Netball, Hockey, Rowing and Running are all common sports which many young people play. This can either be during Physical Education lessons at school, or in their own time, out of school hours, but why do schools encourage children to take part in more sport activities?

It is said that sports are essential for children as they help them better their mental wellbeing. They decrease stress levels while having huge positive impacts to a child’s education. Many sports teach children team building skills and are a way in which friendships are made. As well as this, sports help children concentrate much better at school which leads to a better understanding of subjects and what teachers are teaching. This allows a child to be more engaged during lessons which means that they are more likely to achieve higher grades overall. Another benefit sports have on a child’s education is that they allow for children to sleep better, therefore increasing productivity levels and ensuring that children are working to their best ability at school. 

As well as this, playing sports increases physical fitness. When children regularly play a sport, it helps them build stamina and improves their physical ability as well as their health. 

Additionally, sports create the habit of getting into good competition, for example matches. The advantage of these are that if a match is lost, children are able to understand that sometimes it is alright to lose and this helps them learn from mistakes. Also, when a child wins a match, they feel proud of the effort they have put into the sport which therefore gives them happiness. 

When interviewing a Surbiton High School student who plays netball for two hours a week and has a two hour long physical education lesson, she told me about how she enjoys being part of a team and working together to try and win a game. She also told me that she felt sports made her feel more determined at school to try her hardest and put in lots of effort.