A study conducted by the British Journal of Sports Medicine has addressed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth sports. The research claims that the significant drop in physical activity during the lockdown led to increased anxiety and depression levels, particularly among youth athletes. Keeping this in mind, the importance of sports within youth can never be underestimated, especially considering the effects it has on the physical as well as mental well-being of young children.
Even after the lockdown has been lifted, many youth athletes are finding that they have forgotten fundamental skills and require skill training. This is where A4H comes in, offering carefully curated programs that can get youth up and playing in no time! Programs like the ones offered by A4H are essential because they address the importance of supporting wellness and athleticism in youth post-pandemic.
Let’s discuss this in greater detail, highlighting the many benefits of your child engaging in team-based sports, along with some great winter sport programs for you to enroll your child in.
Benefits of Engaging in Team Sports
· Teamwork
Even though there are many advantages to signing your little one up for team sports, teamwork is the most obvious yet the most essential benefit of your child actively taking part in such a sport. Working together and collaborating with fellow teammates is not only a skill that will come in handy during sports, but it is a vital skill that will help them in other walks of life.
Teamwork is an important aspect of sports, and these physical activities will encourage youth to work with each other to reach a common goal with much more efficiency. Being a part of a squad made up of several unique players who come from different backgrounds and working with them will result in social growth, molding them into young athletes who can adapt to varying scenarios and lean on their teammates to bring out the best in them.
Being a part of a team, you will understand that you are not in this alone, but there are others who are dependent on your performance and the decisions you make while in a match, teaching you about individual as well as group responsibility.
Not just on the court, but playing as a team also nurtures qualities within the youth that go far beyond sports, such as having respect for others and becoming more selfless, keeping the greater good in mind.
· Bolster Your Self-Esteem
When playing with a team, there might be times when you make decisions that get you a win, building up your confidence and self-esteem as you begin to bring out the best in yourself as well as your teammates.
Many coaches and other experts exclaim that youth participation in team sports is an incredibly effective way to develop the five Cs:
- Character
- Care for others
- Confidence
- Competency
- Connections
Many interactions and other aspects are residing within team sports activities that would allow you to build up your self-esteem along with other qualities mentioned above, further adding to the importance of the youth participating in team sports.
Other than personal development, another great plus point that comes out of this is that you eventually become part of a community. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals provides youth with a sense of community.
They begin to bond with their squad mates, leading to them becoming a part of their daily life rather than simply being a part of their team. Slowly but surely, teammates start to feel like an extension of their family, resulting in the development of high social support from their comrades.
All of this leads to a boost in a child’s self-esteem, with the coaches and their teammates creating the perfect environment for the youth to thrive in.
· Time Management
When a part of a team sport, a child is essentially balancing their academics and social life with sports, and while it may sound pressuring for the young athlete, there is a silver lining to this.
Every sport requires practice and commitment to get results and progress as an athlete, especially during your youth. Training is just one part of committing to a team sport, and there are many other aspects such as meetings, exercising, and tournaments that need to be catered to as well.
This may seem almost unfair for youth athletes at first, but it assists them in improving their time management skills to juggle all of this with other sections of their lives as well. As time goes by, child athletes start getting into the groove of things, making a schedule for themselves, and polishing their time management skills.
A4H: Offering You the Best of the Best
There are many sports programs and summer camps out there, so what makes A4H different from all the others? One of the best things about A4H is that they cater to youth of all skill levels.
Facilitated in secure schools in Brampton and coached by top-notch experts, A4H has many different youth programs like the 3 on 3 League, Basketball Skill Development, All Girls Program as well as different wellness programs, which make it the best of the best out there!
Conclusion
Even though the pandemic had a devastating impact on the economy, it had an equally negative impact on the youth as well. Being disrupted from their daily schedule with no physical activity, their physical as well as mental health took a drastic nosedive during that time.
However, now that the lockdown has been lifted, it is time to get the youth back on track, and having them participate in team sports is the best way for them to recover their skills and get back in shape, and A4H is the best place for them to do so. So, what are you waiting for? Register now!