Abigail Rumpf

DeBock
28 September 2016
English 4
The Positive Impact of Sports on Youth
Playing sports offer physical, personal, and social benefits that are not given to children
who do not play sports. Fitness, stress relief, and healthy habits are all ways sports can impact
children's lives. As children grow they are developing and learning new skills everyday. When
they learn a sport they learn about teamwork and how to win. Children everywhere are impacted
by sports and can help them as they grow older. In the articles it has specific information in how
sports benefits children.
In the article, Playing Sports Benefits Children, Metzel discusses how children can
benefit from playing sports. It focuses on the physical benefits and also how kids can be learning
while having fun. According to Metzel, Kids who play sports develop general physical fitness in
a way that's fun, and they establish lifelong habits for good health. Also in the article Playing
Sports Benefits Children, talks about personal benefits. It focuses on valuing preparation,
resilience and long-term thinking. Metzel states, Sports increase self-discipline and the
awareness of the value of preparation because kids can see the difference in their performance.
Another topic the article talks about it the social benefits children get from playing a sport.
Children can improve relationships with other kids and can learn about teamwork, diversity,
having good relationships with adults and taking part in something that is for the community
(Metzel). As children grow they will be able to use these skills in their everyday life. When
participation in sports provides opportunities for leadership and socialization (Metzel). When

kids are growing they will learn the benefits from these sports and how in their everyday lives
they will use the skills and leadership.
In the article, School Sports Development Programme Launched, talks about how a
school have Launched a School Sports for Development programmes aimed at developing and
strengthening children's physical activities in schools around the country. The perspective of the
department minister of sports talks about how the activities will be positive towards the kids.
The critical life lessons which children can learn while playing sport, such as teamwork, the
satisfaction of achieving a goal, time management, discipline, responsibility and accountability
are invaluable for their personal growth and the development of their communities," the Deputy
Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service, Hon states in School Sports Development
Programme Launched. Having this program is going to Deliver quality education which is
optimal and holistic in giving children the skills they need to succeed (School Sports
Development Programme Launched). The program will show children the way that sports is
going to be positive towards their lives. The launch of the program is giving supplies to the
children and to be successful. This program is built upon other program that want to help
children get involved with sports.
In the article, Why Growing Kids Need to Get out More, talks about how children
around the world aren't playing sports and it's affecting them negatively. Federal Minister for
Children Larry Anthony says, 1 million Australian kids were officially overweight. He talks
about how the federal government is trying to encourage the parents to get involved with the
children and get them to go out and get active with their children (Why Growing Kids Need to
Get out More). The federal government investing money into a program for kids to get involved
in physical education and sports. The article states, Labor proposed a $2 million national

schools physical activity taskforce and better canteen food guidelines(Why Growing Kids
Need to Get out More). The article, Why Growing Kids Need to Get out More, took a study
that surveyed 4819 students from 34 schools around the country. "The results are shocking and
provide a disturbing picture of the nutrition habits of our children," said Shadow health minister
Julia Gillard. The amount of obesity in the states are at an all time high. The programs and
money being given to the school to push athletics and more nutrients foods are what's going to
help the amount of obese kids get the help they need. In the article it states that a study was
shown that one in five Australian children had no breakfast. One in four had an inadequate
breakfast, such as cordial, water, tea, coffee or a soft drink. One in six kids had not eaten fruit or
green veggies in the three days prior to the survey(Why Growing Kids Need to Get out More).
Not just the lack of physical activity is what is hurting these kids but the lack of nutrition in their
diets. This article is relevant to the research because it shows how everywhere around the world
children are suffering from obesity from the lack of activity in their lives and if they had the
activities it would be positive towards them and their health.
Sports make a positive impact on children. As children grow they are developing and
learning new skills everyday. When learning a sport it can show you skills and how to help you
in life. The way sports can help you are in so many different ways. As you play a sport it can
help you mentally and physically. The articles show you ways that it can make a positive impact
on children's lives.

Works Cited
Metzl, Jordan D., and Carol Shookhoff. "Playing Sports Benefits Children." The Young
Athlete: A Sports Doctor's Complete Guide for Parents. New York, NY: Little, Brown
and Company, 2002. Rpt. in Child Athletes. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven

Press, 2008. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 20 Sept. 2016.

"School Sports for Development Programme Launched." Africa News Service 8 Feb.
2016. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 20 Sept. 2016.
"Why Growing Kids Need to Get out More." Sun-Herald [Sydney, Australia] 19 Oct.
2003: 42. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 20 Sept. 2016.