The Benefits of Participation in Sports For Kids
Popular coach Billy Zufall is serious about ensuring sports participation teaches kids critical skills that they can transfer to other areas of their lives.
In fact, that’s one of his main goals as director of coaching for the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams at Highland High School. It’s likely one of the reasons he won the Medina County Coach of the Year for three years in a row.
Why do we at Kids’ Sports Psychology think this topic is so important? We believe that when kids learn mental game skills in sports, they benefit in most other areas of their lives. That’s a huge plus.
What are the skills we’re talking about and how can parents and coaches ensure kids acquire them?
Zufall has lots to say about this. So do we.
At Highland High School, Zufall has found that sports kids learn time-management and team-building skills and have learned how to intertwine their individual goals with team goals. They also learn how to focus for long periods of time. In fact, many of his players have earned all-academic team awards.
“These skills help them quite a bit outside of soccer as far as academically. This is important, because, as we all know, our athletic careers are short compared to the rest of lives,” he says.
Parents play a huge role in ensuring kids acquire these skills, he says. For example, many of the parents he works with block out time during the day to check in with their sports kids and ensure they’re learning the life skills they need to learn.
“They say, ‘This is what we’ve done throughout the day, are we prepared for tomorrow?’ This helps kids prepare for the next day or so,” he says.
Being prepared helps young athletes feel more confident in sports—and that boosts their confidence academically, as well.
For Zufall, one of the toughest skills for many kids is learning to pay attention to detail. That’s where sports play a huge role, he says.
“The more they pay attention to details, the more successful they are,” he says.
For example, the kids who pay attention to details know how to warm up and cool down properly and are less likely to sustain injuries.
They have the mental toughness to hang in through a long and grueling season, he says. Coaches who provide regular feedback help sports kids learn how to focus on important details, he adds.
“The mental preparation involved in soccer transfers over to life,” he says. “Kids are better able to understand what teachers are asking them, and how to prepare and execute.”
Related Articles on Kids’ Mental Game:
- The Role of Mental Game Skills for Sports Kids
- 5 Pregame Mental Skills For Young Athletes
- How to Explain Mental Training to Teens
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