THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF SPORTS


Involvement in sports is an integral part of child development and teaches youth to lead active, healthy lives while developing many of the fundamental skills necessary for a child to succeed.

The positive benefits of sport are clear and well established. Participation in sport results in clear benefits to both youth and the broader community. For youth, this includes increased health, improved self-confidence and the development of leadership skills. For the community, participation in sport has a positive effect on reducing the involvement and exposure youths may have to violence and unethical activity.

For example. a Sport Canada survey of 1005 Canadian youth, aged 12 to 21, found that their involvement in sports:

• Improved their health;
• Helped them make friends;
• Improved their feelings about themselves;
• Helped them succeed at school; and
• Helped them become more active with their family.