How Does Sports Affect Our Learning?

It holds true that everyone in this world has his/her own way or learning. It could be done through visual or physical means. There also those who learn stuff through verbal processes. Nonetheless, it is important to keep in mind that as people mature, their way of learning is greatly influenced by factors such as friends, home life, and sports. The latter, in particular, has proven to greatly affect a person’s ability to learn.

The Benefits of Sports

In a recent study, it appears that about 50 percent of college students who play a sport are more active in class. Basically, playing sports can significantly reduce anxiety and depression, two elements common in everyday college life. More importantly, playing sports is not only a long-term help. That is because it can entirely help improve a student’s mood and, at the same time, restore his/her energy. For instance, he wants to find answers to homework. He will still have enough energy to propel him/her to complete his/her assignments before going to sleep.

It is worth noting that sports are not only about having emotional and mental benefits. They are proven to possess physical benefits, too, which is not entirely surprising. Among the short-term benefits of playing a sport is weight control and improved heart rate. Ultimately, it can help you sleep better at night.

Here are some of the many benefits of sports for college students.

Develop Self-Esteem

Several studies have shown that playing sports can help a student’s development of confidence and self-esteem. Gestures like a high-five from a teammate, in particular, can greatly build confidence. The same thing can be said for actions such as a pat on the back or a mere handshake. Keep in mind, too, that sports involve a great number of words of praise or encouragement. This could be acquired from coach or other players, all of whom help in building self-esteem.

This simply helps you to learn the value of trusting your own abilities. As a result, you are confident that you can push yourself beyond what you are capable of. It is important to keep in mind, though, that self-esteem is not something that should be determined based on either a win or loss. This is where constructive criticism comes in, working as a major part in helping students understand the importance of accepting their weakness and gaining the fuel to further improve.

All types of sports can help you study betterSocial Skills

Playing a sport helps you gain the ability to develop social skills. Mind you, these skills are really important especially when you get older. By playing a sport, you learn the idea of teamwork and cooperation. At the same time, you gain the knowledge to interact with individuals of different ages. With all things considered, it is safe to say that it gives you a sense of belonging and, more importantly, allows you to make friends. By having more friendship circles, you get to improve your communication skills, which, in turn, can help you in your future careers and relationships.

Accepting Defeat

In the better part of the many things you do in life, a winner and a loser are always present. By playing a sport, you can learn about sportsmanship. This is where you will understand how to accept and cope up with defeats rather than feeling completely beaten. After all, every game in life is not winnable. But through sports, you will eventually understand that losing is okay and that it is part of the cycle of life. The important thing here is that you will still have the opportunity to get back and try again. Besides, being competitive does not present any harm. What is important is that you are able to present good sportsmanship and acknowledge defeat. You definitely do not want to be around a sore loser, right? This is most especially if he/she is someone who does not pay respect to the rules.

Maintain Discipline

This is perhaps the most interesting benefit of playing sports. Remember that any sport – no matter how physically or mentally hard it can be – will always require you to maintain discipline. This discipline, however, could be anything from mental to physical to tactical. In order for you to become better in a given sport, you need to practice discipline. By not practicing self-restraint, it is almost impossible for you to succeed in any. This is where discipline becomes an important trait to learn, as it can help you achieve your goals and reach your fullest potential. In sports, there is a need for you to follow a set of rules or take orders from your coaches. You also have to accept decisions made by your superiors. Just keep in mind that good discipline is very much appreciated in sports, as penalizations are common for bad discipline.

Previous answers to this question

---

Get The Answer