Introduction
Youth sports are games and sporting activities involving young people below adult age. Youth sports are becoming popular in the US, with children over six participating in various sports. Some of the most popular youth sports in the US are swimming, basketball, association football, athletics, tennis, and, lately, soccer. Youth sports encompass games played in school at various levels and those taking place outside school.
Sports can be organized formally by different government levels, organizations, and communities, or informally. Youth sports have various physical, psychological, and mental benefits to the participants, such as health, fitness, cognitive development, and positive relationships. However, if not properly managed, injuries, depression, and low self-esteem may occur in children. Therefore, parents and adults play a critical role in ensuring that youth sports benefit the participants by good role modeling and creating a positive environment for young people. The paper will look at youth sports in the US, analyzing the benefits, drawbacks, impacts on young people, and the role of parents and adults in the sport, and provide recommendations to improve children’s sports outcomes.
Benefits of Youth Sports
Physical Health
Participating in sports has health benefits for young people by reducing the likelihood of developing certain clinical complications. Generally, physical exercise in games has a positive impact on the health of the participants. Health problems such as obesity, kidney failure, cardiovascular complications, and asthma, among others, are fought through regular physical exercise and physical fitness.
With the rise in cases of obesity, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and cancer among young people, regular physical exercise is proving an important weapon in fighting health problems (Victoria Harlow et al. 670). Various studies show a low rate of health complications among young people active in sporting activities. For instance, past researchers show a low rate of health problems such as obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal dysfunction, and related conditions among White children due to their high participation in games. However, many studies show a high prevalence of health conditions among Hispanic and Black children due to their low participation in youth sports (Victoria et al. 676). Regular exercise during youth sports is thus proving to be a formidable defense against health complications such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases, among other complications.
Cognitive Development
Generally, there is a close relationship between physical activity and cognitive development. Physical activeness has always been a catalyst for cognitive development. Active children are likely to learn faster than their inactive counterparts. Thus, by participating in games, children are boosted in academic classwork (Post et al. 694).
In addition, sports expose young people to skills such as quick decision-making, fast thinking, and critical analysis, which are essential in cognitive development. For example, dribbling in basketball involves quick thinking, decision-making, and creativity, which help in improving cognitive development (Victoria et al. 682). A child participating in the game will, therefore, think critically in life and in the school classroom work. In addition, games such as chess are known to engage more intelligence and critical thinking, which can be translated into cognitive development. Children participating in youth sports have proved to be better at decision-making and problem-solving than their counterparts who shy away from games (Battaglia et al. 788).
Similarly, many studies show that young people participating in youth sports are better performers in class than their counterparts. This is evidenced by White children who are better academic performers than their Hispanic and Black colleagues, largely due to their participation in youth sports being the top (Hasson et al. 947). For example, young people who enjoy sports scholarships due to their exemplary performances in youth sports exhibit similar academic progress due to the cognitive benefits of the games.
Drawbacks of Youth Sports
Injuries
Youth sports can cause physique deterioration due to injuries sustained during the games. Sports such as basketball, soccer, swimming, and American football can cause serious bodily injuries to children, thus impacting their physical health. Children are naturally vulnerable to injuries due to their soft tissues and bones. Injuries such as leg rupture, broken arms, and head injuries are common among young players, especially those participating in informal and unregulated games (Hoffmann et al.).
The injuries may be serious and subject the victims to permanent paralysis and incapacitation, especially for children from poor economic backgrounds and whose parents cannot afford proper medication. There are many cases of children sustaining serious injuries from sports and related activities, leaving them permanently paralyzed and incapacitated. In the Black community, where most families are economically disadvantaged, children sustaining injuries do not always get proper medication, especially those costly clinical procedures (Hoffmann et al. ). The injuries thus affect the physical health of the victims and limit their abilities.
Impact and Commercialization of Youth Sport
Traditionally, youth sports were basically for fun and children’s pleasure; however, recently, the focus has been shifting to the commercialization of sports. Children are now taking sports as a commercial activity for financial benefits for themselves and their families (Post et al. 693). Many young people excelling in sports have benefited through scholarships and payments. Poor families have had their lives take an upward trajectory after their children’s outstanding performance in commercial sports (Victoria et al. 674). For example, young players such as Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Darius Garland are now reaping big in basketball.
Positive Impacts on Psychological and Mental Health
Youth sports have various psychological benefits for young people, with participants showing low rates of psychological challenges. First, youth sports bring young people together as team members, enabling children to share their problems with their peers and overcome them collaboratively. Children participating in various sports enjoy close relationships with their peers through the team feeling, which makes it easier to share problems and find solutions (Battaglia et al. 790). For example, a child under physical, sexual, or emotional abuse by parents, guardians, siblings, or any other individual is likely to share the problem with peers and get help instead of resorting to decisions such as suicide (Victoria Harlow et al. 670).
In a team, players always have strong bonds, which make them feel a sense of brotherhood, making it easier for them to share personal experiences, especially challenging encounters in life. Similarly, some coaches enjoy close relationships with their team members and the children they train, making it easier for them to help the young players. For example, a coach can easily help a child battling substance abuse through counseling since the child would be willing to listen to the coach.
Second, youth sports inspire high morale and a positive mood through the fun and excitement they provide. Games such as basketball, swimming, football, and tennis are fun to play and inspire positive moods among participants. Therefore, children participating in sports are high in spirit and unlikely to suffer psychological problems such as stress and depression. Similarly, young victims of psychological challenges such as depression and stress experience a sigh of relief when participating in sports (Post et al. 695).
For example, a child suffering from depression will likely overcome the challenge by engaging with teammates and participating in games. The negative thoughts and feelings that cause depression will be replaced by fun and excitement from the games. Normally, psychological issues such as depression and stress thrive in loneliness and isolation, which create room for deep thoughts and self-sorrow. However, youth sports are interactive and bring young people together, thus discouraging them from being alone, which may promote emotional problems by evoking hopelessness and deep thoughts.
Third, youth sports help to build and inspire strong personal characters. Children participating in various games are trained on strong personal characteristics such as resilience, self-esteem, self-motivation, and a winning mentality, which help to fight and overcome psychological challenges (Battaglia et al. 795). During training, coaches always inspire strong personal and team character among their players. And those values have an impact on a personal level and can be used to fight and overcome individual psychological challenges.
Fourth, youth sports are essential in boosting the self-esteem of young people, which helps to prevent emotional problems, especially those caused by low self-esteem and self-sorrow. Exemplary sports performances give children confidence and a sense of self-belief, which is critical in overcoming emotional frustrations (Post et al. 690). For example, a Black student who is emotionally bullied by fellow children can turn the story by becoming a champion in games. The prestige that comes with the championship status will help the kid to build self-confidence and self-esteem, thereby overcoming verbal and emotional bullying.
Negative Impacts on Psychological and Mental Health
If not carefully supervised, youth sports can lead to mental health issues like trauma, stress, and depression. One key factor is the unrealistic expectations placed on children by coaches and parents, which can overwhelm them emotionally. When adults overrate young athletes’ skills, it can intensify the pressure and contribute to psychological strain (Battaglia et al., 790).
Thus, failure to meet expectations may cause depression and affect self-esteem. Some parents force their children to participate in games they have little interest in, thereby subjecting them to a stressful life (Hoffmann et al., 2022). For example, a parent may force a child interested in basketball to participate in tennis, leading to frustration.
Youth sports lead to favoritism and discrimination, subjecting children to emotional challenges. Some coaches may favor some young players while discriminating against others, thus subjecting the marginalized group to emotional torture. Despite some children showing exemplary performance and convincing potential, they may be discriminated against by racist coaches, which may affect their self-esteem and lead them to depression.
Kids from minority communities do not have equal representation as their majority White counterparts, who are given the top priority (Moulds et al. 39). Statistics show White children as the highest beneficiaries of sports scholarships, even though many black and Hispanic kids are talented (Hasson et al. 955). Discrimination and favoritism hurt the mental health of children.
Parents, Coaches, and Stakeholders
Role Modeling
Parents and coaches are role models to young people participating in youth sports. Children generally look up to their parents, guardians, coaches, and adults at large for motivation, inspiration, and modeling. Thus, parents and coaches must lay a positive character foundation for the children to copy. Similarly, parents and coaches must inspire and motivate young people to engage in youth sports through good character, encouragement, and emotional support (Hasson et al. 947). In addition, parents and coaches should instill positive values such as self-confidence, resilience, and teamwork by shifting the focus from winning to quality, thereby relieving the pressure to win, which contributes to psychological and emotional problems.
Creating a Positive Environment
It is the responsibility of parents, coaches, and other involved parties to foster a supportive and encouraging atmosphere for children willing to participate and those engaging in youth sports by removing barriers such as favoritism, discrimination, and gender barriers. Favoritism, racial discrimination, and gender inequality have always created a barrier for young people to participate and excel in youth sports by suppressing and disadvantaging them, thus making it hard for the marginalized group to engage in the games (Hasson et al. 954). For instance, Black children have always been forced to work under strong racism and discrimination from their teammates and coaches. Similarly, young females have always been the object of gender discrimination, denying them the opportunity to participate in youth sports.
How to Improve the Quality of Youth Sport
Promoting Equality
The quality of youth sports can be improved by promoting equality and fairness. Many children from minority communities are talented and have huge potential, but due to high racial discrimination and favoritism, they are not given a chance to excel. Thus, racial equality and fairness will enable such kids to participate and realize their full potential (Hasson et al. 955). Similarly, gender should not be an object of discrimination. All children, regardless of gender, should be given an equal chance to participate and excel in youth sports.
Extending Support to Economically Disadvantaged Regions
Many children from poor families in economically disadvantaged areas have huge potential and can excel in sports if given a chance. However, due to their parents’ economic weakness, they are unable to participate in youth sports since their families cannot afford sports equipment such as balls (Hasson et al. 955). Extending economic support to such regions will help to open up the regions and enable the children to participate in youth sports and realize their full potential.
Conclusion
In summary, youth sports in America are critical for the physical, psychological, and mental health of children, contributing various benefits for development in respective areas. However, if not properly managed, the games may have negative physical, psychological, and mental impacts on young people through injuries, depression, and poor emotional health. Therefore, parents, coaches, and stakeholders must play a vital role in modeling and creating a healthy environment for children to participate and excel. In the future, equality and fairness should be practiced, and support should be extended to economically disadvantaged areas to improve the quality of youth sports.
Works Cited
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Hasson, Rebecca E., et al. “Rapid Cycle Adaptation of a Classroom-Based Intervention to Promote Equity in Access to Youth Physical Activity.” Translational Behavioral Medicine, vol. 12, no. 9, 2022, pp. 945-955. Web.
Hoffmann, Matt D., et al. “Associations between Organized Sports Participation and Mental Health Difficulties: Data From Over 11,000 US Children and Adolescents.” PLoS One, vol. 17, no. 6, 2022. Web.
Moulds, Kylie, et al. “Youth Sport Dropout According to the Process-Person-Context-Time Model: A Systematic Review.” International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2022, pp. 1-42. Web.
Post, Eric G., et al. “Parent Decision-Making Regarding Youth Sport Participation during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Journal of Community Health, vol. 47, no. 4, 2022, pp. 687-696. Web.
Victoria Harlow, Meghan, Rebecca Bassett-Gunter, and Jessica Fraser-Thomas. “Exploring Parents’, Coaches’, and Children’s Experiences and Perceived Outcomes in Preschooler Sport.” Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health, vol. 14, no. 4, 2022, pp. 668-685. Web.