Final+Research+Paper

Team Sports: The Academic and Social Benefits

Tara DeMarco November 12, 2009 Senior Seminar Day 2 Mr. Martin __Acknowledgments__ Throughout my senior seminar process, I have had a lot of help that I would like to recognize. First of all I want to thank my sister, Lauren DeMarco. She has been there for me whenever I started to struggle and needed help with ideas for my paper. Next I would like to thank my friend, Meredith Bleemer. She is an amazing person who helped me with my ideas, she helped me stay focus and she helped me by editing my paper. She has played a huge role on my senior seminar paper so far and I would not be in such a good position if it were not for her. I would also like to thank my mom, Donna DeMarco, who is my mentor. I have gone to her with all of my ideas of the project, and she has given me insight and help. She kept me on task and has been there when I started to get stressed out about my work. When my project is complete, I would like to thank all of the senior girls who are going to help me run the clinic. But more importantly, I would like to thank the people who came to make my clinic a success. Finally I would like to thank the people who have helped me so much throughout my senior seminar journey. First of all I would like to thank Dr. Valenza. She is an amazing librarian who helps me find incredible sources that helped me so much while writing my paper. My paper would be no where near as good if she did not help me find great sources I did not even know were there. Finally I would like to thank Mr. Martin. He has been there since the beginning. He helped me narrow my topic, and helped me discover what I really wanted to get across in my paper. He helped me with my thesis and every project we have had so far. Many people have helped me through my senior seminar process, but these people are the ones who made a difference and made my work as good as it can be.

Adolescence is a time of self-development and a time that can make or break self-confidence. Team sports are not only a great way for teenagers to remain physically fit. It is also a way to gain self-confidence and build their academic skills. Talking from personal experience, I know that team sports can change someone’s life. When I started high school, I was the kind of girl who was extremely shy and barely talked. I had my few close friends and I would never go out of my comfort zone. One could say I was in a shell. When I joined water polo my view on everything changed. My grades remained A’s and I was finally breaking out of my shell. I was showing my personality to the world. I have made life-long friends with water polo and swimming and it has also changed my whole high school experience. Without water polo and the friends I made, I probably would still be a shy girl who never showed her true personality. Besides the obvious physical benefits from involvement in team sports, teen-age athletes also benefit both in terms of academic and social development.

Team sports can have a major effect on academics. Students who participate in team sports overall do better in school and achieve better grades. Sports are a way students can release feelings and actions that can distract them from school work. If an athlete fails a class then they would be forced to stop sports. Sports give athletes a serious incentive to perform their best in school. Sports also teach athletes discipline and time management which is needed to succeed in school. While interviewing athletes, Gwendolyn Perry-Burney found that, “not only do team sports increase the self-confidence, but also [there is] an improvement in GPA and a desire to attend college” (Perry-Burney 25). Ann Rosewater believes that sports are a gateway to achievement in school. Students who participate in sports have better grades and improved chances of attending college. Much research shows that team sports have a history of keeping grades, “sports affect key brain functions critical to learning” (Rosewater 51). A key example of how sports can affect students positively is when Ryan Townsley created a snowboard clinic for troubled children. Townsley believes, “These programs are doing something right. The kids’ social workers and counselors report a dramatic improvement in their schoolwork and behavior. ‘It really makes a difference when people encourage you,’ explains Jasmina” another clinic member (Ogintz para 15). Team sports have many benefits -- one being academic achievement. Jordan Metzel, author of “The Benefits of Your Sports” says, “kids who participate in organized sports do better in school, have better interpersonal skills, are more team oriented, and are generally healthier” (Metzel para 7). Sports teach athletes skills needed to succeed and it gives them something to look forward to as well as something to push them to do well in school.

High school is a time where many can succumb to peer pressure. However, participation in team sports help athletes make right choices by staying away from illegal substances and learning life skills such as team work, leaderships and friendships. People who play sports are most likely to come out of it with life long friendships. Rosewater believes, “Sports help children and youth feel better connected to school, attend regularly, and connect with a more positive peer network” (Rosewater 51). Team sports have opened up life chances and opportunities for young athletes. It has allowed athletes to live a life free of drugs and it helps make lives generally better and more rounded out. Author of “Sports: get in the Game,” Alex Poinsett says, “research by educators and experts has proven that [involvement in sports] has the power to combat drug abuse, teen pregnancy, and the high school dropout rate” (Poinsett para 1). Sports also create a place where students have an adult caring about them, and a team that they have at least one thing in common with. Poinsett adds, “teens value involvement in sports because it can provide contact with caring adults, a safe haven from the streets and a reason to rise above peer pressure, a way to stay in shape, and can promote increased self-esteem” (Poinsett para 1). Sports create a place where athletes can go to not give into peer pressure and force them to make right choices.

Life skills are another result occurring from participation in team sports, “Sports build planning skills and provides the experience of failing and trying again (persistence)” this translates into greater achievement in school (Rosewater 51). Team sports help young athletes learn life skills that are important to later success in life. Athletes can learn how to play fair, “sports can also teach athletes how to deal with success and failure (Perry-Burney 18). Sports can really get young athletes prepared for life. It presents them with challenges and ideas that will most definitely come up later in life. Sports give athletes a place where they can get comfortable in unfamiliar places and it creates challenges that they will have to overcome that are similar to real life problems. It is a very good life lesson for young athletes. Sports help point athletes in the right direction and it helps them learn skills needed to succeed in the future.

One of the most important aspects about participating in team sports is the network of friends one can gain. Metzel says, “athletes develop relationships with their teammates. For boys, especially, sports are primary, and unfortunately sometime the sole way of socializing with others” (Metzel 4). Sports give the boys, as well as all athletes who do not have other ways of making friends, a chance to find someone they have common interests with. It gives them a chance to make life long friends, friends that will be there for one another. Mike Nereny is a consultant in substance abuse prevention and education who believe “multiple peer groups are always a good idea for teens” (Metzel 4). It gives teens a chance to learn about friendship, cooperation and give and take (Metzel 4). Finally, high school can be a tough time for teens. Friendship can create a lot of drama, but by being on a team, they have something one would call a refugee. Metzel adds, “having a refuge when relations go wrong with one group can alleviate a great deal of stress and offer an alternative for kids who feel uncomfortable or frightened by peers who engage in high-risk activities” (Metzel 4). Sports can create automatic friends, and help teens through a lot of problems. Having friends, and knowing to make friendships while going into high school is something very important for when kids enter the real world.

Though there are many positive benefits to participating in sports, one of the most beneficial to life and ones self is gaining self-confidence. Sports are a way for young athletes to develop, “Youth is a crucial time for the development of children’s social skills and self-esteem” (Gordon 1). People who play sports tend to display more self-confidence and have a higher moral development (Gordon 15). Instead of being upset with self images, girls are more optimistic about themselves and others, which in turn will lead to confidence. People have found that “athletes take greater pride in their physical and social selves than their sedentary peers; they are more active physically as they age; and they suffer less depression” (Metzel para 11). Girls who were asked if being on a team has affected their self-confidence in a positive say, 90% answered yes (Gordon 20). Being apart of such a close knit team really helps confidence and it allows ones true self to shine through. Speaking from experience, team members are rarely judgmental and they just want to see everyone happy and being themselves. Sports give people a chance to break out of their shell and show their real personalities. Sports seem to always have a positive role on teens. Poinsett writes “43% of girls in sports and exercise daily feel confidence and capable about their bodies. Only 17% of the girls who don’t participate in sports can say that (Poinsett para 5). Many tests have shown athletes tend to have more confidence; it is something that will continue to grow as one continues to play and practice their sport.

“The president’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports reports many development benefits of participation in youth sports for girls, including increased self-esteem and self confidence, healthier body image, significant experiences and competency and success, as well as reduced risk of chronic disease” (Metzel Para 10).

Sports have many benefits; however, confidence is one benefit that will stick with an athlete for the rest of their life. Having confidence will make going through high school and college easier. It is something that can make ones future brighter by giving them many opportunities in life. An athlete with confidence will be able to play their sports better; they will think that they are good. That kind of confidence is necessary for one to play to their full potential. Sports are 90% mental and with the right confidence, an athlete could be amazing. Self-confidence is a huge benefit that will remain with the athlete and help them through many challenges that will come ahead.

Team sports have many positive outcomes ranging from academics to self-confidence. Sports have helped students academically by giving students a place to turn to and to keep people, especially young people, out of trouble. Students who participate in sports also tend to do better in school because if they fail they will not be able to participate in that sport anymore. That also teaches teens life lessons they will need in the future. One lesson that can be taken out of involvement with sports is time management. They need to balance their lives out and learn what has to come first. Sports teach students leadership and other life lessons that they will need to know to succeed in life. Sports also can keep athletes and troubled teens away from drugs and alcohol, and will keep them healthy as life goes on. Team sports are a great way to gain friends. They also allow athletes to have a group of friends to turn to, people they can be themselves around. Friendships are something very important in life. People on the same team know that they at least have one common interest which could be the basis of a life long -friendship. One of the most important benefits that come from involvement in sports is self-confidence. Being with an accepting team allows one to be themselves and one can show their true personality. Sports have many benefits including academic success, friendships, and teenage self-confidence. Participating in sports while young will help many athletes throughout their lives with knowledge, friendships and confidence.

__ Works Cited __

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Ogintz, Eileen. "Snow Sports Programs Help Kids Build Confidence." //CNN//. Tribune Media Services, 2009. Web. 30 Sept. 2009. .

Perry-Burney, Gwendolyn D., and Baffour Kwaku Takyi. "Self Esteem, Academic Achievement, and Moral Development Among Adolescent Girls." //Journal of// //Human Behavior in the Social Environment// 5 (2002): 15-27. //EBSCO Master// //File//. Web. 22 Sept. 2009. .

Poinsett, Alex. "Sports:Get in the Game." //PBS//. Carnegie Cooperation, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2009. .

Rosewater, Ann. "Learning to Play and Playing to Learn: Organized Sports and Educational Outcome." //The Education Digest//. Prakken Publications, Inc., 30 Apr. 2009. Web. 22 Sept. 2009. .

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__ Works Consulted __ Linver, Miriam R., Jodie L. Roth, and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn. "Patterns of Adolescents' Participation in Organized Activities: Are Sports Best when Combined with Other Activities?" //Development Psychology// 45 (Mar. 2009): 354-367. //EBSCOmasterfile//. Web. 21 Sept. 2009. .

Krueger, Kristine L. "Sports Psychology: The Self-Confidence Rollercoaster." //USTA: Player Development//. United States Tennis Association, 2009. Web. 23 Sept. 2009. .