top 10 - Celebrity High Magazine

Teens
play sports to have fun, learn and improve their skills, be with friends,
succeed or win and even to become physically fit. Those who play usually
get all of these benefits from sports, but there are secret benefits to athletics
that most don’t realize they get as well. Participants benefit in various ways physically, personally
and even socially. Sports can help you develop skills and talents that will be very valuable for your
life ahead. So whether you’re already participating in a sport, considering joining one or maybe
never even thought about it before, here are the 10 secret benefits of playing a high school sport.
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Sports have HiddeN HeALtH BeNefits. Some benefits of sports are obvious; like improving fitness and maintaining a
healthy weight. but playing sports when you’re young can reduce the risk of certain health problems later in life as well as
establish lifelong habits for good health. Sure, you can get these benefits from any type of exercise. but if you have trouble
getting to the gym, there may be more incentive to show up and play if you know your coaches or teammates depend on you.
Playing
sports builds seLf-CoNfideNCe. teens involved in athletics feel better about themselves, both physically and
socially. It helps to build confidence when you see your skills improving and your goals becoming reality. Other esteemboosting
benefits of sports participation include getting in shape, maintaining a healthy weight, and making new friends.
Exercise
can CUt tHe pRessURe. Playing sports can help you deal with pressure since exercise is a
natural mood lifter and a great way to relieve stress and fight depression. Sports can help you literally run
off the tension that’s accumulated in your muscles. Many people report better grades and an increased
ability to concentrate when they move. Some colleges even encourage exercise during test times as stress
relief for students. Plus, when you are on a team, you have friends who support you both on and off the field.
VALUiNg pRepARAtioN.
Sports increase self-discipline and the awareness of the value of preparation which can lead
to better grades and better work habits later in life. Competitive athletes learn the importance of effort, being prepared
(mentally and physically), and enlightened risk-taking. they see that raw physical talent is not always sufficient to win the game,
but that preparation is essential. this includes mental preparation (staying focused) and physical fitness as well as practicing
the plays with their teammates in team sports. they learn to evaluate risk versus reward. Another invaluable lesson is
discovering that mistakes are part of learning; they signal that a particular approach is unsuccessful and you must try another.
ResiLieNCe. Sports provide an unparalleled model for dealing with disappointment and misfortune. Young
athletes learn to handle adversity, whether it’s picking themselves up after losing a big game or not getting as many
minutes as they wanted. they find ways to deal with losing and go on, because there’s another big game next week
or next year. they figure out what to do to get what they want for themselves. they put in extra time on fitness
or work on specific weaknesses in their game (long-ball trapping, hitting to the opposite field, looking the ball into
their hands). People can find their internal drive through training and hard work, but adversity really brings it out.
teAMWoRK. Working with coaches, trainers, and teammates to win games and meet goals is great practice
for success later in life. being a team player can make it easier to work with others and solve problems,
whether on the field or in the workplace. On a team, you will learn about cooperation, camaraderie, give-andtake.
You learn that you don’t have to like someone in order to work together toward a common goal. You can also
discover that you can work for people you don’t respect and still be productive, improve your skills, and have fun.
tiMe MANAgeMeNt. Young athletes learn to manage their time productively. they know they have to get their
homework done, so they learn not to waste time (some of them even quit watching television and hanging out at the
mall). they plan ahead and even figure out they have to eat well and get a good night’s sleep. Countless athletes, in school
and the workplace, say that being an athlete taught them discipline that is invaluable in their lives on and off the field.
LoNg-teRM tHiNKiNg. Athletes learn the fundamental lesson of sacrificing immediate gratification for long-term
gain. this is the basis for personal success as well as for civilization in general, and no lesson can be more valuable.
LeAdeRsHip oppoRtUNities. team sports offer a rare opportunity to serve as leaders. teens can be in a position to
assess the strengths and weaknesses of their various teammates and help to maximize their strengths and compensate for
their weaknesses. they can minimize conflicts among players. they can reinforce values such as, fair play, hard work, mental
preparation, by speaking up when appropriate and setting a good example. they can also take the initiative in arranging for team
dress on game days, organizing team dinners or team movie nights, and inviting teachers and administrators to their games.
10 r e a s o n s t o Play a SPoRT in 2010
17 10.
MAKe NeW fRieNds. Sports are a social activity. team sports are obviously done with other people, but
even individual sports are often done as a team (tennis, golf, track) and as such athletes develop relationships
with their teammates. Sports can also be a way to meet a variety of kids from different backgrounds. Sports
are a great equalizer; rich or poor, black, brown, or white, are irrelevant. What counts is talent and heart. 17