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Through my monthly column in EducationWorld, I wish to make a passionate plea to parents and teachers who believe that scholastic excellence is the alpha and omega of a child’s life. Quite often I visit schools which have convinced their students and parents that the raison d’etre of an education institution is accumulation and reproduction of academic knowledge and learning. While I admit that a quality academic programme and experience plays an important role in the lives of our children, it’s essential that parents and teachers understand the imperative of creating school and home climates which enable children to find a sense of balance in their lives.
Therefore enter play and sports! And in answer to the question — Do sports really matter? — all research shows it does. In addition to being a source of enjoyment and just plain fun, participation in sports, games and athletic activities also has the power to combat everything from racism to low self-esteem to assisting kids in the classroom and lowering school drop-out ratios.
Perhaps, before going any further in this discussion, we need to ask another more penetrating question: “What is sports all about, anyway?” Is it about determining who is best? About trophies, cham-pionships, scholarships, and successful superstars serv-ing as inspiration to young sportspersons? I think not. Between winning and losing, there’s a lot that can be learnt from sports and athletics about the human experience. There is deep value in sport that goes beyond scores, dog-fighting news, game fixing, doping and unreasonable behaviour of parents, athletes and coaches. Ultimately it’s about honour, achievement and pride.
If you haven’t seen the movie We Are Marshall, you should. It narrates the story of Jack Lengyel and his appointment as head coach of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team in the days after a 1970 airplane crash claimed the life of the entire squad. Tasked with rebuilding the gridiron program, Lengyel found that instead, he was rebuilding the psychological and emotional structure of an entire community that had been devastated by the tragedy.
Sports has the capacity to change lives and bring people together. I have seen first-hand how sports and games put into perspective the values of character, integrity, sportsmanship, discipline, learning from adversity and bouncing back — values that are seamlessly transferred to other areas of life which have nothing to do with touchdowns, goals or baskets.
To appreciate the character and values- building contribution of sports, it might be advisable for parents to seek a refre-shing and satisfying sports experience for themselves and their family — one that highlights caring, consideration, and cooperation. I firmly believe that when parents, teachers, coaches and educators carefully examine the values and opportunities that an expanded, balanced, and carefully thought-out sports programme offers children, they will appreciate the high-potential return on their investment. I remain convinced and committed to the belief that the major function of sport is to renew the human spirit — a time-out from the travails and drudgery of everyday life, while connecting with the self and others.
My recent activities which include introducing physical education and sport to schools in India, training coaches from Lebanon, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Mozambique, and my own country, have deepened my faith in the potential of sports to develop, renew and connect people around the world. And aside from enjoying chasing a soccer ball or shooting baskets, the purity of the sports experience fosters values, skills and attitudes beneficial in the long run. Specifically, well-orchestrated sports programmes can:
• Improve physical fitness and health (i.e. lower the risk of developing coronary heart disease, strokes, some cancers and Type 2 diabetes)
• Contribute toward integration of mind and body
• Enhance self-confidence and self-esteem
• Stimulate social and cognitive development and academic achievement
• Teach discipline, teamwork, commitment, sacrifice, perseverance in the pursuit of excellence, better concentration and listening skills in school and at home
• Teach important life lessons about setting goals
• Develop character and integrity
• Help kids develop a broad perspective and encourage “outside the box” thinking
• Promote school and club spirit
• Strengthen family bonds by introducing physical activity and sport as something fun to experience together
Do sports really matter? I rest my case.
(Dr. George Selleck is a Los Angeles-based advisor to SportzVillage, Bangalore)