Education in leading schools extends beyond teaching core subjects. To ensure a learner’s holistic growth, good schools offer a plethora of extracurricular activities and sports education tops the list. From enhanced cognitive skills to improved performance in academics, there are many benefits of sports in school.

Benefits of sports in schools

Physical activity is crucial for everyone, especially for developing children. Below, you will find a comprehensive list of benefits of sports and why all schools must prioritize the same:

1. Boosts self-esteem

Engaging in sports inside the school campus vastly improves a student’s self-esteem. They feel like they have an important role as part of a team. The realization that their contribution adds value to their team empowers them immensely.

Naturally, each time a student succeeds in scoring a winning goal, their self-belief increases. The recognition that they get from their teachers and peers fills their hearts with pride. They feel proud that they are capable of achieving beyond getting good grades. This self-confidence is necessary for students as it impacts other aspects of their lives.

A confident being will communicate with ease and feel comfortable even among unfamiliar people. This is one of the reasons why you should send your child to a school that prioritizes sports.

2. Sharpens leadership skills

The role of schools is not just to equip students with academic skills. At the end of the day, schools must aim at making children independent individuals with strong personalities. In this regard, games and sports can play a major role.

Sports is all about working unitedly as a team towards achieving a collective goal. A collective teamwork determines whether they will win or lose. On one end, sports create a perfect environment for friendly competitions and on the other it creates builds team spirit.

So, children who possess leadership qualities get ample opportunities to emerge as leaders. As they lead a team, they face many challenges. They understand that to be a wise and fair leader, one must have convincing power and empathy.

They also develop problem solving skills and become adept at setting short-term and long-term targets. Undeniably, students learn valuable life lessons that will help them immensely in their professional lives.

3. Has mental health benefits

Managing negative emotions is not easy for children as they don’t know how to deal with failures. Sports benefits them enormously by showing them the art of processing complex emotions.

Emotions always run high in the playground – for both spectators and players. However, the beauty of sports lies in the unpredictable nature of result. For every game, one team emerges victorious while the others accept defeat.

These setbacks teach children a valuable life lesson – failures are an inseparable part of human existence. So, a sportsman won’t feel despondent in adverse situations.

On the contrary, if they fail in their endeavors, they will try harder the next time. They will be prepared to face hardships with bravery and optimism.

Additionally, kids who play daily tend to be happy. While playing, bodies release feel good hormones called endorphins. The brain releases dopamine and serotonin which are anti-anxiety chemicals.

Hence, it’s scientifically proven that physical activity keeps stress, depression, and anxiety at bay. It’s also the best way to exhaust hyperactive children.

4. Keeps kids fit and active

Approximately 8.4% of India’s obese population comprises school children. In urban areas, children are reluctant to play outdoor games and prefer to play video games. Lack of physical activity is the major cause of obesity in children.

So, the World Health Organization asserts that 5-17-year-old kids should get 60 mins of physical activity regularly. Schools have the power to truly bring about a positive change.

While children don’t exercise on their own, participating in sports with their close friends becomes a fun activity. As they chase each other, run freely, and sweat under the open sky, their bodies remain fit and their minds, happy.

Besides keeping weight gain in check, physical activity enhances cardiovascular health and digestive health. Regular exercise also builds strong bones and muscles in children. So, physical well-being of students is one of the many benefits of sports in the school curriculum.

5. Foster determination and perseverance

Have you ever noticed how eagerly children wait for their physical education classes? Irrespective of their interest in studies, it’s their favorite period in the timetable. That’s because they hate being confined in their classrooms hours after hours. When they return from the playground, they are able to focus more on complex topics.

Research reveals that taking sports seriously improves memory retention and concentration. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as athletes practice for hours to perfect their skills. So, character traits like perseverance and resilience are bound to develop.

For children who struggle to focus on their studies, sports become even more important. As it helps them focus, it can better their overall performance in academics. Schools motivate such children to engage in sports and games every day.

6. Nurtures friendships

As mentioned already, sports develop various social skills like cooperation, sharing, and teamwork. As a result, children can connect deeply with like-minded individuals. This isn’t always possible in the classrooms as they’re occupied with taking notes, solving equations, and more.

In the playground, children’s minds are free from other thoughts. They not only create bonds that can last a lifetime but also find ways to channelize their energy. It also gives them an opportunity to lead, instruct and conduct activities.

Final thoughts

The benefits of sports can only be rendered at schools that have complexes dedicated to nurture the growth and development of its students. At DWPS Barasat, we not only have a massive playground, but are also building a new sports complex that will include auditorium, swimming pool, and many more of such amenities. Join us today to make your child’s future both mentally and physically stronger.