While I agree that the statement is a huge exaggeration of the success of American sports throughout the world, I also think that exporting our sports has advantages for the targeted countries.
The NBA runs a non-profit program called Basketball Without Borders. Each summer, the organization sends a few players to different countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. The players and coaches, as well as other staff members, run camps for a selected group of young basketball players who have demonstrated promising athletic talent. The obvious purpose of these summer camps is to establish basketball in countries where it is less popular. However, founders of the program have also stated that the program is meant to address certain social issues, promote community outreach, and make their young campers role models among their friends. The hope is that stressing certain things that are important in being successful on the court, such as teamwork, sportsmanship, hard work, and healthy living, will help these children to be successful in life, not just in basketball.
On a smaller scale, many parents put their children in sports at a young age for them to learn how to work with others, communicate, and work towards achieving a goal. It seems that interacting on a team syndicates real life, and helps children and teens learn how to deal with non-sports related problems.
What do you think? Does participating in sports at a young age help children to become more capable of dealing with problems and working with others? Do you think that it is beneficial for kids to play sports (aside from the physical benefits and regardless of their talent or lack of talent in the given sport)? Do you commend the NBA for trying to incorporate this purpose into their Basketball Without Borders camps, or is it pretentious of them to try and instill these qualities in young athletes?
13 comments:
I think having kids playing sports can be very beneficial because of all the reasons you listed. But when they get to a certain age the lack of talent can become to be a detrimental situation.
The kids could be teased by kids who have more talent while the kid could low some self-esteem as they sit the bench on a team and do not play as much as their friends.
i think kids playing sports when they are young is a really good thing because it teaches them so much. it teaches them discipline and teamwork and gives them something to do that is productive and worthwhile.
I started playing soccer when I was six and I am still friends with some of the people from my original team. Some of my best friends have come from my high school tennis team and I still keep in contact with many people I've met by playing on sports teams even today. I think it's a great way for kids to meet friends and to learn how to work with others. It's not the actual sport that does this, it's the process of playing with others and having those experiences that I think is beneficial for kids.
I think that sports for kids can be a very good thing. I think that it helps them to learn how to interact with others and establish friendships at a young age. I can see situations where the opposite might happen, but I tend to think that that happens less often.
It makes sense for the NBA to do Basketball Without Boarders. They get to promote their sport and help kids. Maybe its just a pr effort, but either way, I see no harm in it (and a lot of good coming from it).
Children being involved with sports I think is generally a good thing. Sports can teach children important values such as self esteem, teamwork, hard work, and build a sense of character. To me the NBA's "caring" effort is kind of a lame PR stunt to boost its own credibility as it has long been bashed by many as tolerant of a gangster culture; willing to tolerate the commissions of felonies, the absurd behavior of athletes etc. This latest effort is an attempt to build some support for the NBA's image. That said, to quote a cliche "You don't look a gift horse in the mouth". As suspect as the NBA's motivations are, if the end result produces the kinds of values that sports can teach kids, I guess that's a bonus.
Personally, playing sports at a young age was very beneficial because it required team work, hard work and dedication. I think very few things can instill this on children, (and not to mention the physical, mental and even spiritual benefits being active offers young people.) I do think there begins to be a fine line between an excessive, year round, one sport athlete, but balance and the values sports have to offer I think is unachievable by any other means. I think what the NBA is doing is great, because it's giving children this opportunity.
I think being involved in team sports does help children learn to cooperate with one another and teach them certain social skills. I've never heard of this NBA program, but I think it sounds like it helps children of third-world countries work together and be social.
I think it's great to incorporate sports at a young age. I agree that sports can sometime mirror situations in real life. It is important for children to learn how to interact with others as a team to achieve a common goal. This program for the NBA sounds like a great idea.
I think overall it is very beneficial for kids to play sports. If a child is forced to play I can see how that would be bad. In the end I think that kids may gain some important skills but I think the strongest benefit is really just having something positive to do. For a lot of kids if they aren't doing sports they will just be getting into trouble.
I think organized sports is good for children, as long as it's in moderation and that the competition is not the whole focus. It's important to learn how to work with others and it's also to important to take care of our physical bodies.
I grew up playing team sports and absolutely loved it. While there are those stereotypical jocks on every team, the relationships I formed and the dependence and trust I developed for my teammates has helped me out tremendously in my life. It also helped me gain an appreciation for rules and obedience. I think I would be a very different individual if I had not played on team sports and I think it wouldn't necessarily be a good thing.
I think that sports is a great thing for many reasons. It gives kids something active to do as well as allows them to socialize and learn to communicate with others. As long as the sport is about having fun rather than being too competitive at a young age, then I believe sports are a very positive and worthwhile thing.
I think that sports at a young age is important to a childs physical and social growth. I did sports when I was younger, and those experiences greatly helped me to work together as a team, learn social skills, and live healthy. I also learned discipline and the value of fairness and sportsmanship - things that I carry with me every day.
Post a Comment