8 (surprising) reasons playing team sports is SO good for kids
Charlotte Thomas
Social EditorFrom boosting confidence to improving concentration, there are so many benefits to team sport for kids. Not the muddy kit though, never the muddy kit.
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We all know by now the importance of regular exercise for our kids’ health. It strengthens their muscles and bones, builds a stronger heart and lungs, and helps them shape healthy habits for life. Not to mention being good for their mental health.
But taking part in the NHS-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day could have surprising hidden benefits, too. Especially if they play team sport.
Whether it’s football, rugby, hockey or Quidditch, the camaraderie and shared goals of team sport make it seem much more like fun than ‘exercise’.
Kids learn new skills, improve their mood, grow in confidence and often make lasting friendships. All those Saturday mornings spent cheering on the sidelines in the pouring rain will be worth it, we promise.
Here are eight reasons why teamwork really does make the dream work.
1 It helps kids deal with stress
Playing sport is brilliant for burning off steam, and kids who exercise cope better with stressful situations, too.
When researchers asked children to read a story aloud to their classmates and complete a maths test, the kids who were regularly active had much lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than their non-active friends.
2 They’ll achieve goals
It’s not just the goals scored on the pitch or court that count in team sport. Setting and reaching mini-goals, like mastering a new pass or communicating well with team mates, will give kids a real sense of pride and achievement.
Children who struggle in school often find achieving non-academic, sporting goals particularly rewarding.
3 It boosts concentration
If your child struggles to focus in the classroom, having a bash at a team sport could be the answer.
Research shows that an hour of group exercise a day boosts children’s concentration levels.
Scientists from the University of Illinois studied a group of children who attended an active, after-school club and found big improvements in their mental skills. Over the nine-month trial, the kids got better at focusing, blocking out distractions and switching between different mental tasks.
Good news for their school work and maybe even for getting them to concentrate when you ask them to tidy their room, too!
4 They’ll make new friends
If your child plays team sport at a local club or leisure centre, they’ll meet new friends from different schools, areas and backgrounds.
It’s a great way to expand their social circle beyond the school gates and take their friendship focus away from just their classmates.
5 It makes them happy
Exercise releases feel-good hormones, known as endorphins, that genuinely make us happy. So kids will get a mood boost just from being active.
The mental benefits of exercise are even greater when they’re playing team sport, too.
One study found that coming together for group exercise where you encourage and support one another makes people feel mentally and physically better than exercising alone.
6 It teaches them respect
While we can’t promise team sports will turn your kids into little angels, who always uses their pleases and thank yous and never answer back, it can teach them a few important life skills.
They’ll learn to respect adults like coaches and referees, to follow rules and will also realise they have consequences. Unlike a squabble with a sibling, disobeying rules and arguing with another player could get them sent off!
7 It’s great for self esteem
Playing a team sport helps children to feel confident. All those high fives, and the praise and support from their coach and peers, can be a real self-esteem booster.
When researchers from the University of Birmingham spoke to teenage girls who played football, more than half said they had overcome a lack of self-confidence as a result of the game.
8 They’ll become more resilient
Team sports are a great way to learn that winning isn't everything – it really is the taking part that's the fun bit.
Your child is going to suffer some minor knock backs when they’re playing, they might miss a catch or fumble a kick, their team might not win a game … but they’ll see that it’s ok to fail and, with the support of their team mates, they’ll come back stronger.
What are your child's favourite team sports? Tell us in the chat thread below.
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