Sports teach children more than how to play a game. Sports participation helps children develop social skills that they may not be learning at home, and they can carry those lessons with them throughout life. Kids who play sports learn to interact with others, how to respect authority figures (such as coaches and sports officials), team-building skills, leadership skills and a clearer understanding of winning and losing (and how to cope with losses). The skills learned through sports can help kids with personal relationships and careers later in life.
When kids achieve in sports, it creates a sense of accomplishment. This is important, as accomplishment fosters self-esteem, a sense of pride, and a can-do attitude. Success builds on success and can easily snowball into adulthood. When a child participates in sports, it might be the first time in their life that they can share something that fills them with pride and makes them value who they are as a person.
Sports demand a level of commitment from every participant. If you want winning results, you’ve got to put in the time and effort, from physical conditioning and practicing skills to formulating strategies and building relationships. Once kids get into sports and commit, they’ll start to see that putting effort into something always yields positive results.
But paying for team fees or other kids’ sports activities is a barrier for many families.
In cooperation with sports clubs from the region of Berne, MQT removes barriers to getting kids active by helping children from low-income families register for after-school sports.