The Value of Participation in Sports

Society rarely questions the value of youth participation in sports. Many parents force their children to play sports, believing that such activity instills positive values like teamwork, cooperation, and sportsmanship. Mandatory participation in sports is a part of the physical education curriculum in most schools. Ask any child in America today why he or she decides to participate in sports and you’ll get for one simple reason. FUN!

So what is the value of participation in sports? What is the impact that exercise and sports may have on a child’s physical development and academic achievement? Exercise and sports offer tremendous social relationships, physical challenges, and honest competition. There is even evidence that sports can increase a child’s self-esteem and academic performance while decreasing the likelihood of disease and drug use. In contrast to prevailing ‘dumb-jock’ stereotypes, kids who play sports, on average, tend to perform better in school than kids who don’t.

The value of sports extends beyond the individual. Sport and recreation provides the catalyst for community gatherings, from small functions to major events, where people play, talk and share experiences. Importantly it has a positive effect that reaches many levels of our society—in short—sport and recreation creates social capital. This is important because “places with high levels of social capital are safer, better governed and more prosperous, compared to those places with low levels of social capital”. – Robert Putnam

Tough economic times and the instituting of “Pay to Play” fees has made the choice challenging for parents. Fortunately Tic Tac Pro’s uniquely creative fundraising programs ease the financial burden and provides easy, safe and overall more effective fundraising alternatives. Raising money for youth sports and school activities has never been easier. Tic Tac Pro makes it easy to give by building in value for the merchant sponsors, organizations and supporters. Tic Tac Pro’s technology is a fundraising enabler for any size group, school or organization.

Sports transcends life and is part of the very fabric of America. Ensuring that no child is left on the sidelines due to financial constraints is the Tic Tac Pro mission.