Playing sports at an early age has more overall benefits then most any other teaching lesson. The power of sport teaches children life’s valuable lessons of which most of us have benefitted from. Looking back I played every sport there was ranging from track, wrestling, baseball, to golf, tennis and football. Nowadays there are so many more options for kids. There are club teams, travel teams, agility and skills camps, combines and hired trainers. Year round teams are becoming the norm and children are starting the serious training and specializing earlier.
There are the obvious benefits of playing sports like physical development, weight management, self-discipline, teamwork skills, time management skills, increased endurance and the ability to deal with adversity.

 Russ Pillar Chairman of NCSA the worlds largest athletic recruiting organization talks about the power of sports to change lives in his Introduction speech above and how NCSA helps connect student athletes with athletic scholarships.

The benefits of sports goes far beyond the benefits I have mentioned. Sports can change lives at any level of competition and economic background. Sports has the ability to give young athletes focus so they can channel their dreams and passions and pursue goals that have a lifelong impact. My father grew up in Oklahoma and was last of eleven children born during the Great Depression. The amazing thing is that all of the five boys received athletic scholarships or military scholarships. My Father attended Stanford University on a full athletic scholarship which changed his life and gave him the opportunity to not only excel athletically but academically. Without sports so many children would not have the ability to afford to go to college and experience the things that sports can bring. Like my Father I too received a full athletic scholarship for football to University of Arizona.

The journey of so many athletes across the world starts with throwing, kicking or hitting a ball. Like a seed that eventually grows into a tree, sports can help children grow and help them become strong, dedicated and driven adults and prepare them to play sports in college and beyond while setting them up to be able to handle all of life’s challenges. Sports teaches so many lessons but for me the biggest lesson is to never give up no matter how difficult the situation and how to deal with adversity. Setting goals and striving to be the best at whatever you do is the key to a life of happiness. At the end of the day the benefits of sports makes the world a better place and the athletes that participate have the ability to change the lives of people they are and the people they touch.