The benefits of children playing sports are far-reaching, impacting their physical health, mental and emotional growth, social skills, and even their academic performance. Through sports, children learn important life skills such as teamwork, discipline, resilience, and time management. They develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime and have fun while doing so.

Encouraging children to participate in sports not only contributes to their well-being today but also equips them with essential skills and experiences that will help them succeed in life tomorrow.

From https://odphp.health.gov/

Benefts of Youth Sports Developed by the PCSFN Science Board September 17, 2020 The National Youth Sports Strategy aims to unite U.S. youth sports culture around a shared vision: that one day, all youth will have the opportunity, motivation, and access to play sports—regardless of their race, ethnicity, sex, ability, or ZIP code. Why youth sports? Research shows that participating in youth sports can lead to immediate and long-term benefts for youth, their families, and communities.

Mental, Emotional, and Social Health 73 percent of parents believe that sports beneft their child’s mental health.1 And they are right! • Participating in sports is associated with: • Lower rates of anxiety and depression2–5 • Lower amounts of stress5,6 • Higher self-esteem and confdence3,7–9 • Reduced risk of suicide5,10,11 • Less substance abuse and fewer risky behaviors5,8,12 • Increased cognitive performance5,13–15 • Increased creativity16 • Greater enjoyment of all forms of physical activity17 • Improved psychological and emotional well-being for individuals with disabilities18 • Increased life satisfaction

Physical Health 88 percent of parents believe that sports beneft their child’s physical health.1 Indeed, participation is one way for youth to get the physical activity they need to be ft and healthy. • Participating in physical activity is associated with: • Improved bone health21 • Improved weight status5,21 • Increased cardiorespiratory and muscular ftness5,21 • Reduced risk of cancer and diabetes22,23 • Participating in sports is associated with: • Increased physical activity levels24 • Improved cardiovascular ftness24 • Decreased body fat percentage for girls24 • Increased overall quality of life

Educational and Career Success 55 percent of parents believe that sports will beneft their children academically and improve their future careers. 80 percent of parents believe that sports helped their child learn about discipline and dedication, as well as how to get along with others.1 Research supports these beliefs. • Participating in sports is associated with: • Improved teamwork, social skills, and social responsibility3,9 • Improved life skills (e.g., goal setting, time management, work ethic, empathy, negotiation)9,25,26 • Increased empowerment, personal responsibility, and self-control9,27 • Improved educational and occupational skills (e.g., determination, perseverance, grit, resilience, critical thinking)9 • Higher levels of academic achievement5,28–34 • Greater leadership qualities5,35–37 • High school athletes are more likely to attend and graduate from a four-year college10,33,38–41 Lifelong Participation 73 percent of adults who play sports participated when they were younger.1 This means they built the habit of physical activity early and are reaping the rewards in adulthood. •

Lifelong participation in sports can lead to improved mental health outcomes.6,42 • Over 50% of adults who participate in sports believe that participation reduces stress and improves mental health.1 • Adolescents who play sports are 8 times more likely to be physically active at age 24 than those who do not play sports.43 • Participating in sports leads to immediate psychological benefts, and these can continue even after retirement from sports.44

Economic and Community Impact The benefts of youth sports extend beyond the feld and even beyond the participant. • Participating in sports and physical activity can lead to: • A decrease in direct, indirect, and personal health care costs (collectively, up to $28 billion per year)45–47 • A stronger long-term labor market48,49