More Than Just Games: The Role of Sports in Helping Students Excel in Academics

 

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The Role of Sports

Who would have thought that there is actual and profound truth in, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy?  Certainly not most of us. Whenever we see athletic students on TV, in our schools, or the neighbourhood, the first thought that crosses our mind without us even realizing it is that it this kid would not be so good in school. And if miracles of all miracles, that kid passed his exams with flying numbers, that he much have shad help from an academic essay writing service.

 

Surprisingly, science and daily life examples prove that it is not the case. Here's why we think sports help students excel in academics:

1. Team Work Makes Dream Work

Nothing teaches you teamwork like sports, especially team sports. No matter how great you perform, it is not going to win you any games unless you learn the strength and weakness of every player in your team. Children who participate in sports learn this lesson early on that playing to each other's strengths and covering their defects leaves you with no blind spots, and that makes for a winning team.

 

This skill is utilized to its limit when school projects push students to work in groups and tests their patience. A student who had played sports would tackle the problem of lazy and unenthusiastic group member differently than a non-athletic student who'd instead work on the entire project alone.

2. Jocks Are Way Smarter Than Stereotypes Suggest

It seems like Young Adult novels, and pop culture is determined to show jocks in a bad light – usually, by implying they cannot survive without resorting to academic essay writing services. Whereas the reality is far from it. Science suggests there is a correlation between physical movement and achievement.

 

A Harvard University psychiatrist, John J. Ratey, published a book based on his conducted researches. The MRI scans he took before and after the subject's involvement in physical sports showed an increased volume in the following brain parts:

  • The frontal hippocampus lobes
  • and temporal lobes

These part of our brains are associated with our cognitive abilities – in easier words, they help us with learning and memorizing.

3. Hard Lessons Are Learnt Early On

Students who have not been introduced to sports earlier in their life never learn life lessons, until they are thrown face-first into it. Athletic students, on the other hand, get introduced to various teachers and mentors during their school days. While their science and mathematics teacher would teach them to be smart on paper, their coaches will give them a little tough love to teach them the importance of hard work, of not letting one lousy game push them down, on working on your weaknesses and loopholes, so no one can get past their defenses again.

 

When athletic students apply these skills on their academics, they excel spectacularly.

Bottom Line

Excess of anything is wrong, and the same goes for sports. Yet, we are knee-deep in the misconception that games in any amount have a negative impact on a child's academics. That is far from the truth, if anything, sports help students in their studies by releasing their pent up energies and allowing them to focus on the task at hand, It helps them develop teamwork skills and let go of traits such as selfishness and ego. They form the patience to learn and do not let failure pull them down. 

 

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