Why School Sport?

Do you remember that feeling when you scored for your first goal for your school or club? Or watching your parents faces when you converted a try? School sports provide children with some of their best school memories as well offering numerous health and emotional benefits. Yet, recent studies highlight how participation in school sports is dwindling to critical levels.

A recent Guardian report highlighted British children are among the least active in the world, and fitness levels are plummeting. Government advice says children should do at least an hour of moderate intensity physical activity per day. But, just 15 per cent of girls aged 11 to 15 in England manage this, along with 22 per cent of boys, the report shows.

“Participation in exercise for teens was associated with decreased anxiety and depression and improved academic performance; improved parental relationships, increased self-esteem, and decreased anger”

“Physical activity help obesity prevention, but that activity can lead to better eating habits. Young people involved in physical activity generally consume more fruits and vegetables, are less likely to be overweight and are more likely to become physically active adults.”

In fact, activity levels in Britain have dropped by more than a third in three decades, official data shows, with the average person now walking for less than 10 minutes a day. Meanwhile, calorie consumption has risen, fueled by sales of sugary drinks.

These are worrying figures for all those involved in school sports and the health and well-being of young individuals. Here at inspiresport we strive to provide sports tours which, not only offer the chance to improve the skillset of young sportsmen and women but also offer advice on nutrition and daily routines. These tour options include  Valencia CF, Cardiff Blues, FC Porto and many more. We believe this inclusion supports teachers and coaches in educating children about the importance of sport to improve health in everyone.  We’re very passionate about allowing all abilities the chance to get involved with sports.

For example, Novak Djokovic recently claimed playing school sport enabled him to create friendships he might otherwise not have formed.

Furthermore Dr Sylvia Rimm highlighted “Good sportsmanship provides guidelines that can be generalised to classroom and lifelong achievement. Participation in challenging sports contests teaches children to love classroom challenge. It also teaches children to function in a competitive society.”

This was supported by numerous doctors of sports science who contributed to the 2010 Journal of School Health. Some of the key findings in the journal noted, “Sports also create important opportunities for students to contribute to the school community, which may cultivate an increased commitment to, or identification with, school and school values.”

Further findings included, a relationship between physical activity and improved mental well-being for adolescents. “Participation in exercise for teens was associated with decreased anxiety and depression and improved academic performance; improved parental relationships, increased self-esteem, and decreased anger

Finally, the journal revealed, “Not only does the physical activity help obesity prevention, but that activity can lead to better eating habits. Young people involved in physical activity generally consume more fruits and vegetables, are less likely to be overweight and are more likely to become physically active adults.”

We hope our tours aid the education of young individuals about the benefit of school sports. Yet, education about the benefits shouldn’t just be aimed at children but also parents and teachers who are key to educating their children and improving access to healthy food and daily sports. We hope our tours can improve these government findings one trip at a time.