The top 5 reasons kids play sports
When it comes to team sports, some kids enjoy playing in rec leagues, and some like the more competitive option. Some seem to want to play only one sport specifically, while other kids enjoy all types of physical activity. As parents, when we’re organizing our kids’ sports, it’s important to consider why they play and compete.
You might want your child to be active, learn more about teamwork, make new friends, and develop some life skills. But most often, we want our kids to have fun. Research has shown that’s exactly what the kids want, too.
A Michigan State University study asked boys and girls aged 10 to 12 why they played sports. Here are the top five reasons they gave:
1. To have fun
Most young people enjoy playing because play is fun. Some other things kids considered to be fun about sports included trying your best, getting playing time, playing well together as a team, and getting along with teammates. Interestingly enough, winning didn’t even enter the top 10 list.
2. To do something I’m good at
When we do something we’re good at, our self-esteem and self-confidence grows. Confidence is defined as “a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities.” Confidence comes when kids can actually realize that they have learned, practiced, and improved a skill. In fact, there’s a specific confidence formula that can help kids fully enjoy participating in sport.
3. To improve my skills
This ties in closely with “doing something I’m good at.” When kids improve their skills in any activity, their confidence grows as well. And, as noted above, the more confident they become, the more they enjoy doing the activity. Increased skills leads to increased confidence and enjoyment.
4. To stay in shape
Staying in shape could be considered similar to maintaining an active life, or leading an active lifestyle. And when children are more active, they are happier, healthier, and do better in school.
5. To get exercise
Again, this is similar to staying in shape. Active children make for happy children. Movement and physical activity play an important role in the well-being of kids.
Why should kids play sports?
Study after study comes up with the same #1 result. Kids play sports for the fun of it. And not having fun is one of the major reasons 70 percent of kids quit playing sports by the time they’re 13.
Given the research, it would appear that if you want your children to play organized sports, all you have to do is make sure they’re having fun. It can actually be that simple.
Most often it’s parents and coaches who want to win. For kids, winning is just icing on the cake. They’re good at being focused on simpler things. Even among high school students, most adolescents would rather play on a losing team than sit on the bench of a winning one. That doesn’t mean that kids don’t value winning, just that they prefer playing.
No matter how many different ways you look at sports participation among youth, or how many studies you read, you’ll likely find similar answers about what motivates kids when it comes to sports. As stated in this article by Changing the Game project, “Poor coaching and punishment for mistakes take the enjoyment away for younger children, while peer rivalries, overemphasis on winning, and excessive training and expectations suck the enjoyment out of sport for older athletes.”
If we want to focus on the physical health and mental health benefits of sports for our children, let’s start with one of the most important: the pure joy. Everything else will likely fall into place.
Ed. note: The study was conducted by the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University. This article was originally published in April 2017.
I know what it’s like to play or sit on the bench. I would make sure that every player had fun.
Hi I read most of you reply’s and comments. And to be honest i’m Surprised not only by your comments but by how I even found pages and websites talking about ‘how to make your kid interested in sports’ I thought I was the only one having to go through hard time with the same problem. I am a 12 year old girl and for me I have absolutely no interest in sports however I train gymnastics and I don’t #1have fun at all I don’t even know the reason anymore and I tried talking to my parents but their answer is always the same ‘you will appreciate what we’re doing when you grow up’ to get back to the same point I rain gymnastics and I don’t lie the idea of it it’s so….bad. The idea of me stretching my legs so much at I feel pain or that I stand on my hands trying so hard to keep balanced. Yesterday I talked to my mum about this and her answer made me so mad ‘not everything you do you have to enjoy’ the thing is I do understand why we do sports but even the answer that I always hear makes me loose hope ‘to have a balanced and healthy life’ I train privately in my house with my two younger sister and obviously the coach. My sisters are way way way ahead of me before I train privately I used to go to a club with the same coach but with lots of other kids. And I was so terrible there I was the worst in the whole team. But now my coach’s dream is about letting us be in the champion ship and I 100% disagree I won’t preform in front of people some moves I learned for them to rate me and give me a medal then I payed for
Even at school everybody thinks it’s so weird that I don’t like sports in fact I really enjoy reading. But most importantly I am very shy even at school I don’t raise my hand most of the time and wouldn’t;t like to read out loud. I really appreciate it if you read this comment and thanks for this very helpful article
Emmy
Hi Emmy, you are definitely not the only kid who has mixed feelings about sports. Some kids love team sports and organized activities, and some don’t (the same is true of adults!). The important thing is to try lots of activities until you find the ways you love to move. It doesn’t matter if you feel you’re not “good” at an activity to start as long as you enjoy it; the more you do it, the better you’ll get — and you don’t need to compare your progress against anyone else’s!
most kids play to win to make their coaches or parents happy so they won’t get upset with them I know this because I am a child that has worked hard to archive goals but has also been to a doctor to doctor I also have a sister and a mom that and even said that they got overwhelmed because their parents pushed them way to hard and just wanted to play to have fun.
Um, #2 “To do something I’m good at”. How do you know your good at it. You are better than a lot of the others around you. So you win against your peers. Yeah. “Winning” is the 2 most important reason kids play sports… Seriously use some critical thinking. It not only broke the top 10 it was 2nd place. But, hey, “winning” didn’t win!
You’ve made a critical error in your reasoning, Steven. You assume that kids are only able to judge their “goodness” by comparing themselves to others.
In fact, it’s only adults who make judgments that way.
Kids actually look to adults for cues on their success. If adults are constantly comparing kids to each other, that’s damaging. Especially when you take into account the fact that kids the same age are not comparable because they develop and mature at different rates.
Don’t impose your adult sensibility on kids. Because kids aren’t little adults.
Instead, follow the science, and the evidence, on how we can create positive experiences for kids that will have long-lasting effects.
No it’s just an opinion
Yeh, kids are playing sport to win, they’re just being brainwashed to give a”feel good” answer. In most sports scores/times are kept and monitored by participants, spectators and officials. Of course you play to win and if you have fun along the way, it’s a bonus. Maybe one day two football teams will enter the playing field and do a barn dance for one hour, then leave. Imagine how much fun that would be.
But imagine if you just play for the sake of winning where is the fun bit
Ok if I ‘win’ like you said oh my god I saved the world by scoring 8-5 I am sorry but how did that help the world. Imagine if you always win in games
But wake up you can’t always win at lest in the real world where actually have to face real hard times not only about ‘loosing’
But guys at least it’s helping us with a lot of things
Facts you are right like you can get a scholarship.
great article Blaine… Playing with kids actually gave me opportunity to “re-live” again some of “my dreams” and simply makes you be active again.. Thank you for writing this great article
Hi Blaine, did you get the survey from 2010 that Tyler mentioned?
No, Tyler has not responded to our request for a citation. Do you know of it, Craig?
the study you are talking about was done in 1989 and winning was not in the top 10. A more recent study in 2010 had boys & girls in various sports ranking winning as high as #2 & #3 in order of importance.
Times change and so have our children and their perspective on sport.
:)
this helped me a lot !! my child got lots of help thanks.
the study you are talking about was done in 1989 and winning was not in the top 10. A more recent study in 2010 had boys & girls in various sports ranking winning as high as #2 & #3 in order of importance.
Times change and so have our children and their perspective on sport.
Thanks for the comment, Tyler. Can you provide more information about the 2010 study you refer to? It definitely sounds interesting, but we would like to review and assess the actual study. Specifically, we’d look at the age of the kids surveyed, the questions they were asked, and how the kids’ answers were interpreted. The study methodology can have a big impact on the conclusions drawn.
My guess you’ve never received Tyler’s study because of course it doesn’t exist.
Thanks for the great article, this should be mandatory reading for ALL parents
Hi Tyler
We are now in 2020 and yes all right kids have a perspective of just winning but I am 12 years old and I think winning is nothing against having fun
I think that its true
Anna, the study was actually conducted at Michigan State (we’ve just corrected the story): Institute for the Study of Youth Sports in 1989.
It’s fascinating how these reasons stay constant decade after decade. Interested in learning more. Can you please share the reference for this study done out of the University of Michigan. Thanks!
This is so true. My daughter always says this. Don’t get me wrong, she also plays to win, but it is definitely the playing and taking part she adores. I am happy to say we have never pushed or tried to live our dreams through her. We are quite capable of doing that ourselves. She is now 13 still loves climbing trees, going for bike rides, riding horses, comes home after school and is out at the playing fields within minutes having a game of football with her friends. It truly is wonderful to see and hear! Great article. Thank you.
With thanks and appreciation.
Cathi x