Jul 29th, 2022
Summer sun and fun is best with summer sports. The benefits of sports for youth are numerous. Youth sports help get young people active and teach various important life skills, such as compassion, patience, work ethic, teamwork, and healthy exercise habits. The CDC recommends that children and teens engage in one or more hours of physical activity every day.
These are just a few reasons to keep your kids active, according to the American Council on Exercise (ACE):
- Children who are active demonstrate lower rates of childhood obesity
- Active children are more likely to become active adults
- Frequent physical activity has been associated with improved behavior in the classroom
- Frequent exercise decreases symptoms of depression and anxiety in children
- Regular exercise with children promotes self-efficacy with regard to health and self-image
NYSS
Building a youth sports culture
The National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS) was developed by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reorient U.S. youth sports culture around a shared vision: that one day all youth will have the opportunity, motivation, and access to play sports, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sex, ability, or ZIP code.
NYSS is based on research and best practices from the scientific community and successful youth sports programs across the US. It offers actionable ideas for parents, coaches, organizations, communities, and policymakers to support youth sports participation for all.
Sports can facilitate the development of skills that can be transferred for use in non-sports settings.
Move Your Way
Helping kids get more physical activity
Playing sports is a great way for kids to meet the Physical Activity Guidelines, developed by HHS and the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP).
Move Your Way is a tool to help your kids get more physical activity by finding ways to fit more activity into their day (and goes beyond sports!). It's a tool valuable to all parents in Cape Girardeau County!
So, whether it's through youth sports or other activities, let's help our community get moving—and look to a brighter and healthier future for all youth in our community.
Sources: health.gov
