What can sports teach? Importance of sports in our lives

What can sports teach? Importance of sports in our lives

Helix Odhiambo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:25 PM

Sports are essential aspects of life that teach us many things, such as resilience, leadership, and respect. While some people play games as a profession to earn a living, others use them to exercise and keep fit. So, what can sports teach? Get all the details about the importance of sports in our lives in this article.

What can sports teach us?
Pakistani street children (green) and local footballers play a friendly match at a stadium in Islamabad on 19 May 2014. Games are good learning platforms for children. Photo: Aamir Qureshi
Source: Getty Images

Parents should involve their children in games to help them learn vital lessons and values. Students can find a sense of belonging and accomplishment by participating in competitions and team dynamics.

What can sports teach us?

People learn through situations, challenges and triumphs encountered on the field. However, learning life skills is a gradual process that develops with time through experience.

What can sports teach us about working together?

What can competitive sports teach us about life?
Kids run into the field with French Women's Rugby World Cup players at Eden Park in Auckland on 9 November 2022. Photo: Michael Bradley
Source: Getty Images

Significant games like football, basketball, and cricket require teamwork to win matches. The ability to work together and achieve a mutual goal is crucial. Sometimes players are required to sacrifice their time for the team's sake.

What can competitive sports teach us about life?

Participating in competitive games helps us find a sense of belonging and accomplishment. Whether playing team sports or individual games like tennis, boxing, golf, or cycling, there is always room to learn something new. Here are some of the reasons why you should do sports.

1. Health benefits

Sports are a great form of exercise which is a recipe for fitness. Regular exercise will help you stay fit and avoid common health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Getting your child into games when they are young prepares them for a healthy and active lifestyle as an adult.

2. Time management

Learning life skills through sports
Chloe (L) and Billy Symonds (R), children of the late Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds run during the Australia vs Zimbabwe ODI match at Riverway Stadium on 28 August 2022. Photo: William West
Source: Getty Images

To succeed in sports, one requires proper planning and managing time well. Therefore, children can learn to adhere to the training and exercise schedule and avoid procrastination. Through this, children learn how to manage their time between school and other social activities.

3. Self-discipline

Self-discipline is one of the values learned by playing games. It allows people to thrive and nurture the spirit of belief and good work ethics.

4. Mental toughness

Athletes learn to push their bodies beyond their imagination through practice. As a result, they become strong in body and mind. Such qualities can also be acquired by those committed to sports.

5. What do sports teach students about setting goals?

Sports teach students to work hard and maintain the discipline to achieve their goals. Success has no shortcut; therefore, having objectives will help students focus and give their best to reach their targets in life.

6. Leadership

What do sports teach students?
Children play at the National Speed Skating Oval as China celebrates the first anniversary of the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games on 4 February 2023 in Beijing, China. Photo: Han Haidan
Source: Getty Images

Leadership is a crucial value required both on and off the pitch. A good leader should be able to listen, delegate, understand, and communicate with other people. A leader is key in fostering a solid relationship in the team.

7. Respect

Athletes learn to respect their coaches, officials, teammates, fans, and opponents. They also learn to recognize other talents and appreciate their colleagues. Respect is a virtue that helps maintain a good image and reputation. It is also a strong gesture of sportsmanship.

8. Integrity

Observing moral and ethical standards are also a true testimony of sportsmanship. Every game and team has rules and regulations that athletes must adhere to for success. Therefore, by playing sports, your child will learn how to have respect and play by the laws in life.

9. Communication

The values that can be learned by playing sports
Children play soccer in the stands of Boca Juniors before a match between Boca and Central Cordoba at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on 5 February 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: Marcelo Endelli
Source: Getty Images

Good athletes know how to express themselves and understand their colleagues. The ability to communicate with others is crucial, especially in a team. The use of verbal and non-verbal communication is also an essential aspect one can learn in any game.

10. Learning from mistakes

Athletes are also human beings and are prone to making mistakes in life. However, the primary test is learning from bad decisions. Playing games teaches us to accept our mistakes, evaluate, practice, and improve.

11. Listening

Listening to instructions can help you learn a lot from other people. In sports, listening to coaches, mentors, referees, and teammates is a natural part of life.

So, what can sports teach? You probably now know why you should let your kids into sports at a young age. The various games can teach us many aspects of life that can shape our minds for positive thoughts.

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Authors
Helix Odhiambo photo
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.