SPORTS AS AN AVENUE FOR FOSTERING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
SPORTS AS AN AVENUE FOR FOSTERING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Every human society is always concerned about the gradual development of its youth. This is because the youths are at a very sensitive period of their lives. This is the time before a child becomes an adult. Thus, the youths need a lot of guidance. Owing to their young state, they are filled with a lot of energy which should be appropriately channelled in order to avoid the chaos which might erupt if negatively channelled.
Often times, governments and well-meaning individuals organize programs (ranging from talent hunt to skill acquisition) aimed at the development of the youths in order to ensure their advancement in today's technological and highly competitive world. For this to be fully realized, sports as an important avenue should not be neglected. This essay aims to espouse the role that sports plays in fostering youth development.
Sports refers to any activity that can be done for pleasure which requires physical effort or skill and is usually done in a special area and according to fixed rules. e. g. football, basketball, tennis etc. Since sports requires physical effort, it stands to reason that most sportsmen and women are unarguably young people who possess the right amount of required energy.
Apart from its entertaining role, sporting activities can be very challenging and taxing. It demands strict adherence to fixed rules which often attracts penalties when violated. Thus, for one to be a great sportsman, one must have a measure of self-discipline. Only when discipline of the self is attained can one be able to obey other rules effectively. Sports, therefore, creates an avenue for the youths to have self-discipline and effectively obey societal laws.
Sports provides employment opportunity for the youths. This helps to keep them fully occupied as they are always busy training for their upcoming games. This occupation of their time and minds helps check against negative tendencies which normally arise when youths are idle and frustrated. As with every employment opportunity, sports creates an avenue whereby the youths can legally earn their money without recourse to evil acts like kidnapping, theft, armed robbery, arson, pilfering etc. Through the positive rewards of cash prizes and education grants when a sportsman or woman performs exceptionally well, the youths are positively motivated and have their sights on greater things.
Sports also exposes great sportsmen and women to the outside world. Through national and international competitions, they are opportune to meet and interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Through their interactions, they are in a better position to understand why people behave and act differently. This kind of exposure helps them build on their tolerance levels. Through exposures like this, they are able to measure themselves against their foreign counterparts whether they meet up with their mates in terms of education, eloquence etc. For a great sportsman who feels that his strength is enough to cut it in today's challenging world, he suddenly gets a re-think when he sees other sportsmen embarking on self-development programs. Thus, he is positively influenced.
In the spirit of sportsmanship, healthy rivalry amongst youths is ensured. Competing against a particular team helps foster unity amongst teams and teammates. Erstwhile warring communities whose youths would have been on violent paths are spared the pains of internecine struggles as their youths meet on a friendly face-off on the sports field or sports ground.
The value of teamwork is also permanently ingrained in their minds. Having to work with their team-mates in order to ensure success prepares them for leadership positions in life. They tend to understand that the survival of every team involves the working together of its cohesive parts.
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