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According to the Center for Kids First in Sports, 30 to 40 million children in the United States compete in organized sporting activities. The benefits of participation include increased physical and mental health, healthy competition among peers and the sense of belonging gained by being part of a team. Despite these valid arguments for children participating in sports, there are a number of disadvantages that should be considered. While the overall recommendation is not to avoid participation, awareness can help prevent any undesirable outcomes.

Physical Injury

According to the National Center for Sports Safety, over 3 million children under the age of 14 incur some type of injury as a result of sports. These may occur as a result of practice or a competitive event. Broken bones can result from direct impact of a ball or a fall during competition. Injuries such as tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) occur more and more in young athletes due to the rigors of practice and competitions. Repetitive motion sports, such as swimming, may cause injuries to muscles or tendons due to the overuse of specific muscle groups or joints during training.

Unsportsmanlike Behavior

Unsportsmanlike behavior is modeled in a variety of sporting situations. In both practice and competitive events, children are exposed to other children who may exhibit undesirable behavior. Examples include yelling, cursing or violence in response to self-anger or anger at a referee or other player. In addition, children may witness parents engaging in these behaviors. Children learn behaviors by seeing another person complete the same activity, and therefore witnessing these behaviors may lead the child to mimic these in similar situations. Talk to children about appropriate behavior during practice and games and how to manage anger in an acceptable way such as taking a few deep breaths to relax. Any undesirable behavior witnessed by other players or parents should be discussed after the event. Ask the children to give an example of how that particular individual could have better handled the situation. This gives them an example of proper behavior in case they find themselves in a similar circumstance.

Time Commitment

Participation in sports requires a significant time commitment from children. Practices, travel to and from competitions and the events themselves all take time away from children's daily activities. While exercise is important, these activities should not take away from sleep, meals or school. Find a balance of these activities and avoid placing kids in too many sports and overcommitting their time. Encourage children to study during downtime such as travel or between events or games to ensure school remains a priority.

Undue Pressure

Young athletes may feel undue pressure from parents, coaches or other players to compete in sports they are not interested in pursuing. Additionally, children may place excessive amounts of pressure on themselves to perform at a level they are not comfortable with. Participation in sports may then lead to a higher level of day-to-day stress that impacts other aspects of their lives such as sleep or school. Help a child through this by speaking to him about his self-expectations, as well as expectations from others, including yourself. Encourage participation and dedication, but listen to children if they feel the pressure is not something they can handle. Seek the help of a sports psychologist who is trained to help athletes deal with these types of pressures in a healthy and productive manner.

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According to the Center for Kids First in Sports, 30 to 40 million children in the United States compete in organized sporting activities. The benefits of participation include increased physical and mental health, healthy competition among peers and the sense of belonging gained by being part of a team.

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Taken from, "Concussions In Kids Are New Focus For Youth Sports Programs." [8]

There is no doubt that today's kids and teens face significant social pressure and are at times confronted with the option of partaking in criminal activities, such as violence or drug usage. This problem has been found to be most severe in low-income neighborhoods, where kids are often left unsupervised and inactive for several hours after school ends [1]. One study has shown that at-risk urban teenagers, particularly boys, are just as likely to become involved with criminal activities as they are to graduate from high school [2]. This problem is specially prevalent in large cities and, in fact, as of 2009, Chicago was considered the "worst city for urban youth," based on factors such as graduation rates, unemployment rates, and juvenile justice incarceration [3]. Clearly, this is a pressing issue that must be quickly resolved.

Luckily, many cities and school districts do recognize this issue and working towards a solution. Many schools have implemented after-school sports programs, which are effective in that they reduce the number of hours that kids and teens spend being "bored." Sports are fun and engaging for students and provide access to recreation facilities well into the evening which, in a study in Phoenix, Arizona, has proved to significantly decrease crime rates [2]. Organized after-school sports programs also make for better students. Many schools require that students attend school and keep their grades at a minimum in order to participate in sports, thereby increasing kids' attendance rates and grades [1]. Furthermore, programs that combine sports with academic instruction and character development are even more effective, as they teach crucial skills such as team-building, leadership, and sportsmanship [2].

Large cities, like New York and Chicago, which have high crimes rates for teens, are also taking various measures to help their youth population. School's Out New York City (SONYC) targets middle-school-aged children through clubs that provide instruction in sports and arts and requires participation to improve leadership skills [4]. This specific program is offered five days a week for three hours each day, aiming to fill previously unused time with structured activities. Many of the after-school programs offered by the NYC Parks are free and provide, in addition to sports and recreation facilities, academic instruction, snacks, trips, and other incentives to encourage students to participate [5].

Here in Chicago, the Chicago Park District offers many sports-related after-school programs to kids and teenagers. Each year, over 300,000 people participate in sports, recreational, cultural, and environmental programs offered by the Chicago Park District [6]. It offers various levels of sports programs for youth, focusing on learning basic skills and understanding the importance of sportsmanship [7]. The Chicago Park District offers a multitude of citywide sports programs through funding from professional sports teams including the Chicago White Sox, the Chicago Cubs, and the Chicago Bears, who look to support kids' participation in sports in addition to their health and wellness [7].

One great program that the Chicago Park District offers, through the After School Matters non-profit organization, is Sports 37 ™. This program provides teens with activities that foster crucial life skills while exposing them to possible career opportunities in the health, fitness, or sports spheres [7]. Sports 37 ™ also presents the chance to engage in apprenticeships, such as lifeguarding, stadium management, and early childhood music and movement, which are led by professionals and which concentrate on developing skills such as collaboration and problem solving [7].

If you want to learn more about the Chicago Park District's programs, come hear Vaughn Bryant, the Chief Program Officer of the Chicago Park District, speak about how sports affect the community at Sports and Society on May 12, 2015 at Ratner Athletic Center!

[1] " After-School Programs Can Help Teens at Risk of Dropping Out."

[2] " Sports-based programs are helping at-risk youth. "

[3] "T he 5 Worst Cities for Urban Youth. "

[4] NYC Department of Youth and Community Development After School Programs.

[5] NYC Parks After School Programs.

[6] Chicago Park District Programs.

[7] Chicago Park District Athletics.

[8] " Concussions In Kids Are New Focus For Youth Sports Programs. "

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Helping Kids Stay Out of Trouble, One Sport at a Time

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There is no doubt that today's kids and teens face significant social pressure and are at times confronted with the option of partaking in criminal activities, such as violence or drug usage. This problem has been found to be most severe in low-income neighborhoods, where kids are often left unsup

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Many of today's parents neglect the importance of sports. Most parents push their children to study and they direct them towards money making careers such as medicine and computer science. However, playing a sport is not a waste of time, nor does it have to be a career. It is a great extracurricular activity that can provide many benefits and keep teens away from many troubles.

1. Sport minimizes the risk of health problems

Teens that engage in regular physical activity are less likely to experience health problems. Not only will they stay fit, but it will drive them to pay more attention to their diets. This is particularly important for girls, who are more likely to suffer from nutrition problems during their teen years. Moreover, athletes must also abide by strict health standards, and they are made aware that certain bad habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol can affect their performance.

2. It keeps teens off the streets

Teens who practice any type of sport are less likely to waste time on the streets where they can get in serious problems. By engaging in sports they cultivate healthy social connections and are less likely to adhere to dangerous entourages.

3. It helps their self esteem

Most teens experience self esteem problems, and practicing a sport is a great accomplishment that helps their self esteem, especially if they participate in competitions. Many athletic facilities are equipped with modern digital scoring tables from Sideline Interactive. These scoring tables display key player information about the players during the matches. Seeing your name on the scoreboard and hearing the crowds cheering for you are positive reinforcements that will make any teen feel proud of themselves.

4. It provides positive identity

During their teen years, children are always looking to belong to a cool group or community. By being a part of a team, teens gain a sense of positive identity and they are proud to represent their communities. Teen athletes also tend to be very popular among their peers, which can also improve their confidence.

As you can see, playing a sport has many benefits for all teens. As a parent, you should encourage your kid to play any sport. Academic achievements are also important, but you must remember that your child also needs a way to unwind and sports are the best way to do this. So, be there by your child, go to their matches, cheer for them when their name appears on the scoring table, and be grateful that your child is engaged in a healthy activity instead of wasting their time on the streets.

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Many of today's parents neglect the importance of sports. Most parents push their children to study and they direct them towards money making careers such as medicine and computer science. However, playing a sport is not a waste of time, nor does it have to be a career.