Schools are meant to shape the mind, body and soul of a student. Yet, competition in academics and an increasingly rigorous demands for college education have forced some schools to replace sports arrangements with academics.
This is not a healthy sign as schools are allocating one day a year for sports activities. Let’s discuss how a regular sports routine helps students.
6 reasons to regularize sports in schools
1. Sports focuses on children’s health:
Games such as Football, Cricket, Wimbledon and even an indoor sport such as Table Tennis pack in so much of reflex that a child masters his gross motor skills by working out his/her entire body. This routine saves children from serious ailments such as arthritis (that pops up much later in life) and also boosts immunity against contagious diseases.
2. Nurtures talent:
A regular sports routine helps talented sportspersons realize their skills, work on them and even make their schools proud by winning accolades in competitions. Be it indoor or outdoor, sports involves a lot of excitement and adrenaline rush, because of which children learn to compete in a friendly manner and master their talents.
3. Sets goals :
Schools with a year-round sports schedule often organize inter-class or inter-section tournaments. This inspires sports-loving students. They train themselves throughout the year to fare well in those competitions, and in this process, also create a healthy, positive mind that responds well to academic classes.
4. Inculcates discipline:
Sports is not a one-time experience. The crucial thing about being a sports person includes a strong sense of discipline as s/he follows rules of a game to win them. Sports also build a strong, wise character in children. Schools thus beautifully provide scope for personality development.
5. Provides scope for relaxation:
Human body functions best if there is a balance between energy gain and loss. If food intake is regular and the body doesn’t get enough exercise, the digestive system goes haywire and the sleep cycle of the student is disturbed, thus leading to low productivity in and out of school. Sports help children release energy , which is then complemented with nutrition and a good sleep cycle.
6. Develops emotional strength:
Academic excellence alone doesn’t build a strong character. Lack of physical activity and a one-track approach towards academic excellence makes children irritable and depressed if they fail.
Field activities give a glimpse of the practical life to children. They learn to struggle and never lose hope for whatever they want to achieve. Failure and success in sports give them a bird’s eye view of how life can be.
The physical and psychological benefits of sports are countless. It is time that school authorities wake up to the importance of sports, and regularize and diversify sports routines throughout the year for the wellbeing of children.