The benefits of sports for young children and adolescents are numerous, and research has shown that the advantages go beyond physical fitness. Improved cognitive skills, mental well-being, and better attention span are some of the other benefits. Moreover, studies show that fitter individuals score better on attention span, and exhibit higher academic performance.
On the other hand, as per World Health Organisation (WHO), physical inactivity is one of the major factors for non-communicable disease mortality. WHO also says, regular physical activity is related to improved physical fitness, motor and cognitive outcomes, bone health, and mental health in children and adolescents.
Advantages of sports for students
Therefore, it won’t be far-fetched to say that in this whirlwind world of academic rigour, digital and social distractions, sports emerges as a strong antidote for students both primary school students, and secondary school students. Studies also show that children who play organised sports from an early age are more likely to remain active in their teenage and adulthood years.
Sports excellence boosts self-esteem, leads to fewer behavioural problems, improves focus, better information processing and retrieval. Physical activity and exertion leads to short-term relaxation, better mood, enhanced creativity and problem solving skills.
Students of all ages benefit from the opportunity to play sports in school. As they get engaged in sporting activities, they see many benefits, including:
● A taste of leadership
● A sense of camaraderie
● Resilience and character building
●Motivation to continuously improve
Let’s explore more on how participation in sports can provide students with the winning edge.
Physical health
The most tangible benefit of sports is improved physical health. Regular participation in physical activities helps students maintain a healthy body, build strong muscles and bones, and enhance cardiovascular fitness.
Sports also reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as obesity among children and adolescents. A physically active lifestyle helps lay a foundation for long-term health and well-being, encouraging students to adopt healthy habits that can last a lifetime.
Academic performance
Contrary to the belief that sports might distract students from academics, research shows those who participate in sports often perform better academically. The time management skills learned through balancing practice sessions, competitions, and schoolwork contribute to better organisational skills.
Additionally, the goal-setting and perseverance inherent in sports translate to a more disciplined approach to studies, often leading to academic excellence.
Hear about holistic excellence from our IBDP student
Mental well-being
Sports also play a significant role in mental well-being. The release of endorphins during physical activity acts as a natural mood booster, reducing stress. Students who participate in sports often showcase better concentration, improved sleep, and a more positive outlook towards life.
Development of social skills
Sports offer a platform for students to develop key social skills. Team sports, in particular, foster communication and collaboration wherein students learn to work together towards a common goal, respect different perspectives, and build strong relationships with their peers. These experiences teach valuable lessons in leadership, empathy, and conflict resolution, preparing students for success in personal and formal settings.
Building resilience
It instils values such as discipline, mental agility, integrity, and perseverance. Students learn to handle victories and losses with humility and grace. The resilience developed on the sports field equips students to face challenges head-on, fostering a growth mindset that views obstacles as opportunities for improvement.
Boosting confidence
Participation in sports significantly boosts self-esteem and confidence. Achieving personal milestones, receiving positive reinforcement from coaches and teammates, and experiencing the thrill of competition contribute to a positive self-image.
Also read: Nurturing talent through Gold Squad: GIIS’ specialised sports programme
Lifelong habits
The habits formed during school sports can lead to a lifelong commitment to physical activity. Students who engage in sports are more likely to continue an active lifestyle into adulthood, reaping the benefits of good health and fitness throughout their lives.
Sporting activities and opportunities at GIIS
At GIIS, under our 9GEMS educational framework that promotes holistic development, our sports programmes complement our academic programmes. At different stages of learning, as we offer a choice of curricula, we also provide an array of sporting activities, which enables our students to explore various sports, and get selected for specialised coaching.
Students have the opportunity to engage in such activities through PE, ECA and special classes. Specialised sports training programme is provided to promising students at GIIS under our Gold Squad accelerator programme in cricket, football, tennis, basketball, badminton, and athletics. Students are handpicked to participate in this programme, wherein they receive training from best-in-class coaches at no additional cost.
The selections are done at the beginning of each academic year with weekly classes for different sports. Students are provided training by proficient coaches for participation in inter-school, national and international level competitions.
Our students get the best of opportunities to play with different schools across Singapore, winning and learning. Over the years, our students have been proud winners under the Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools (ACSIS).
In conclusion, incorporating sports into students’ lives offers a winning edge that extends far beyond the playing field. The physical, mental, social, and emotional benefits of sports contribute to the holistic development of students, preparing them for success in all facets of life.
If you are keen to know more about the opportunities GIIS provides to our students to excel in sports, please don’t hesitate to contact our admissions team.
Shubhdarshani Mitra
Shubhdarshani has over 10 years of experience in content creation, curation and editing. She has worked for Indian newspapers, school magazines and international news websites where she worked closely with the leadership on the execution and communication of the content strategy. Aside from work, she’s a passionate B&W photographer and storyteller.
