Index IntroductionSocial benefitsEffects on mental healthEffects on physical healthConclusionIntroductionSince Native Americans, sports have been an important part of American culture. There are records of Indians playing lacrosse and field hockey in the 17th century. Encyclopedia.com even states: “Despite the diversity of Native American cultures, some games were widespread. The rules of the games varied, but several games were popular across large regions of the West. Native Americans occasionally incorporated games into religious ceremonies. Today some of these games are still played and unparalleled advantages derive from them. Overall, sports offer children and youth life lessons and benefits that can't be found anywhere else. The benefits of sport for teenagers are physical, mental and even social. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssaySocial BenefitsSports help children in many different ways, one of which is socially. Being part of a team allows children to experience leadership, cooperation skills, higher levels of self-confidence and so much more. The University of Michigan took 709 public school children and tested their leadership skills, and the tests showed that the more active kids had better leadership skills, showed more empathy, and knew how to work together better than the less active kids. Elizabeth Jackson, assistant professor at Michigan, said: “It appears that physical activity through team sports and exercise classes may have benefits beyond physical fitness. These findings suggest that children who develop leadership and empathy for others are more likely to take charge of their health, perhaps adopting lifelong healthy behaviors that can prevent heart disease.” This shows that kids with better leadership skills and empathy often care more about their bodies, which shows that sports help in a very, very large way. Sport also allows kids to feel a sense of belonging when they are part of a team they feel needed by. Another study published by Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine showed that among 14,000 high school kids, those who played sports were significantly less likely to use drugs. This proves once again how much sport can improve your lifestyle as a young adult. Health.gov also said that women who play sports are more than 80 percent less likely to get pregnant in high school. This also shows that sport helps in so many social contexts. Along with all these statistics there are many, many more that prove that sport helps social health. A survey was conducted involving 75 companies, all included in the Fortune 500 list, and people who hold vice president positions. The results showed that a staggering 95% of them played some sport in high school. Overall, the social benefits young adults gain through sports are unparalleled. Kids feel the need to be there for their teammates on time and ready to perform, which allows them to feel like they belong. Even in difficult moments like when an athlete has a bad game or is going through an emotional moment, the first people there for you are your teammates, this allows you to create a special bond that you have with almost no one else. Sports also helps children learn to manage anger and angerfrustration in a more reasonable way. In sports, children learn many things that will overall improve their health for the rest of their lives. Effects on mental health Sport also heavily influences the mental health of children. Participating in sports releases a chemical called serotonin in the brain, which allows you to feel happier and generally more relaxed. Studies show that sport makes you feel more relaxed, less stressed, more open-minded and also improves concentration. German researchers have shown that carrying out some type of activity before learning a new language allowed people to "attach" it better. Charlene Gamaldo, medical director of the John Hopkins Center for Sleep, said: "We have strong evidence that exercise, in fact, helps you fall asleep more quickly and improves the quality of your sleep." Sleeping better is essential to having a healthy lifestyle. Most teenagers in the United States suffer from too little sleep or simply not sleeping well, and playing sports will help you sleep better. Sport also allows you to be fitter, and this is huge when dealing with mental health. Over 87% of teenagers are dissatisfied with their body and would like to be able to change it, practicing sports will allow children to be more self-confident and less insecure. On top of all this, approximately 20% of adolescents have experienced some sort of depression before adulthood, and in the 15 to 24 age group, suicide is the third leading cause of death. A study involving 16,000 high school students was conducted and the results stated that children who played sports were significantly less likely to be depressed or have suicidal thoughts or actions. Sports also help teenagers in the classroom. A study conducted in Kansas showed that kids who played sports “earned higher grades, graduated at a higher rate, dropped out of school less frequently, and scored higher on state assessments than non-athletes.” This proves that playing sports can also make you a better student. In conclusion, sports help children become mentally healthier in many different ways. Effects on physical health Sport also significantly helps young adults physically. Overall, participation in sports allows children to have stronger muscles, greater flexibility, stronger bones, and so much more. According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency, USADA, “Obesity has doubled in our youth over the past 25 years and will affect more than a third of our children by third grade.” This number would be much lower if many more children participated in sports or some type of activity. The number of people suffering from diabetes is also increasing at an alarming rate, and studies show that sport helps treat macrovascular complications. This is huge because approximately 10% of US citizens have some sort of diabetes. Sport also increases your metabolism, which allows you to process food faster, which means you don't gain weight as quickly. Heart health can also be prolonged if you play sports. Sport is absolutely vital for a healthy and long-lasting life. Lower body fat is extremely important for children, because, as previously stated, 87% of children wish they could change their bodies. A recent study showed that more physically active people are less likely to die from cardiovascular disease. The results showed that they are 50% less likely! The same research group found that the most active women have 29% in.