Utilizing Athletics to Help Your Child Succeed

As parents, we understand how difficult it can be in today’s world to raise children who are both happy and successful. With the influence of the internet, social media, and increased competition across the board, the world demands a whole new level of self-confidence, resilience, and grit for our children to develop into content, self-actualized individuals. Sometimes, as parents, we can feel like we’re swimming upstream trying to protect our children’s self-concept and motivation to excel.

Parents are looking for tools and resources to help children develop successfully into adulthood. At Club Sports Finder, we believe that athletics, when done well, can be a great avenue for positively impacting your child’s development. 

Helping to Arm Your Child with the Mental Toughness, Grit, and Work Ethic to Succeed and Become a Happy, Healthy Adult

Study after study over the past few decades demonstrates that the life lessons learned while being part of a sports team can help children and teens develop traits linked to future success, including skills needed in the work world, in relationships, and as contributing members of the community. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways that playing sports can set a child up for success in life. 

Mental Toughness

A 2022 study completed by Ohio State’s Center for Human Resource Research looked at the development of grit in youth sports. Emily Nothnagle, lead author of the study, explained that, “Kids who participate in sports learn what it is like to struggle as they learn new skills, overcome challenges and bounce back from failure to try again. The grit they develop playing sports can help them for the rest of their lives.”

Goal Setting Skills 

Setting a goal and finding a way to accomplish it in the face of adversity is a valuable skill. After setting a goal, an athlete knows to work hard to reach it or change course to adapt to challenges. A 2014 study by Kniffin, Wansink, and Shimizu examined how participation in high school sports correlated with a person’s behaviors and accomplishments later in life, specifically how they set goals and achieve them as leaders. One of the study’s findings examined how hiring managers prefer hiring student athletes, as they tend to exhibit skills and traits that give them a competitive advantage.

Commitment 

Student athletes know that being involved in a sport is a huge time commitment, including practices, pre- and post-season training, and, of course, games. Successful student athletes know that sticking with a sport through wins and losses is not only a commitment to the team but also to themselves. This skill cannot be taught in a classroom but can be learned firsthand through dedication to a sport, a team, and the love of the game. 

In the workforce, commitment can translate into better productivity in the industry. According to the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, physically active youth sport athletes go on to become adults who are more productive at work, have 7-8% higher annual earnings, and have lower levels of depression. 

Long-Term Physical Benefits 

Playing a sport doesn’t just teach young athletes skills they will carry with them through life, but also provides health benefits for years to come. Learning to enjoy physical activity will help them build strong bones and muscles and maintain cardiovascular health, reducing the risk of chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children be physically active for at least 1 hour daily. Moreover, young athletes are far more likely to remain active as adults, setting them up for a lifetime of healthy living.

Mental Health Benefits 

Participation in sports can improve self-esteem and confidence as young athletes develop their skills and grow amongst their respective teams. According to a 2020 study by the Office of Disease Prevention, youth sports also decrease the risk of depression and anxiety. Sports offer support, fellowship, and a healthy and effective outlet that young athletes can rely on. The community of friends found on a sports team allows for emotional growth each year of play. 

At Club Sports Finder, we are interested in the holistic development of your athlete. Yes, we want them to excel on the playing field or court, but we also want to help them develop the personal traits and behaviors that support them in all other aspects of their lives.

We can appreciate the significant time, money, and emotion it takes to allow your athlete to play club sports, but we hope you see it as an investment in their ability to lead a happy, healthy, and successful life beyond athletics. 

The path to holistic success starts here. Visit our site to learn more about how Club Sports Finder connects aspiring athletes with supportive teams, expert coaches, and valuable resources.