Are Youth Sports Really Beneficial For My Child?

As a parent, do you find yourself questioning whether signing your child up for youth sports is beneficial for them? Beyond physical fitness, what can youth sports actually offer your child? At the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township & Atlantic County, we know all that youth sports can offer your child. From helping your child grow their confidence to offering them opportunities to develop socially, youth sports can impart lasting skills and lessons to your child. In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into the impact of sports and why you should consider getting your child involved when they’re younger.

Why Are Youth Sports Important For My Child?

Incorporating youth athletics into your child’s life can help them not just with their physical health, but can help them with social-emotional skills they’ll need for life. Studies have shown that children who play sports have higher grades and are more likely to graduate from college. Athletics provide an opportunity for growth that can help your child throughout every stage of their life.

So don’t wait until your child is a teenager to get them involved in sports. Start early and expose them to a variety of different activities. By doing so, you’ll give them a leg up on the competition, both in their future academic and career pursuits.

What Skills Can Youth Sports Teach My Child?

Build Confidence

Self-confidence is one of the most important traits that children can have as they grow and move through life. Athletic activities are a great way to foster this trait in children. Through sports, kids learn how to set goals and achieve them. They also learn how to overcome obstacles and handle disappointment. These skills will be important for children throughout their lives.

Diverse Social Interactions

Most adults view playing sports as a fun pastime, but for kids, participating in sports has much more value. Playing sports gives children the opportunity to develop essential social skills. Through teamwork, children learn how to cooperate with others and resolve conflicts, and learn how to communicate effectively and manage their emotions. Sports outside of their school also offer children a chance to meet new people and grow their social skills in a new environment.

Learn To Handle Failure

Being resilient and getting up after failing is a critical skill for success. The only way to be successful in life is to be able to get back up after something goes wrong. Participating in sports is a great way to help your child develop this resiliency. Sports are full of failure, from missed shots to losing games. Learning to embrace this failure and continuing to keep going after can help your child learn how not to be limited by failure throughout their life.

Can My Child Get Involved With Lower-Commitment Youth Sports?

When it comes to youth sports, many parents view athletics as a lifestyle that they are either all in on or all out of. Getting involved in youth sports can be a large time and financial burden, but it doesn’t have to be. Getting involved with extracurricular youth sports doesn’t have to consume all of your child’s extracurricular time. At EHT PAL, you only have to commit to one season of a sport at a time. There is no penalty for your child if only participating in sports in the fall and spring is what works best for your family. Getting involved in youth sports at this level can offer your child the benefits of competitive sports while giving your family flexibility and room to explore what your child actually enjoys doing!

Where Can I Find Youth Sports Near Me?

At the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township & Atlantic County, we offer a variety of sports leagues and programs for kids of all ages and interests throughout the year. Our sports include Soccer, NFL Flag Football, Lacrosse, Field Hockey, Tee Ball, Volleyball, and more!  If you’re interested in learning more about any of our leagues and programs we offer, get in touch with us!