Sports into promoting sportsmanship and holistic development to student athlete

By Mariane Lou S. Nepomoceno, Teacher 1

Magarao National High School

Good sportsmanship fosters a sense of teamwork and cooperation among athletes. By valuing the contributions of each team member and working together towards a common goal, athletes learn the importance of collaboration and develop strong interpersonal skills that can benefit them in various aspects of life. Through good sportmanship athletes learn to handle both success and failure with resilience and perseverance. They understand that setbacks and challenges are a natural part of sports and life, and they develop the ability to bounce back from disappointment and keep pushing forward. One of the most effective ways to nurture good sportsmanship and by teaching and modelling positive behaviour. Coaches and parent should emphasized the importance of fair play and following rules. Athletes should be encouraged to show empathy and understanding towards opponents, and to demonstrate respectful coaches, officials and team mates. Creating a supportive and inclusive sports environment is essential for nurturing good sportsmanship.

In a world, that place significant emphasis on academic excellence, its easy to forget boundless benefits that sports bring to the table. While grades are undoubtedly important, we must also remember that a healthy mind and body go hand in hand. Through sports, are youth can develop their physical cognitive, and psychological abilities, fostering strength and endurance and improve academic performance. After all, a well-rounded education isn’t just about what’s in books- its about nurturing the whole person.

Unfortunately, sports have taken a back seat to academics. This imbalance can negatively impact student’s mental and physical health, leading to disciplinary issues and absenteeism. Students have strived for years to make their parents, teachers and coaches proud of them. They have come to practice Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday,Thursday, and Friday to get better, while their academics are sometimes suffering. Students have pushed their bodies to the limits, causing extreme injury that will hold them back from sports in the future. Student athletes are not getting the opportunity to play multiple sports during the year, because they are expected to specialize in one sport and focus on it year round, leaving no opportunity to play other sports or do other activities. Youth sports are becoming too intense for young children to keep up with. “Student athlete,” we all have heard the phrase and for some it might apply, but truly how hard is it to be a student athlete. For years students have complained about homework, due dates, and test because they all claim to not have the time and that is because they go to practice six out of the seven days of the week. Coaches, and parents are pushing students beyond limits and eventually it’s going to catch up to everybody. We need to lighten up on youth sports and realize that they are both student and athletes. We cannot as coaches and parents expect student to be at their greatest potential every hour of everyday. Students need time for school they need time with their friends. If athletes play the same sport year round they will get burnt out and get caught in single sport specialization. Athletes will struggle with injuries from being pushed too hard. In addition, to the physical health benefits, sports also can have positive impacts on students’ mental health. Engaging in sport can help to develop self-esteem and confidence, improved their mood, and reduced feeling of stress and anxiety.

In health issues, it is absurd to have an athlete be severely obese. Sports are supposed to encourage healthier weights, but this is proof of the opposite. Although it is a tournament and everyone wants the team they are for to win, they also all want those boys to have fun. Sports aren't always about winning. Especially since these students are still in high school, they're just student athlete. Playing the game they love, but they also know that it's good for them to compete and try their best to get what they want. The coaches and parents know what the real world is like, there's all kinds of competition in it. These sports can help these students prepare for their soon to be future. Students who engage in sports tend to perform better academically, and have improve attendance and self-assurance. Besides sports foster essential life skill such as teamwork, leadership and time management that extend beyond school, supporting a healthy and active life style.

The word “I will never be satisfied!” Many athletes may have heard this statement once or twice in their athletic careers from their coaches, but to hear it come from a parent is very unexpected. It goes behind the scenes of what each of the parent’s strategies are in order to push their child to the next level of becoming the next all-star athlete. Although, what they fail to realize is they lose sight of what is important. That is, it is important for the student to enjoy the sport and for the parents to not get caught up in the hype that the child will one day be a professional athlete. As a professional athlete, you are in a position and given the opportunity to really have an impact on more than just your immediate surroundings. For me to be able to do that is something that's sometimes challenging, but always worthwhile. Every day, all of us, together and as individuals we have an opportunity as citizens to contribute to the vision of what we want to see in the world. And how best to do that but through children. We know that kids run the world; we know that they will grow and walk and run the world.

Summing up, sports provide an opportunity for student to have fun and enjoy themselves. It helps in reducing boredom and monotony that can come with academic pressure. Participating in sports helps in developing a sense of joy, which is essential for over all well-being. So, its time for school to recognize the importance of sports in student’s holistic development and prioritized them as part of the curriculum.