From a very young age, we are continually told to exercise regularly and spend time outside, but just how important is it to take part in sports?
Team sports help to build connections with people you might not have met otherwise, and you can learn new skills from teammates. The sense of achievement when you finally master that skill you’ve been practicing for ages is an incredible feeling. Success in sports helps to boost confidence in your own abilities and it is a constant reminder of the many hours of hard work and determination put in. On the other hand, it also teaches us how to fail in a safe environment, learn from our mistakes and carry on working to fix what went wrong. Both individual and team sports are centred around quick decision making. Whether it is deciding which player to mark, or what route to take, this helps us to become confident in our choices and shapes us into valuable members of a group.
Scientists have proven that exercise can help reduce the risk of strokes and cancer, as well as lowering the risk of early death by 30%. It slows the onset of arthritis and joint problems in later life, often limiting the severity of it as well. Sports also help people to lose weight. For example, a person who weighs 80kg burns about 11 calories a minute while running. Working out builds up heart muscle and means that more oxygen rich blood can be transported to the brain, or to other body cells for use in respiration to release energy. Physical activity isn’t just good for your internal organs, it’s also great for breakout-prone skin. Sweat causes dirt to be released from your pores, so they don’t get blocked as often, leaving you with much clearer and healthier skin.
Exercise also causes the brain to release endorphins, which are natural painkillers and help you sleep. Playing sport can take your mind off of problems and make sure you maintain both your physical and mental health.
Playing sport can be very time consuming. 10% of UK schools have acknowledged that the level of physical education has declined, and only around 36% of children consistently meet the recommended exercise amount. But even something as simple as a run, walk or online yoga class can help to keep you fit and make valuable memories. In the UK alone there are over 151,000 different sports clubs, so there is a wide variety of options that can suit anyone. Why not get involved in a local sports club and see where it takes you?
