Sports and American Youth - Case Study Example

Sports and American Youth Introduction Participation in sports is a major feature of daily living for children and adolescent of many countries of the world. Likewise sports offerings and values attached to sports vary with cultural context. Sports are a primary source of physical activity for many children and youth, and are an arena in which personal and interpersonal values and behaviors are developed and nurtured. Sports can be formal or informal one. Informal or “pick up” sports are neighborhood competition organized by and for the children. Formal sports for youth, on the other hand, are organized which implies the presence of coach and regular practices and competitions during the course of a season. In America baseball and foot ball are the common sports. However the positive effect of football on American youth is worth mentioning. Football has become a major feature in the daily lives of youth in the United States. Objective of the football is to emphasizes the enjoyment, well being .fitness and health of the participants. More recently, youth sports are being heralded as a potential important means to combat the worldwide epidemic of childhood overweight and obesity through the provision of regular physical activity. The involvement in sports improves the motor skills and sport specific skills in American youth. Youth who are regularly active, including those in sports programs, tend to have higher level of aerobic fitness compared to less active youth. Many youth today prefer to play soccer. Soccer has gained popularity in the United States over the past two decades. Soccer is appealing because it is a simple and active game which is easy to comprehend. The Advantages of football on America youth The main objective of the football is to provide opportunities for all the youths to participate in sports in a wholesome character building environment as they made transition from childhood to adulthood. The concept of character development was always associated with football. Sports like football can promote a setting where youth can develop good character traits such as positive attitudes about competition, sportsmanship, authority and discipline. Football also helps in minimizing the idle times of youth. The youth learns to co-operate when they participate in sports like football and baseball. It provide opportunities for physical – affective learning, including learning to understand and express emotions, imagination and appreciation for what the body can do. They develop speed, endurance, strength, flexibility, agility and co-ordination. The youth develop leadership skills, sportsmanship, initiative, health and strong identities. American youth get a chance to develop self reliance and emotional stability by learning to make decision and accept responsiblities.Their motor competencies are developed and as well as their physical fitness. Many American youth indulge in playing video games sitting on a comfortable couch indoors and when they involve in sports like football their physical fitness get increased. Football provides a pleasurable experience for the American youth and realizes their skill and abilities. In addition youths who played football have an increased attachment to the school, school values and communities.According to (Bass)“Whichever sports these children choose, youth sports can be crucial to a child's development, including their social and academic development and overall success in life”. Especially in American youth sports has a great impact as it curb obesity and inactivity prevalent among them. Football and its effect on American youth Football has been part of American culture for over a century now. Studies have shown the positive effect of sports on several aspects of youth’s psychological and social development such as boosting students’ self concepts, reducing delinquency and discipline problems and diminishing the chances of teen pregnancy in female athletes. High school sports promote close ties between athletes and school, brings parents of athletes in to close contact, and create dense social networks around youngsters. The other effect of sports like foot ball on youth is as follows. i) Maturation and growth effects Football is a game which needs extensive physical activity and regular training involved in this game helps to increase the growth and maturation of young people. Football demands a variety of physical performances and this enables proper stability to the different parts of the body of participants. It is observed that male athletes participating in football are seems to be advanced in biological maturation. The systematic exercise involved in football increases the growth, particularly the height of male athletes. ii) Regular exercise gives way to enhanced fitness Regular exercise increase fitness by reducing body fat and weight, makes the heart and lungs more efficient, improves posture and muscle tone, reduces the risk of heart diseases, reduce stress and makes a person healthy. Football is a game which gives fitness in three areas mainly; stamina, muscle fitness and flexibility as it involve wide range of physical activities daily. iii) Self worth and self concept effects The success in sports like football can increase feeling of confidence, self – esteem, pride and satisfaction in young people. The American youth participating in sports are shown to have higher sense of self worth than who do not participate in sports. As per(Volwein 97)” Boys and girls who believed that they were physically competent in sport were rated as having higher physical competency by their teacher, were popular with their peers and were competent in social relationships”. iv) Social Competence Sports helps children to enhance self esteem and this is a very important social competence, as it provides the prerequisites to judge oneself, one’s self worth as well as one’s believe to be capable , significant, successful and worthy. Sports become a logical testing ground for levels of personal competence once children move away from home environement, in part because of its value in the society. In sports children get an opportunity to compare their ability with others and can use this social comparison as a way to upgrade their skill and abilities. v) Moral development Research in the field of football shows that the moral atmosphere of the team and the motivational climate created by the coach play an important role on an athlete’s moral functioning. Football, then, does not automatically teach moral behavior and character in young people; football coaches and the culture they and the parents of participants create do. When the players play the game by following the rules of the game then their morality increases. Football and team work The team building process in a football team is particularly comprehensive because of the complexity of the world’s most popular sport. There is no other team sport in which the demands placed on individual qualities of players can be as decisive as in the game of foot ball. The player must be able to choose quickly the most team efficient solution out of many possible solutions. In football the, ball is played with feet and this makes the team tactical building process even more complicated the in games played with sports. Football is a game in which team work is utmost essential and youth playing this game built a quality of team working in them. The co-ordination, co -operation and team spirit among the players in football is incomparable with any other sport. Team work is a very important quality to be imbibed by American youth as it allows them to be successful in future life. In career and life team work and co- ordination can help the youth to go extra mile. Society is something comprised of many people and we as human beings need to have the ability to work in co –operation with others. Team work also allows that youth to enhance the quality of sacrifice and understanding. Everybody in a football team should have knowledge about their responsibilities and tasks and the role each player needs to perform in order to be an effective team player. Football builds discipline and friendship among youth In my experience foot ball teaches discipline and instills self – discipline in you. When I was a football player in my school years, I had to get up early morning to attend the routine physical training. This brought about a strict regime in my daily life of getting up early in the morning and starting my day. It takes off the lazy feeling in young generation and teaches them the value of time. Discipline is a very essential quality needed in young people as it allows them to restrict their actions and turn their life into more productive deeds. Football taught me self sacrifice, devotion and discipline and the ability to do the right thing at the proper moment. American youth needs discipline as they lead significantly free life which can spoil their future if not controlled. In football undesirable behavior of the football players are kept in control. By discipline positive qualities of the youth are reinforced which can built up their personality.In his book (Galat 36)writes that,“Discipline is a connective way to help athletes improve now and in the future”, I remember when we break rules or misbehave we are punished for the same. Football activates the social life of youth as they to interact with them on daily basis. It invoked friendship among team members who are college mates or class mates. When I used to be a football player I managed to form deep rooted friendship with my team mates and it was an invaluable experience. Football is a good source of entertainment for youth Football is fastest growing sport for youth in America. It is not only allows entertaining as a player but also as a spectator. When I used to play football, life was so thrilling and exciting. The coaching period of football is very informative and involving as we learn different techniques of the game in it. It was an amazing experience to join my college mates in physical training and understanding their faults and mine and learning with them. In the morning freshness, the amount of energy and pleasure the foot ball training gives is incomparable with anything else. Our coach had been exceptionally helpful in training us and also was a good friend. It is when we play together we realize the bond we have for each other and the amount of effort we need to put for our team win. We understand each other’s strength and weaknesses and play accordingly. This gives an unknown pleasure to me and entertain me enormously. It is a known fact; football is the most entertaining game in the world. The beauty of soccer is in its simplicity. According to (Nolan)“You don't have to be a professional athlete to play soccer. You can still enjoy playing the game regardless of how athletic you are”. Being outdoors always has been great when it is about playing football. I have never been bored anytime when I was a foot player. It gave me so much energy the whole day that I never felt lethargic or ill. The youth of America is also extremely interested in watching football as an entertainment as it is a thrilling game. Conclusion Foot ball is the most famous sport among all the youth of the world and In America it is next to baseball. Still football is abundantly played by American teenagers in school and in neighborhood. Playing football significantly affect the physiological and psychological development of American youth. American youth is basically known for their dull lifestyle and a sport like football which is energetic and active can bring considerable change in their life style. Young people achieve stimulation and positive experience while indulging in football. It helps them to develop and grow in a pleasure giving environment. But it would be suggestive for the American government to promote the football more extensively among American youth so that young people indulge in it more. The school authorities should make sure that Football programmers are introduced and made compulsory for students as it can change their lives. The youth should be given chance to explore football and know its positive effects. By engaging them in football they will cultivate a habit of being physically active and disciplined. In the website (Neill)mentions that “Playing in a football team can help men feel more confident and enthusiastic about their lives, according to researchers”. The excitement of the game does not allow the people playing realize that they are getting an excellent workout”. They can integrate sports with their lifestyle and be more active and spontaneous. The social communication of the youth also gets enhanced as they will extend friendship among their teammates. Their self esteem, self confidence and mental capacity get improved which will enhance their overall personality. References Bass, Alan. "How Do Sports Affect America's Youth?." Livestrong. Demand Media, Apr. 2010. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. . Galat, Joe. Coachin youth football –. 5th ed.,th ed. Chamapagne: Human Kinetics, 2010. 36. Print. Nolan, Jay. "Understanding why soccer is so popular around the world." Helium. Helium, 2002. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. < http://www.helium.com/items/955297-understanding-why-soccer-is-so-popular-around-the-world/print>. Neill, Helen. "Football is 'good for men's mental health' ." BBC. BBC, Mar. 2008. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. . Volkwein, Karin A. Culture,sport and physical activity. 2ndnd ed. Vol. 5. Germany: Meyer & Meyer Verlag, 2004. 97.Print. Read More