Team Sports and Mental Health

Studies have shown that engaging in physical activity can boost mental health significantly. When you combine that with something like playing a team sport, there are a host of other benefits that you will find, including the improved effects on mental health in various ways. The pandemic created a world where everyone was divided. There were no team sports, no team anything—people were strongly advised to stay far apart, including children.

This made team sports difficult and the morale effect was seen clearly from the very beginning. Both before and after the pandemic, studies have been done to show the benefit of team sports on mental health for those who are struggling otherwise. Reports showed that kids in the U.S. who played sports that had a team focus saw fewer issues with things like anxiety and depression.

Keep in mind, of course, that individual sports are not as effective here. In fact, more kids who took part in sports like tennis, gymnastics, wrestling, and other individual sports saw more mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and the urge to perform well for their parents or school, which can impact their mental health and wellbeing in several ways.

It’s not exactly determined why this is, but many believe that it’s because kids can share the stress of the sport with peers in a team event. They can also feel like they’re a part of something and they are valued for what they have to offer. This is why many people suggest getting kids into sports at a young age. It can deliver all the support some children need to stave off or avoid mental health issues.

Of course, if that child doesn’t like playing sports, the benefits are not going to be there. You can’t force a kid to enjoy something, let alone benefit from it if they aren’t feeling as engaged as you’d wish. Encourage your kids to play sports as a way to increase their socialization and boost their mental and physical health, but don’t force it. And if you want the maximum benefit, stick to team sports so that the support and connection with others are there.

Adults have even found that playing intramural sports or joining recreational leagues can do wonders to boost their mental health, especially at a time when more people are still working remotely and lack that interaction with people on a regular basis. It’s not guaranteed, but team sports and mental health definitely have a strong case for many, contact Schaumburg Seminoles to learn more.