Reasons Why Sports are Important in a Student's Life

When we talk about a student, an image of a child with a heavy school bag with lots of books immediately pops into our minds. However, many believe that a school's environment shouldn’t be just confined to academics. Since only reading or studying makes children bookworm, many other activities have a vital role in the holistic development of a student, such as sports or games, etc.

But some people, or let’s say some parents, are still struggling with the importance of sports in students' life. They often doubt, “What makes sports a worthy investment for students other than education?” Though studies are important, we can’t deny that sports help in the overall development and growth of a child.

The information in this article will surely make you think about the value of sports in students' life and regularly inculcate them in your child’s overall routine. So, let’s check out how games and sports are going to have a major role in a student’s life.

Also Read: International Sports Day: Why is it Celebrated?

Importance of Games and Sports in Student’s Life

For ages, sports have been viewed as a way to stay healthy and fit, but it goes beyond that. Today, sports are essential for students' overall growth and development. Playing various sports helps them teach life skills such as teamwork, leadership, accountability, patience, and self-confidence and prepares them to face life challenges. 

Students get a chance to work on their physical and mental abilities to achieve goals in their life. We can realise the importance of sports in our daily life through a variety of national and international sports events organised all over the world where different players represent their countries and showcase their sporting capabilities. 

Additionally, the learning of a student starts from the primary level and sports help students develop a strong mental and physical foundation from an early age. Given below are the reasons why sports and games are crucial in a student’s life, in addition to their academic development.

Health/Physiological Benefits of Playing Sports 

The physical benefits of playing sports are countless for students. Several physical activities can play a vital role in leading a happy and healthy life; they are as follows:

• Overall Fitness - Indulging in sports can help students prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, depression, anxiety, and stress, and develop a healthy heart, improve bone density, and lung functionality. It helps lower blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels as well as uplifts mood, improves muscle strength, reduces the risk of obesity, and boosts energy levels. 

• Healthy and Fit Body- To answer “why is sports important for students?” We can say that it helps develop healthy eating habits and prevent obesity. Children involved in sports typically consume more fruits and vegetables and cut off junk/fast foods. Additionally, it makes your body sweat and burn calories that help you maintain a strong and healthy body.

• Prevent Diseases - Indulging in sports is a great way to avoid communicable and non-communicable diseases. Sports activities have been found to have various cardiovascular benefits, including decreased blood pressure and improved cardiovascular fitness. It has a positive effect on sleep quality.

• Reduces Stress - Researches show that people who are more into sports are more likely to experience higher levels of happiness compared to those who aren’t. Aerobic activities such as running or cycling reduce stress and the risk of mental disorders such as depression.

• Hormonal Benefits - The role of sports in students' life can be seen in the form of endorphins, i.e. the brain's natural “feel good” chemicals or hormones your body releases when it feels pain or stress. They are relaxed with exercises or sports activities. When you exercise, your body releases dopamine and serotonin which make you feel good.
  
  

Social and Personality Benefits of Playing Sports

The value of games and sports isn’t limited to physical benefits; rather, it also contributes to one’s social and personality development. Here is how:

• Enhanced Social Relationships - The students who are actively engaged in sports tend to develop a strong bond with other students. This is because they have to work as a team which teaches them to enhance social relationships as well as leadership skills for goal setting and character building. It helps them improve their self-esteem, social interaction, and a more positive outlook on life.

• Develops Life Skills - Playing sports not only helps in developing physical and mental health, but it also develops the life skills of a student. Sports activities teach students ethics, values, discipline, and a sense of mutual trust. The sportsman's spirit helps them deal with various phases of life gracefully as well as avoid evils such as drugs and suicide. This signifies the importance of sports in students' life. 

• Time Management and Discipline - If a student plays a sport, they must stick to a particular timeline to perform the task following the set of rules &and  regulations of the game. They need to be patient, cautious, and frequent in their efforts. It ultimately helps students improve their time-management skills in different fields of life.

• Develop Better Values - Skills like patience, teamwork, leadership, discipline, learning from failure, etc., are developed when students are indulged in any type of sport. These skills are equally important when it comes to study and management. They nurture mutual respect, honesty, dedication and gesture of appreciation, etc.
  
  

Educational Benefits of Playing Sports 

Students who are actively involved in sports have higher chances of pursuing sports as their career option. They can regularly practice their favourite sports and learn techniques to master that sport. Apart from these, sports have great importance in the field of education too. How? 

If there is some sports activity included in students’ daily activities, it will contribute towards their overall brain as well as physical development. 

By giving equal importance to sports at the school level, the students can get early exposure to sports activities, which would help their overall development. Earlier, more importance was given to grades rather than extracurricular activities. But since then, the education system has changed, and more focus is shifted towards the holistic development of students.

Conclusion

Academic studies and athletic capabilities are associated with each other. They work like the two sides of the same coin. Along with theory sessions, sports also have a significant role in education. It leads to the overall formation of an individual’s personality and contributes to their holistic development. The educational benefits of sports are countless and aren’t limited to physical.

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