Organized Sports

By Xavier Muldrow

The simple concept of children playing has become a complex problem in the eyes of parents; the idea of structured vs. unstructured play. Which one is better for my child? Which one will lead to my child developing more? These are the questions that parents have started to ask themselves. I read in an article that asking whether structured or unstructured play is better for a child is like asking whether fruits or vegetables are better for a person. Both are needed so the question of which one is better should be one less worry for a parent.

Unstructured play is extremely important to a child’s development. It allows the child to set their own objectives and rules on where, when, and how to play. This allows them to use their creativity and imagination. Structured play, on the other hand, provides the child with an opportunity to learn a different set of useful skills. One specific way to be involved through structured play is through organized sports. I have been involved in organized sports since I can remember. It has allowed me to develop skills I use in everyday life situations. There are many benefits to participating in organized sports, such as physical fitness, confidence, teamwork, and mentors.

PHYSICAL FITNESS

Childhood obesity is becoming a big problem for children especially in the United States. One way to overcome this is through physical activity. Playing sports helps children get the exercise they need and provides healthy habits that will most likely stay with the child throughout his/her life. It also allows children to increase their physical strength and become more flexible, agile, and coordinated. Studies have shown that children who play sports are more aware of their bodies and thus are less likely to harm their bodies with things such as smoking, drinking, or doing drugs.

CONFIDENCE

Practice is a key part of playing sports; with practice children improve their skill set at the particular sport they are playing. This improvement causes children to become more confident in their ability to perform tasks, which carries over into their personal lives. So playing sports allows children to be more confident with themselves in both sports and outside of sports. It also gives them a sense of identity. Growing up children are looking to fit in and feel they belong and organized sports provides them with a group to identify with. Being accepted and feeling you belong within a group is crucial to a child’s development both socially and mentally.

TEAMWORK

No matter what profession you work in, you have to interact with people at some point. Most jobs require its employees to work together to achieve a common goal. Organized sports give children the skills to be able to work in a team and be a good teammate at an early age. It provides them with a skill they will be using for the rest of their life.

MENTORS

Playing sports provides you with a mentor or role model. It gives you someone to look up to, someone who will help guide you through sports and your personal life. I am still friends with my coaches and I can proudly say that they are a big part of the reason why I am who I am today. Having multiple mentors have helped me to become a confident, hard working, passionate young man. Knowing the importance of mentors, I have joined a local program called Coaching Corps. It is a Team-Up for Youth program, connecting college students to children in low-income neighborhoods through after-school sports programs. It allows me to help children become better people through sports the same way my mentors did for me when I was a child.

So when parents ask whether structured or unstructured play is better, my opinion is that neither is better but they both are needed. Organized sports allowed me to develop life-long skills while having fun at the same time so I recommend they do the same for their children.