Sports Can Boost Confidence in Academics, Too

Many parents wonder whether or not the time and commitment to a sport are worth it in the long run. Stereotypes from generations past depict people who devoted themselves to athletics as having below-average intelligence. However, as with most things in Hollywood, it could not be further from the truth.

Sports Encourage Dedication and Self-Motivation

As an unconscious bi-product of playing a sport, children learn to push their limits in more life areas. This includes their performance in the classroom. Sports teach your child that just because they are not good at something now does not mean they will not be good at it later. Therefore, we practice. The more you practice, the better you get. As they see the progress in their athletic performance increase, they become motivated to improve other aspects of their life that they feel they are struggling in.

The more a child begins to believe in themselves, by seeing the progression in their abilities due to repeated practice, the more they are willing to push themselves forward. This includes interacting with other students and being a more active part of the classroom’s social environment. This also leads to a decrease in bullying, which is something that is another stereotype thrust on sports athletes, which is not as accurate as people think.

The Proof Is in The Pudding

Most students who struggle in school having problems paying attention and concentration. Sports help hone a child’s ability to concentrate and pay attention in an exciting way that bleeds over into their daily academics. The better they can focus, the easier it is to study or absorb new concepts in school.

Sports participation also promotes cognitive development. This makes it easier for children to think, remember, problem-solve, reason, and even read. The increased blood flow to the brain, due to regular sports participation, provides increased levels of various growth factors and endorphins and norepinephrine, which all can help with the creation of new nerve cells and help in supporting synaptic plasticity.

If you want to learn more about your child’s athletic programs and how they can benefit your child, contact the Schaumburg Seminoles today! We’re happy to answer all of your questions!