Importance of Sports In Education 

This blog task is assigned by Dr. Vaidehi Hariyani Ma'am.

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Introduction

When we talk about a student, an image of a child with a heavy school bag with lots of books immediately pops into our minds. However, many believe that a school's environment shouldn’t be just confined to academics. Since only reading or studying makes children bookworm, many other activities have a vital role in the holistic development of a student, such as sports or games, etc.

But some people, or let’s say some parents, are still struggling with the importance of sports in student's life. They often doubt, “What makes sports a worthy investment for students other than education?” Though studies are important, we can’t deny that sports help in the overall development and growth of a child.

The information in this blog will surely make you think about the value of sports in student's life and regularly inculcate them in your child’s overall routine. So, let’s check out how games and sports are going to have a major role in Education.

For ages, sports have been viewed as a way to stay healthy and fit, but it goes beyond that. Today, sports are essential for student's overall growth and development. Playing various sports helps them teach life skills such as teamwork, leadership, accountability, patience, and self-confidence and prepares them to face life challenges.

Students get a chance to work on their physical and mental abilities to achieve goals in their life. We can realise the importance of sports in our daily life through a variety of national and international sports events organised all over the world where different players represent their countries and showcase their sporting capabilities.

According to Sivaram Shanthi, It helps us develop skills like planning, devising strategies and time management. Team spirit and decision making are the other important skills we learn while playing sports. We are constantly deciding and managing challenges while on a game. This helps us stay alert and active. These skills are very important and will help us live confidently , as we grow up.

Additionally, the learning of a student starts from the primary level and sports help students develop a strong mental and physical foundation from an early age. Given below are the reasons why sports and games are crucial in a student’s life, in addition to their academic development.

Health/Physiological Benefits of Playing Sports

The physical benefits of playing sports are countless for students. Several physical activities can play a vital role in leading a happy and healthy life; they are as follows:

Overall Fitness:

Indulging in sports can help students prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, depression, anxiety, and stress, and develop a healthy heart, improve bone density, and lung functionality. It helps lower blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels as well as uplifts mood, improves muscle strength, reduces the risk of obesity, and boosts energy levels.

Improvement of Health:

According to Golam Muktadir, Outdoor sports are great for kids and can help with your fitness. Regular exercise can help you build a strong heart, bones and lung function. It also helps prevent chronic diseases. Sport can help with diabetes management, weight loss, blood circulation and stress reduction. The combination of cerebral and physical development allows for the strengthening and toning of bones and muscles through sports.

Healthy and Fit Body:

To answer “why is sports important for students?” We can say that it helps develop healthy eating habits and prevent obesity. Children involved in sports typically consume more fruits and vegetables and cut off junk/fast foods. Additionally, it makes your body sweat and burn calories that help you maintain a strong and healthy body.

Mental Discipline:

According to Important India, Sports need mental discipline like focus and concentration which are very necessary for academic education as well. If one wants to excel in something one needs to be dedicated in order to pursue an activity or a goal. Sports teach you the right attitude of dedication if one does have interest in some form of sport.

Prevent Diseases:

Indulging in sports is a great way to avoid communicable and non-communicable diseases. Sports activities have been found to have various cardiovascular benefits, including decreased blood pressure and improved cardiovascular fitness. It has a positive effect on sleep quality.

Reduces Stress:

According to Gupta Manasvi, Researches show that people who are more into sports are more likely to experience higher levels of happiness compared to those who aren’t. Aerobic activities such as running or cycling reduce stress and the risk of mental disorders such as depression.

Hormonal Benefits:

The role of sports in student's life can be seen in the form of endorphins, i.e. the brain's natural “feel good” chemicals or hormones your body releases when it feels pain or stress. They are relaxed with exercises or sports activities. When you exercise, your body releases dopamine and serotonin which make you feel good.

Social and Personality Benefits of Playing Sports

The value of games and sports isn’t limited to physical benefits; rather, it also contributes to one’s social and personality development. Here is how:

Improves Teamwork and Cooperation:

According to School Connects, Sports competitions and matches needs a very good coordination, teamwork and cooperation. These skills will help students when they grow up as tomorrow’s individuals. In addition to participating in individuals sports, team sports improves their role as a team player which helps them a lot when it comes to group projects both in academics and future career.

Enhanced Social Relationships:

The students who are actively engaged in sports tend to develop a strong bond with other students. This is because they have to work as a team which teaches them to enhance social relationships as well as leadership skills for goal setting and character building. It helps them improve their self-esteem, social interaction, and a more positive outlook on life.

Develops Life Skills:

According to Gupta Manasvi, Playing sports not only helps in developing physical and mental health, but it also develops the life skills of a student. Sports activities teach students ethics, values, discipline, and a sense of mutual trust. The sportsman's spirit helps them deal with various phases of life gracefully as well as avoid evils such as drugs and suicide. This signifies the importance of sports in student's life.

Time Management and Discipline -

If a student plays a sport, they must stick to a particular timeline to perform the task following the set of rules &and regulations of the game. They need to be patient, cautious, and frequent in their efforts. It ultimately helps students improve their time-management skills in different fields of life.

Develop Better Values:

Skills like patience, teamwork, leadership, discipline, learning from failure, etc., are developed when students are indulged in any type of sport. These skills are equally important when it comes to study and management. They nurture mutual respect, honesty, dedication and gesture of appreciation, etc.

Conclusion

Academic studies and athletic capabilities are associated with each other. They work like the two sides of the same coin. Along with theory sessions, sports also have a significant role in education. It leads to the overall formation of an individual’s personality and contributes to their holistic development. The educational benefits of sports are countless and aren’t limited to physical.

● Citation

1.) “Essay on Importance of Sports in Education.” Important India. 2018

2.) Gupta, Manasvi. “Reason Why Sports are Important in a Student's Life.” Vedantu. 2022

3.) Golam, Muktadir. “What are the Benefits and Importance of Sports in Education?” Ihtusa. 2022

4.) “Importance of sports in education.” School Connects. 1970

5.) Sivaram, Shanthi. “Importance of sports in student's life.” Ekyaschools. 2019

 Thank You!