Athletics & Youth

Adolescence is a difficult time for most young people and athletic participation seems to make this transition from childhood to early adulthood less problematic for many who participate in sports. Currently, many adolescents in this age group suffer from substandard academic performance, antisocial behavior and activities, teen pregnancy, drug use and a host of other issues. However, the research on teens who involve themselves in athletics suggests that this participation is often beneficial in reducing or eliminating many of these issues typical to children from eight to eighteen. It appears the benefits for youth span gender boundaries as girls and boys are reported as mutually enjoying the positive effects of sports participation. One program aimed at promoting more athletic involvement among girls is Arlington Youth Services. The program is aimed at getting more girls to participate in sports bec

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cularly young children and teenagers. Certainly positive life skills can be fostered from other endeavors besides participation in sports and no one is arguing that sports participation is a panacea for all the ails modern youth. However, athletic participation does promote many positive benefits for individuals, an argument which is supported by psychologists at the University of North Texas’ Center for Sports Psychology. In a study conducted by the Center, the researchers found, “The lessons learned in sports can teach kids time management, the ability to perform under pressure, teamwork and communication skills—all things that can lead to success. By the time people reach adulthood, they have learned the behaviors that will determine who they are and what they will become. Sports teaches young people how to become champions in sports. But sports also teaches them how to be champions in life” (Averitt 1-2). One of the biggest problems among adolescent females is teen pregnancy. This is a major social problem because the children born to young mothers are often at higher-risk for a host of health complications and other problems. Likewise, a pregnancy during adolescence often begins the slow but sure downward spiral int
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Approximate Word count = 2012
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

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