Are Youth Sports Programs Too Intense?

Are youth sports programs too intense? Although potential drawbacks, youth sports are ultimately beneficial as they teach valuable skills, and foster teamwork for young athletes, outweighing any negative aspects of intensity and safety concerns. In general, sports offer important lessons in communication, self-control, discipline, and teamwork that are crucial for success in all aspects of life. Specifically in youth sports, these abilities are important to help you succeed elsewhere. As explained, “When I was a young player, football taught me resiliency and respect — for my coaches, my teammates and myself. It taught me how to communicate, respond to setbacks and find common ground with people that don't look like me”(Vincent). To succeed in sports, athletes have to learn to

By exposing youth to this type of environment, you are instilling the will to collaborate with all others and contribute to a team which is a highly valued skill by employers in all industries. In addition to communication, youth sports also teach valuable lessons in self-control. Research shows, “Boys who engage in sports in preschool might benefit from physical activities that help them develop life skills such as taking initiative, engaging in teamwork and practicing self-control, and building supportive relationships with their peers and adult coaches and instructors” (Study Finds Indulging in Sports Is Good for Boys). By learning how to handle their emotions and remain calm in stressful situations, young athletes develop the self-control and discipline needed to overcome obstacles both in sports and in life. Moreover, participation in youth sports implants a sense of discipline in young athletes that goes beyond the playing field. If they apply what they learn on the field to off the field, they learn to discipline themselves to use the skills they’ve