In 2003, it was reported that 57% of high school students participated in at least one team sport. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, this percentage has been increasing over the last two decades, leading to the nationwide expansion of high school athletic programs. Sports such as basketball, football, and baseball help children to learn and enhance on certain life skills. Being apart* a part of any sports team takes hard work and requires vast amounts of discipline. A big benefit of playing sports is that you gain a number of skills that can help you become successful in your future. Participation in sports helps teens gain social skills and increase self-confidence.The involvement in sports is an excellent way to help teens sharpen their social skills. There are all kinds of issues teens suffer from that stem from a lack of social skills such as stage fright, social awkwardness, and lack of effective communication. When Pplaying sports is concerned, it can cause these kids who are shy to break out of their shell and become more interactive with people in social situations. This all ties into communication which is an important skill, because having a way to effectively communicate can either help or hurt you later in life. These skills help teens interact with each other and this benefits their social life. Therefore, evoking the athletes to …show more content…
According to Dr. Catherine Sabiston it’s been proven that the earlier on a child starts playing a sport, or participating in physical activity, the better it is for their overall mental health and they become less likely to show symptoms of depression as an adult. There was also a study conducted at D’Youville College in 2005 that proved that the involvement in sports minimized the risks of suicide or drug abuse amongst teens. Research has shown that playing sports can really benefit teens because during times of “hormonal changes” and “challenging social relationships”, and that being on a sports team will help you gain some needed stability in your life. indentSports and activities give teens an identity and empowerment which helps them establish leadership, teamwork, and self-governance skills. Sports occupy teens time with something positive and beneficial to their future. Communities with high counts of youth participation in sports have reported seeing a lower incidence of crime, which leads to a 71% decrease in youth arrest. Due to teens involvement with sports and after school activities, crime rate is