Youth sports are a significant part of the lives of many families in our community.
It is easy to focus on the tangible results from these sports - goals scored, baskets made, games won. However, at the Y, we believe there is much more to youth sports than just the final score and stats sheet. We know participating in youth sports is instrumental in the development of life skills for youth. According to author Daniel Harri, the benefits can be broken down into four categories: promote self-discipline, boost self confidence, enhance overall health and develop better relationships.
The first category, promote self-discipline, deals with the child's commitment to a regular schedule for the chosen sport. Most of our sports require one night of practice and one day of games. The child must commit to these requirements and expectations. The practices also promote self-discipline as the child follows directions from their coach in order to further develop their skills. Also, youth will be encouraged to practice on their own to further develop skills, which instills self-discipline.
The second category is boost self-confidence. You do not have to be the best player on the team for this to happen. It might be as simple as a child feeling comfortable to try a new sport or play a new position. Also, coaches who creates positive and encouraging environments have a significant impact on the self-confidence of a youth athlete.
The third category, enhance overall health, may be an obvious one. Regular activity and exercise is known to help provide a good method of managing weight and preventing obesity in children. Team sports can also help with a youth's mental health and social well-being. As a member of a team, youth learn to work together with others toward a common goal.
The fourth category is better relationships. The Y youth sports leagues are school-based to help promote relationships children can take back to the classroom. Youth sports can act as a bridge to get kids to interact with other kids who they otherwise may not have at school. This is greatly enhanced when coaches and parents actively encourage such positive behavior. Often, teams are comprised of multiple schools to fill out a roster, which can help promote new relationships for these youth outside the classroom.
At the Y, we offer a variety of youth sports, including soccer, basketball, tennis, futsal and taekwondo. We seek to provide opportunities for youth to interact in a fun and positive environment, while learning new skills and developing as a person. If your child is not already involved in youth sports, I encourage you to explore the opportunities available in our community. Maybe they score a goal or hit the winning shot, but more importantly they may develop new friendships that last a lifetime.
Craig Hall has served as the sports director at the Jefferson City Area YMCA since 2012. He has a strong passion for youth sports, and has been a coach for many youth basketball and football teams over the years.