CATCH-UP FRIDAYS

January 12, 2024

BEYOND PHYSICAL FITNESS:

THE BENEFITS OF PLAYING TEAM SPORTS
TEAM SPORTS have many benefits and have a positive impact on the body, mind, and spirit. When you
consider the benefits of team sports, the chances are your first thoughts will have to do with the physical fitness
benefits.
While it’s true that regular physical activity is essential in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, research has also
shown that participating in exercise and team sports may positively affect your mental, social, and spiritual health,
alongside the body.
As cited by Edutopia, “team sports are said to bolster the five C’s: competence, confidence, connections,
character, and caring. At the heart of this is self-esteem – an increased sense of self as a result of better social
interactions, stronger relationships, and higher academic performance.”

BENEFITS OF TEAM SPORTS

The following list includes team sport benefits, as well as advantages of incorporating regular physical
activity and fitness into your daily schedule. Whether you are in elementary school, middle school, high school or
college, these benefits will help you live more fully.

Spiritual Health – Create a spiritual path and sense of purpose

Establish Values – Put your core values and principles into practice
Personal Growth – Keep learning, developing, and growing as a person
Lower Stress – Create more calm in your life and lower your stress
Academic Performance – Improve your focus and grades
Achieve More in Life – Set goals, aim high, and feel more confident
Leadership Skills – Learn how to lead as well as work within a team
Social development – Expand your circle of friends and build bonds
Mentorship – Receive mentorship from coaches and teammates
Health Benefits – Improve your overall long-term health and fitness

If you’re interested in how this all plays out in team sports in high school, you may be interested in checking out
this all-boys school for grades 7-12 in Carlsbad (San Diego County), California. This is a private college prep school
located on a historic beachfront campus, where athletics is integral to academic excellence, leadership, and character
development.

TEAM SPORTS BUILD SPIRITUAL HEALTH

Curious about how team sports tie in with spiritual health? For a burst of relaxation and happiness, few things
are more effective than exercise.
Team sports help you lower your stress level and stimulate a positive outlook and improve your overall
spiritual health and feeling of well-being.
In an article by The Sport Journal, they speak to the spiritual aspects of connecting to self, others, and a higher
purpose that can stem from participation in team sports.
On a scientific note, physical activity actually stimulates chemicals in the brain that help you feel happier and
more relaxed. Regular fitness activities, exercise and playing team sports reduces the levels of cortisol and adrenaline
in your body. This in turn, stimulates the production of endorphins and leads you to feel more “centered” as a person.

1) Incorporate spirituality and purpose into your life

2) Connect with nature by being outdoors
3) Learn how to “get outside yourself” and work within a team
4) Practice respect, integrity, compassion, and gratitude
5) Gain self-acceptance and push your full potential
6) Team Sports and Academic Performance
Want to improve your grades? Studies frequently demonstrate the positive impact that playing a team sport can
have on academic achievement.
 Research conducted by various fitness institutes indicates that physical exercise leads to enhanced creativity,
better memory, and concentration, and even maximized problem-solving skills. This set of cognitive benefits
contributes significantly to strong academic performance, all real advantages of playing team sports.

Students who play team sports often experience these benefits:

Learn how to focus and be self-disciplined

Know how to seek support and mentorship
More likely to graduate high school with higher grades
More likely to go to college and graduate school
Develop a passion for learning and improving
Team Sports Build Strong Individuals

Interested in becoming a stronger person? Almost every study reveals benefits in competence, character,
confidence, and other critical components of positive personal growth and development.
Because of this, it’s clear that the various facets of playing team sports, from the discipline of training to the
balance provided by teamwork, provides a foundation for character development and core competencies.

a) Develop confidence and motivation

b) Develop resilience and discipline
c) Practice accountability and personal responsibility
d) Increase tenacity, perseverance and resilience
e) Set goals and achieve them

TEAM SPORTS CREATE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

Interested in making new friends or expanding your social circle? Team sport advantages include: increased
opportunities for social interactions and the development of strong friendships centered around common goals.
Playing a sport as part of a team requires persistence, patience, and practice with yourself and others. Working
within a team can help you improve your communication skills and much more.

Expand your circle of friends

Learn valuable leadership skills
Play a vital role on a team
Enjoy fun, laughter, and camaraderie
Create a context for social interactions

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