{"id":213,"date":"2009-08-20T21:31:49","date_gmt":"2009-08-20T21:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=213"},"modified":"2025-08-08T01:53:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T05:53:55","slug":"five-benefits-for-kids-who-participate-in-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/five-benefits-for-kids-who-participate-in-sports\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Benefits for Kids Who Participate in Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/stop-overthinking.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/stop-overthinking.jpg\" alt=\"How Athletes Can Stop Overthinking\" class=\"wp-image-9176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/stop-overthinking.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/stop-overthinking-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Benefits_of_Participating_in_Youth_Sports\"><\/span>Benefits of Participating in Youth Sports<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/five-benefits-for-kids-who-participate-in-sports\/#Benefits_of_Participating_in_Youth_Sports\" >Benefits of Participating in Youth Sports<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/five-benefits-for-kids-who-participate-in-sports\/#So_how_do_you_ensure_your_kids_get_all_these_benefits_by_staying_in_sports\" >So how do you ensure your kids get all these benefits by staying in sports?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/five-benefits-for-kids-who-participate-in-sports\/#To_help_ensure_your_kids_stay_in_sports_and_enjoy_the_many_benefits\" >To help ensure your kids stay in sports and enjoy the many benefits:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/five-benefits-for-kids-who-participate-in-sports\/#Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\" >Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/five-benefits-for-kids-who-participate-in-sports\/#Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\" >Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Research shows exactly why <strong>young athletes<\/strong> should stay in sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s the word from Paul Caccamo, the Harvard-educated executive director of Up2Us, a national coalition of community sports programs that teaches young athletes life lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cSports are more than a game; they are a set of life lessons. Kids growing up without them are really disadvantaged,\u201d<\/em> he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The statistics tell you all you need to know about the advantages of participating in athletics, says Caccamo, who received one of Harvard\u2019s most prestigious graduate awards for innovation in social-service program design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cKids who participate in sports attend school more, are more community and civic minded, get in less trouble, and tend to be more <strong>successful<\/strong> in the workplace. They have done studies from corporate leaders in the country: The number who made honor role was less than 20% but those who played sports was 70% \u2013 80%.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Young athletes<\/strong> learn to work together, acquire leadership skills, get a sense of discipline and learn communication skills, Caccamo says. <em>\u201cAll of these things are keys to success in the workplace.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"So_how_do_you_ensure_your_kids_get_all_these_benefits_by_staying_in_sports\"><\/span>So how do you ensure your kids get all these benefits by staying in sports?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To understand why children and teens stay in sports, you have to understand why they drop out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The<\/strong> <strong>Number One reason:<\/strong> They\u2019re not having any <strong>fun<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids often join sports teams to be with friends and enjoy themselves, but at some point become overwhelmed by the <strong>pressure<\/strong> and the focus on winning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"To_help_ensure_your_kids_stay_in_sports_and_enjoy_the_many_benefits\"><\/span>To help ensure your kids stay in sports and enjoy the many benefits:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be sure to separate your dreams from your child\u2019s. Sometimes parents have different ideas about what they want from their child\u2019s sports experience. These ideas can undermine their child\u2019s experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep your expectations in check. Kids often take on your expectations as their own, and if they don\u2019t achieve them, lose confidence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Help kids manage their own expectations. If a young athlete begins a basketball game expecting to score 24 points, he\u2019s likely to feel frustrated and disappointed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose coaches and teams carefully. Be sure to interview potential coaches about their philosophy. It\u2019s best, especially when children are younger, if coaches focus more on skill-building and on having fun than on winning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve got many more resources for ensuring your young athletes stay in sports and enjoy its many benefits at Kids Sports Psychology<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Our resources include e-books written for both parents and young athletes, including:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ten Ways of Thinking That Hurt Kids\u2019 Confidence (for sports kids)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Post-Game Checklist for Parents: Boosting Kids\u2019 Confidence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focus to the Max! (for sports kids)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also download audio and video programs that help you and your young athletes get the most out of taking part in youth sports. They include videos you can watch with your children and interviews with experts like Caccamo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"related-articles-on-hockey-mental-game\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\"><\/span>Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-participating-in-sports-gives-kids-an-edge-in-life\/\"><strong>How Participating in Sports Gives Kids an Edge in Life<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/why-kids-identities-shouldnt-be-all-about-sports\/\"><strong>Why Kids\u2019 Identities Shouldn\u2019t be All About Sports<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/getting-all-the-goodness-out-of-youth-sports\/\"><strong>Getting All the Goodness Out of Youth Sports<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-f49818fa-7c7a-4ee3-b5ee-66581aad2c71\">*Subscribe to\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\"><\/span><strong>Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mental-training-for-young-athletes.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6868\" style=\"width:138px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re certain that, as a parent,&nbsp;you want to help your child develop confidence and discipline in sports and life.&nbsp;And as a sports parent, you\u2019d love for your children to reach their potential in sports.&nbsp;But encouraging your child to <strong>strive for greatness without pressuring them<\/strong> can be a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get expert mental coaching with us from anywhere. Meet with us via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or phone call. With today\u2019s video technology, we are able to connect with athletes and coaches all over the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Call Us Today to Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Session.<\/strong><br><strong>Find Out How Your Athlete Can Benefit From One-on-One Mental Coaching!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Benefits of Participating in Youth Sports Research shows exactly why young athletes should stay in sports. That\u2019s the word from Paul Caccamo, the Harvard-educated executive director of Up2Us, a national coalition of community sports programs that teaches young athletes life lessons. \u201cSports are more than a game; they are a &#8230; <a title=\"Five Benefits for Kids Who Participate in Sports\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/five-benefits-for-kids-who-participate-in-sports\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Five Benefits for Kids Who Participate in Sports\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9177,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,18,6],"tags":[403,253,255,260,117],"class_list":["post-213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-dropouts","category-young-athletes-pressure","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-keeping-kids-in-sports","tag-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-sports-dropouts","tag-young-athletes-pressure","tag-youth-sports-psychology","resize-featured-image"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}