What Are the Benefits of Organized Sports for Troubled Youth?

• For many older children and teens, playing organized sports is more than a fun after-school activity or weekend event. Participation in organized sports has been linked to benefits both on and off the field. These advantages can be particularly helpful to kids and teens who are at-risk for behavior problems or are struggling with challenges at home or in school. Parents, teachers and caregivers might want to consider organized sports as part of a plan to help a troubled youth.

Better Grades, Better Future

• Organized sports help kids who are struggling in school or facing problems at home feel more normal and connected to their peers, and this is a key factor in whether or not a teen attends college, according to the report "Learning to Play and Playing to Learn: Organized Sports and Educational Outcomes." The report was prepared for Team Up for Youth, an organization dedicated to strengthening youth through sports.
  
  Sports participation is also linked to higher grades, especially among African American and Latino students, according to the report. Physical activity also seems to up the odds of better life chances by providing overall academic and intellectual benefits, according to the report.

Improved Peer Network

• Like it or not, friends influence a teen's behavior. Organized sports gives troubled youths a chance to meet other teens who may have a positive influence or at least share a few things in common, according to the "Playing to Learn and Learning to Play" report. Girls seem to especially benefit from the increased or improved peer network. Young women report that playing sports helps break gender stereotypes, which expands their views of their future.

Adult Support

• Many at-risk youths are lacking a positive adult role model, but organized sports can provide one through a caring and committed coach or adult volunteer, according to a report titled "Importance of Youth Involvement in Sports" from the University of Florida. Having an adult outside of the family who is interested in the teen's life and dedicated to making a difference to the young man or woman helps reduce a troubled youth's chances of depression and increases his or her self-esteem, according to the report.

Improved Body Image

• Teens tempted to engage in risky behaviors based on a poor self-image can benefit from organized sports, according to Teenhelp.com, an online guide for parents navigating the adolescent years. The website quotes a presentation from the Department of Education that states that sports participation can counter negative or dangerous images promoted by the media. Participation in organized sports can bolster self-esteem, which can reduce the chances a troubled youth will engage in risky behavior, according to the website.

Reduced Crime

• Although the causes of youth crime are complex, there is strong evidence that indicates that sports programs can reduce the likelihood of a teen committing a crime by improving his leadership, teamwork and self-governance skills, according to a report titled "Youth Sport vs. Youth Crime," by David Carmichael. According to the report, midnight basketball leagues reduced juvenile crime in Kansas City, Missouri in the areas surrounding games, and an organized running program in Alexandria, Virginia, reduced crimes committed by teen girls who participated