With the power to bring people from different walks of life together, there’s no denying sports can be a significant force for good.
Whether you participate directly in an activity or are part of a fandom, there are many benefits to having some kind of sport in your life. Here are four of them.
1. Keeps you fit
This is the most obvious link: playing sports is a great way to keep up your physical fitness!
Given that people are advised to be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day, activities such as football, basketball or tennis can help you work up a sweat and reach your workout goals quickly.
Of course, it doesn’t necessarily have to be vigorous: options such as group walking or golf are great for those who are not quite as sprightly.
2. Provides community
Both playing and watching sport connects you with like-minded folks. Whether it’s a shared passion for a particular sport or a specific team, you can make friends for life by getting out and about and following the games you love.
This sense of community now extends to online spaces as well, with fan message boards, e-tournaments and social media offering great ways to join conversations you are passionate about.
3. Adds routine
Consistent routines are great for preserving and improving one’s mental health. If you’re on a sports team, you would have regular practices and games to get to.
Meanwhile, supporting a club or team gives you a place to be at a certain time, where you’ll be doing something you enjoy and reaping the vast social and mental benefits it brings.
4. Helps children’s development
Sport is a great way for young ones to socialise, learn technical skills, and develop key personality traits such as discipline, resilience, and confidence.
A child who struggles in school may become a star athlete, while contextualising academic subjects in a sporting sense – for example, by using sport metaphors – can aid with learning.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg and host of ‘The DRH Show’. Connect with him on Twitter @dennisr_howell.