Why should children participate in sports? Because sports are
one of the easiest ways to keep our God-given bodies in good shape. A healthy
body makes it easier for us to serve God. And sports, especially team sports,
are one of the best ways for children (and adults!) to keep fit.
As I was researching information about the US women’s national
soccer team, an article by Erin Bried caught my attention. Bried asked: “What
if the secret to getting in amazing shape was making exercise a team effort?
Imagine taking a break from logging miles solo on the treadmill. Playing games
would become your workouts, the fun your motivation, your teammates the most
inspiring personal-cheering squad you could hope for.” Her point is that
exercise is easier and more fun when you do it in the context of a game. Similarly,
exercise science professor, Marcus Kilpatrick, has observed that “we
tend to view sport as play and exercise as work, which is why we call one a
game and the other a workout.”
Imagine this common scene in your home:
“Johnny, would you please mow
the lawn this afternoon?”
“Dad, why do I always have to
do it? Why don’t you ask Mary once in a while.”
“I do ask her to help. I’m
asking you to help this time.”
“But dad, you always make me do
more.”
Ask a child to mow the lawn or scrub the tub, and he may
complain like you’ve asked him to wash all the windows on the Empire State
Building! But put him on a basketball court and he has
the unconscious energy to play for hours.
Being part of a team makes workouts easier to stick with and
more enjoyable. One study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine
found that “when paired with a more capable partner, female exercisers not only
put in more effort than those working out alone, but also pushed themselves a
staggering 208 percent longer.” I have been playing
basketball for over 50 years. When I am done running up and down the court for
an hour I am thoroughly exhausted and have to peel my sweat-soaked jersey off
of my upper body. Would I push myself this hard if I was working out alone?!
Children need from 30 to 60 minutes of vigorous,
age-appropriate, daily exercise. Team sports are an easy way for children to
meet that need.
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