations Regarding Sport Classes For Kids

By Mara Boone


Sports are a major part of modern society today. Many of us have grown up watching a variety of sports and participating in some as well. Even many of those who weren't active in athletics become followers of a particular sport or team once they get older. With the growing popularity of these pastimes, more and more children are participating in sports, oftentimes to a much more serious degree than was typically done in the past. As a result, sport classes for kids are increasingly common and there is some debate as to the benefits that they offer.

The development of such attributes as sportsmanship, teamwork, and social skills is an important part of sports participation that proponents of these classes often cite. There is little argument that this can be true if the classes are conducted in a proper manner. There is also not much debate that such skills are valuable not only during childhood but all throughout life in many aspects.

On the other side of this argument is the concern about the effect of competition on developing youth. Some may be prone to being excessively competitive, which can be a hindrance socially and beyond. Others may have issues with lowered self-esteem if they are not as successful, which can have a wide range of negative effects on children as well as adults.

Modern society includes a degree of stress that can be harmful, especially to children. Participation in sport is often claimed to be a way to release and deal with some of this tension. This is in part related to the physical activity involved as well as the social aspect alluded to previously.

While this can certainly be true, the exact opposite can occur as well. It is certainly not uncommon for children to be subjected to an intense amount of pressure to perform well in their chosen sports. This can come from any number of avenues including their peers, parents, coaches and even the child himself or herself.

The simple existence of an opportunity to get some regular physical activity is a strong argument in favor of sport classes. Many kids have come to lead very sedentary lives and need to learn the importance of exercise and to develop healthy habits that they can carry with them through the rest of their lives.

The downside of this is the chance of injury that comes along with certain activities. This obviously will be different depending upon the chosen sport. High-risk ones such as American football are more likely to put kids in danger of suffering a severe injury but even less risky sports like golf or tennis are not immune to injuries that can have lingering effects.

Sport classes for kids quite clearly offer a number of advantages but also have drawbacks that need to be considered as well. There is no one-size-fits-all answer on whether to participate and how to do it. Each child has a distinct personality and needs and these must be taken into consideration by the parents when deciding what is best for their son or daughter.




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