It is a common belief that participation in sports affects a student's class performance negatively. A research carried out by the Brown Center on Education Policy found this belief to be false. According to the study, a student's involvement in sports does not curtail his or her performance in class. Instead, it helps the student to maintain a healthy physical body.
Athletic students might be under pressure to maintain impressive performance both in class as well as on the field. They buy essay to keep their academic performance in check. This stress is, however, counterbalanced by the benefits they enjoy from sporting activities. Many student-athletes become stressed as they struggle to sustain academic eligibility as they advance in their education. Other than these, sports have the following effects on the performance of a student.
Improves Their Communication Skills
Given that most sports involve teams, students get to develop their communication to become better team members. Communicating in a team involves both verbal and body language. Student-athletes refine these skills while playing on the field or having a casual talk in the locker room. They decipher unspoken cues and express thoughts in ways that can be understood by everyone.
One of the biggest advantages of enhanced communication skills is that students get to express their hopes, disappointments, and concerns without fear. They also learn how to request for answers and meaningful feedback without upsetting or offending another person. With this, athlete students can participate in class by asking questions and seeking clarification.
Enhances the Decision-Making Abilities of Students
When in the field, athletes have to process the prevailing circumstances and make quick yet positive decisions that will eventually contribute to a team's victory. This training teaches the athlete crucial decision-making abilities that help them both in the field and class.
Athletes often operate under intense pressure. This pressure creates an environment for the athlete is forced to face their fears. The player has to make hard decisions under intense pressure throughout the game. When the athlete student is back in class, s/he can face the pressure that arises from tight deadlines and other stressful situations.
Promotes Teamwork
Teamwork involves working together to achieve a common goal. When diverse students come together, they learn how to work in synchrony. They learn to work around their different personalities by coming up with their unique language, hierarchy, and system. They also learn patience, persistence, and adaptability.
Beyond this, team members learn to appreciate each other's strengths and weaknesses. In turn, they learn respect, how to act selflessly, how to make good choices on behalf of others, and to focus on meeting your end of the bargain.
Boost One's Self-EsteemSelf-esteem has a significant influence on the well-being of a student. Team sports teach a student:
•How to be confident
•Ways to build his or her character
•How to care
•Improving competence
•How to connect with others
All these influence the overall opinion about what a student has about him or herself.
Teams also act as a support system for the athletes. Therefore, players seek counsel whenever there is a problem and get help from friends. If an issue is too big for the players, a player can seek help from the coach. Due to the sense of community that athletes have, they will not find it difficult to share their problems with their family.
Improves Cognitive Function
Whether it is a team sport or an individual play, sports increase the brain's activity. Student-athletes are said to have enhanced levels of concentration compared to lesser active class members. Students with better fitness levels perform better in class.
Gain Self-Defense SkillsAthletes who take combat sports become good at defending themselves. The world is becoming increasingly insecure. Having self-defense skills is important when protecting what is rightfully yours. Students who participate in fighting sports learn discipline and control to keep them in check.
Because most of these sports involve one player on each side, the student-athlete has to become self-aware. He develops an enhanced analytic mind and learns how to truth him or herself. The athlete also adapts easily, becomes decisive, resilient, and consistent.
Do you belong to a sport? If not, you need to find one that suits your personality and join. There is more to gain than lose in sports. You might become the next Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods. There is no limit to what you can become. Take action and find out what you are capable of achieving.