Essay Example on Enjoying Physical Activities: Sports and Exercise for All Ages

Introduction

Sports is interpreted as a range of physical activities that can be competitive through organized or casual teams to enhance and maintain personal physical skills and abilities (Bailey, 2016). Sports also entertain those who take part and made spectators happy when their teams win. Anyone can engage in physical activities individually without necessarily competing since a significant definition of physical activity is any movement of muscular efforts during working out through distinct exercises and systematic personal training. Studies suggest that participation in physical activities regardless of type, from walking fast to aerobics, at least three times in a week, results in a healthy mind and body (Bailey, 2016). At least eight million teens take part in sports in high school each year (Bailey, 2016). The survey for the National Federal of State High School Associations ascertains that the number of high school athletes has increased significantly in the last few decades (Bailey, 2016). With many teenagers participating in sports, it is essential to discuss the psychological benefits that athletes have bestowed upon them. One of the advantages is improved physical and mental health. While the Department of Health and Human Services has recommended a certain amount of physical activity for individuals, most teenagers do not get that amount; that is, at least 60 minutes a day of vigorous physical activity (Bailey, 2016). Regular exercises have many benefits, including overall psychological health that include; lower levels of depression, enhanced socialization, and development of a teenager's social realm. This essay focuses on outlining the mental benefits of sports in teenagers, as discussed.

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Lower Levels of Anxiety and Depression

Regular maintenance of increased physical fitness reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. Exercising regularly makes a significant distinction in depression. Research indicates how physical activities counter depressive symptoms. More studies have confirmed that exercising can be as effective as antidepressants. A survey conducted by Thelwell et al. (2018) evidenced that exercise can be compared to antidepressant medications for mild to moderate depression. Other than protection from depression, exercising regularly protects teenagers from anxiety symptoms by enabling higher levels of enthusiasm and excitement. As stated by Thelwell et al. (2018), at least 35 percent of adolescents aged 13 to 19 report moderate to high levels of depressive symptoms, while 3-9 percent are diagnosed with major depressive disorder.

Those who experience depressive disorders in teenagerhood are likely to experience these through adulthood. Studies indicate that getting involved in organized sports during adolescence is linked to lower levels of depression in adulthood (Thelwell et al., 2018). An explanation for this is that taking part in organized sports fosters psychological health through the provision of chances of connectedness and social interactions. Through the impacts of physical activity in establishing positive well-being, suicidal thoughts among adolescents can be lowered; additional protection results from the fact that physical activity facilitates integration and social support. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), sports reduces suicidal thoughts for both teenage boys and girls (Watson et al., 2011). Studies reports suicide to be the leading cause of death among adolescents in America (Watson et al., 2011). CDC advocates for reduction is suicidal cases through active participation in sports. A survey on risk behaviors identifies that frequent vigorous activity lowers levels of hopelessness, in both males and females.

Creating a Sense of Community

Organized youth sports are more than just running around. In every community, sports that are appropriately structured provide wholesome, safe, and nurturing atmospheres for teens and children. Sports instill in teenagers a sense of community where they obtain a feeling of support through associating with adults that care about their well-being, including physical and mental (Watson et al., 2011). Youth sports teams establish a community of rituals where teenagers undergoing stress get to share their encounters with stress both at school and at home. This is done through circling up for team check-ins before practices and games, to ease the transition from the school day, and to offer the provision of a way to leave out anything stressful and maintain focus on the positive aspects of the game.

Enhanced Self-Esteem

The concept of success in self-esteem elaborates that the self-esteem of an individual is the comparison between attained success and corresponding expectations. The most critical indicator of positive psychological health is the extent to which a person places value on themselves (Thelwell et al., 2018). Through playing a team sport or individual sport, a teenager develops higher levels of self-esteem based on the constant influences from other coaching staff and players and the impacts of the experience of belonging in a team. Those who practice sports often tend to evaluate their physical conditions better than those who do not and tend to have a more positive image towards their body. Teenagers that take part in sports also seem to be more optimistic about their future believing that they already have a source of income, that they will get an excellent job in a sports club and have a good and happy life. This indicates that teenagers have more confidence in their success when they take part in athletes. A study conducted by Merkel (2013) notes that through participation in sports, teenagers' views on anxiety, depression, and self-esteem are impacted positively. It is also crucial to mention that participating in sports improves confidence in peers and belief in self by making them focus on hard work to attain success.

Lifestyle Health

According to Merkel (2013), taking part in organized leisure activities is connected to healthy youth development. One of the most relevant youth development factors in adolescents is participation in sports. Most adolescents take part in at least seven forms of organized physical activity. Studies indicate that at least 25 percent of teenagers around the globe meet the criteria of lifetime psychiatric disorder (Merkel, 2013). Boys tend to have higher behavioral disorder rates, while girls experience high mood swings and anxiety disorders. Participating in physical activity during childhood or a lack of it can act as an indicator and predictor of physical activity in later life. Most individuals with mood disorder hardy participate in frequent physical exercises, while those with eating disorders take part more frequently as compared to other normal teenagers.

As stated by Thelwell et al. (2018), youth development lies in how stakeholders assess their educational settings, primarily organized youth activities that aid support of youth development for full participation in adult life. Distinct forms of youth activities offer different educational opportunities whose outcome is derived from certain form conditions of the youth activity settings, including tasks, roles, goals, and culture.

Fostering Authentic Relationship and Socialisation

Organized sports ensure that teenagers can make friends outside their usual school circles, in the neighborhood, and social networks. It reduces their time spent on the screen, and through being a part of a team, they establish meaningful bonds that tend to be more fulfilling than those found on social networks. A teenager that is having social difficulties in school can have lifting spirits after joining a team, and as anyone else who has taken part in sports can conquer, after field experiences like going out for pizza can be as memorable and relieving as the match themselves (Merkel, 2013). Also, coaches tend to foster positive associations with athletes through emphasizing attentiveness to other teammate's feelings, moods, interests, and emotions beyond their performances. As a result of sports, teenagers have been noted to develop more robust associations with their parents, with others highlighting the early morning drives to practices, road trips, and support in their highs and lows. Healthy relationships are built through excellent communication skills, and coaches portray their team's supportive behaviors and democratic leadership styles that enable them to learn athletes by reading them and reacting appropriately, which enhances their ability to speak out there problems. In club structures, interactions such as joking, having fun together, and genuine care for each other strengthen associations and development of individual relationships with different aged peers.

Obtaining Resilience

Team sports are places where young individuals get a chance to experience wins and losses, and ups and downs. It the safest place where a teenager can make a mistake and fail through missing a pitch (Fraser-Thomas & Cote, 2009). These failing processes ensure that an individual builds resilience that is a significant bounce back from the adversities and disappointments in life, and are a key to maintaining mental health that serves young players well for their entire lives. Teenagers, upon going to the field of organized sports, lay the groundwork for lifelong fitness and habits, and immense encounters that aid in protecting them against anxiety, depression and keep their minds and bodies healthier.

Getting Challenged

Teenage athletes encounter a sports structure that demand s a strong work ethic. Due to this structure of competitiveness, teenagers enhance their work ethics (Roseth et al., 2008). Strength is obtained from the volume and length of practices, early morning practices, the intensity of training techniques, and the amount of training that is needed to see improvements. Athletes are encouraged through the way coaches to demonstrate their beliefs in them, either through making them set and attain a goal, establish a particular work standard, and delivering outcomes under pressure (Roseth et al., 2008). The belief by coaches enhances a positive focus among teenage athletes, increases their enthusiasm, motivation, and confidence. Also, sports provide a unique atmosphere that is distinct from other contexts that reward discipline, commitment, and perseverance. The essence of being on time for practices and putting consistent efforts in each practice contributes to their urge and desire to attain results. Valuable, constructive feedback from coaches push teenagers towards setting higher standards.

Conclusion

Sport has a significant role in enhancing positive youth development. The essential functions of policymakers, parents, sports programs and coaches in assuring the youth in positive experiences and event is beneficial in better psychological outcomes, and development of youth attributes. In America., the popularity of youth sports continues to rise, with each family having at least one child taking part in sports. Unfortunately, the theory that provides guidance, regulations, and rules for teenage sports is established with little evidence, and even though the benefits of adolescent sports are well known, basic parameters for sports safety are hardly followed and implemented.

The perceived impacts and benefits of participating in sports among teenagers are many, and they spark from multiple domains. In addition to the physical benefits of sports and exercise, teenage athletes experience social support and acceptance in being part of a team that provides and contributes to their success in competitions, including a reduction in suicidal thoughts. Those teenagers that report reliable soci...