Table of ContentsIntroductionSocial BenefitsMental Health EffectsPhysical Health EffectsConclusionIntroductionSince the Native Americans, sports have been a large part of American culture. There are records of Indians playing lacrosse and field hockey in the 17th century. Encyclopedia.com even states: “Despite the diversity of Native American cultures, certain games were very widespread. The rules of the games could vary, but several games were popular in large parts of the West. Native Americans sometimes incorporated games into religious ceremonies. Today, some of these games are still played, and these games come with unparalleled benefits. Overall, sports give children and young adults life lessons and benefits that can't be found anywhere else. The benefits of sport for adolescents are physical, mental and even social. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an original essaySocial BenefitsSports helps children in many different ways, one of which is social. Being part of a team allows children to experience leadership, cooperation skills, higher levels of self-confidence and much more. The University of Michigan took 709 public school children and tested their leadership skills. The tests showed that the more active children had better leadership skills, demonstrated more empathy and were better at working together than children who were not as active. Elizabeth Jackson, an assistant professor at Michigan, said: “It appears that physical activity through team sports and exercise classes may have benefits beyond fitness. These findings suggest that children who develop leadership and empathy toward others are more likely to care about their own health, perhaps adopting lifelong healthy behaviors that can prevent heart disease. This shows that children with better leadership and empathy skills often care more about their bodies, showing that sport helps in a very, very important way. Sport also allows children to feel a sense of belonging when they are part of a team where they feel useful. Another study published by Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine showed that out of 14,000 high school students, those who played sports were significantly less likely to use drugs. This once again shows how sport can improve your lifestyle as a young adult. Health.gov also said that women who participate in sports are 80% less likely to get pregnant in high school. It also shows that sport helps in many social areas. Alongside all these statistics, there are many others that show that sport contributes to social health. A survey was conducted of 75 companies, all part of the Fortune 500, and people in vice president positions. The results showed that 95% of them played a sport in high school. Overall, the social benefits young adults achieve through sports are unmatched. Kids feel the need to be there for their teammates on time and ready to perform, which makes them feel like they belong. Even in tough times, like when an athlete is having a bad game or going through something emotionally, the first people there for you are your teammates, it allows you to create a special bond that you have with almost no one else.Sports also help children learn to deal with anger and frustration more sensibly. In sports, children learn many things that will overall improve their health for the rest of their lives. Effects on mental health Sport also strongly influences the mental health of children. Playing a sport releases a chemical called serotonin in the brain, making you feel happier and overall more relaxed. Studies show that sport makes you feel more relaxed, less stressed, more open-minded and even improves concentration. German researchers have shown that doing an activity before learning a new language allowed it to “stick” better. Charlene Gamaldo, medical director of the John Hopkins Center for Sleep, said: “We have strong evidence that exercise actually helps you fall asleep faster and improves sleep quality. » Sleeping better is essential to having a healthy lifestyle. Most teenagers in the United States suffer from sleep deprivation or simply don't sleep well, and exercise will help you sleep better. Exercise also helps you get in better shape, and that's huge when it comes to mental health. More than 87% of adolescents are unhappy with their body and wish they could change it. Practicing a sport will allow children to have more self-confidence and less insecurity. Alongside all of this, around 20% of adolescents have suffered from some form of depression before adulthood, and among 15-24 year olds, suicide is the third leading cause of death. A study was done on 16,000 high school students and the results showed that children who played sports were significantly less likely to be depressed or have suicidal thoughts or actions. Sports even help teenagers in class. A study in Kansas showed that children who played sports "earned better grades, graduated at a higher rate, dropped out of school less frequently, and performed better on state assessments than those who did not." athletes. » This shows that playing sports can also make you a better student. In conclusion, sports help children become mentally healthier in many different ways. Effects on physical health Sport also significantly helps young adults physically. Overall, playing sports allows children to have stronger muscles, increased flexibility, stronger bones and more. According to the United States anti-doping agency, USADA, “obesity has doubled over the past 25 years among our youth and will affect more than a third of our children by the third year.” This figure would be much lower if more children participated in sports or any activity. The number of people suffering from diabetes is also increasing at an alarming rate, and studies show that exercise helps treat macrovascular complications. This is huge because approximately 10% of American citizens have diabetes. Exercise also increases metabolism, allowing you to process food more quickly, meaning you don't gain weight as quickly. Heart health can also be prolonged if you play sports. Sport is absolutely vital for a healthy and sustainable life. A decrease in body fat is extremely important for children because, as previously stated, 87% of children wish they could change their bodies. A recent study showed that physically active people are less likely to die from cardiovascular disease. The results showed that they are 50% less likely! The same research team found.