We are answering that question in this article.
Should Your Child Participate in Sports During Middle School?
Ultimately, we can’t absolutely answer that question for you, but we can help you think through the pros and cons.
Advantages of Playing Sports in Middle School
1. Educational Advantages:
The importance of physical activity in schooling has been extensively studied. There is no question about their correlation:
- Research from the University of Illinois' Beckman Institute found that exercise enhances cognitive function by promoting white matter integrity.
- Regular, intensive exercise expands the hippocampus in youngsters, according to research from Columbia University.
- Exercise lessens and offsets the negative effects of stress and anxiety. Stress reduction helps pupils study more efficiently and effectively.
2. Cognitive Advantages:
“Why are these things important? When your child is engaged in soccer practice, swim meets, basketball games, tennis tournaments, gymnastics, or whatever they play, they are doing more than just simply having fun. Your child’s active life helps their brains.” - Athletics Play An Important Role in Your Child’s Development.
At St. Paul Lutheran School, we make sure students get plenty of physical exercise. Athletic activity helps students grow stronger physically while their brains grow more ready for new information.
3. Teamwork Advantages:
Your children will need to understand they will need to cooperate more as they grow older. They'll need to develop their teamwork skills, particularly as they begin searching for employment. A fantastic method to start thinking more about collaboration is via athletics.
Together, the group rises, falls, rejoices, and mourns. Experiencing teamwork at a young age is invaluable.
4. Character Advantages:
Children learn sportsmanship and how to endure trying circumstances when they play competitive sports. It is a fundamental aspect of the game.
Their character is developed quickly when they learn how to manage setbacks like a missed shot or a poor call by the referee. Being a good citizen requires learning to be a good sport in both athletic competition and social relationships.
Students who identify as Christians understand that bad sportsmanship reflects negatively on both them and God. They are seeing firsthand how crucial it is to represent Christ honorably on the field, just as it is in everyday life.
5. Time Management Advantages:
It takes time to dedicate yourself to a sports team. Your middle schooler's growth and the team will suffer if they are not where they should be at the appropriate moment. They will feel pressure to become time management experts since they don't want to let their teammates down.
Be warned; you might find that your child starts pressuring their parents and siblings to be better managers of time as well!
Disadvantages of Playing Sports in Middle School
As with anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to playing sports in middle school. Some of the disadvantages include:
- Some middle school students might not be prepared for the strain that participating in team sports could bring.
- Time: Your middle schooler may already be overcommitted with extracurricular activities.
- Your middle schooler may have a propensity to choose athletics over academics. They could be diverted by sports from what really matters.
- Attending church shouldn't be replaced by athletics. You want to make sure your lives can accommodate sports and church before you sign up for the team.
- Your children may sustain an injury while participating in sports. That is certainly something to consider.
- It's possible that your kid doesn't like athletics or isn't very competitive. By placing too much pressure on your middle schooler to participate in sports, you run the risk of compromising your connection with them.
There are advantages that could support their growth, but there are also issues to take into account. Sending your children to a school that places a high priority on God and the gospel is one of the strongest ways to place sports in their correct perspective within your family's commitments.
When compared to other concerns like God, the church, family, and education, sports are well down the list. At St. Paul Lutheran School, we help make sure students hear about the gospel every day. Our faculty and administrators are committed to making sure they have every opportunity to grow into the adults God created them to be.
If you would like to know about how your child will grow at a school that emphasizes God above everything else, including sports, we would love to talk to you more and answer your questions. Contact St. Paul Lutheran School Today!