What is sports and its advantages?

Only six out of 10 children aged between five and 14 years participate in sport outside of school, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The Australian Health Survey conducted in April 2012 found that 25 per cent of Australian children and teenagers, aged five to 17 years, are overweight or obese, indicating that we need to foster a more sports-minded culture that encourages children to be physically active.

People who are active dramatically reduce their risk of many diseases, including heart disease and osteoporosis. Regular exercise is also known to reduce the risk of emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. Habits are established early in life and evidence suggests that physically active children are more likely to mature into physically active adults.

Benefits of sport for children

Some of the many benefits of sport participation for children include:

• reduced risk of obesity
• increased cardiovascular fitness
• healthy growth of bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons
• improved coordination and balance
• a greater ability to physically relax and, therefore, avoid the complications of chronic muscular tension (such as headache or back ache)
• improved sleep
• mental health benefits, such as greater confidence
• improved social skills
• improved personal skills, including cooperation and leadership.

Reducing inactivity may be more effective in achieving overall increases in energy levels in young children than putting the emphasis on increasing involvement in sporting activities. Taking steps to reduce children’s sedentary time is important.

Sedentary pursuits and children

Around 40 per cent of Australian children don’t participate in sport at all. Common sedentary activities that compete with physical activity include:

• homework
• computer games
• internet use
• television.

The Australian Government recommends that:

• ‘Children and young people should participate in at least 60 minutes (and up to several hours) of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity every day.’
• ‘Children and young people should not spend more than two hours a day using electronic media for entertainment (such as computer games, internet, TV), particularly during daylight hours.’

These recommendations are a guide to the minimum level of physical activity required for good health.

According to the Bureau of Statistics, over the 12 months prior to April 2012 in Australia, 1.7 million or 60 per cent of children aged 5 to 14 years participated in at least one sport outside of school hours that had been organised by a school, club or association.

Participation amongst boys (949,000) exceeded that of girls (727,000), both overall and within each age group category. Children aged 9 to 11 years were most likely to participate in sport (66 per cent).

The three most popular organised sports for boys in 2011 to 2012 were soccer (22 per cent of total), swimming and Australian rules football. For girls, swimming/diving (19 per cent of total) and netball were predominant.

Encourage your child to be physically active

Parents can help their children to be physically active in a number of ways, including:

• Lead by example – be physically active yourself.
• Make sure that some family outings offer opportunities for physical activity, such as playing sport together.
• Encourage your child to walk or ride their bicycle for short trips, rather than rely on you to drive them.
• Support your child’s efforts in sport. Make sure you’re there at each match, cheering them on from the sidelines.
• Set time limits on sedentary activities like computer games and television.
• Consult with your child’s school on ways to encourage greater participation in sports and physical activity.

Sport safety issues

Many sporting injuries sustained by children can be avoided. Suggestions include:

• Always wear appropriate protective gear.
• Mouthguards should be worn for all contact sports. See your dentist for a professional fitting.
• Wear knee, elbow and wrist guards for all sports that include a risk of falling, such as inline skating or skateboarding.
• Wear shin pads for sports like hockey, softball and cricket where injuries to the front of the lower leg are relatively common.
• Helmets can reduce the risk of eye and face injuries.
• Make sure to thoroughly warm up and cool down.
• Cross-train with other sports to ensure overall fitness and strength.
• Use good form and technique.
• Allow adequate recovery time between sessions.

Where to get help

Youth athletes receive countless benefits from participation in organized sports whether through a local recreational league, youth sport organization or school. The risk of injury is inherent in sports but the benefits typically outweigh the risks. It is important for youth athletes, parents and community members to understand the risks of sport and take steps to reduce the risk. Athletic trainers play a critical role in providing a safer approach to sports. Parents, coaches and administrators can work together with athletic trainers to make sports as safe as possible and allow youth to reap the many benefits that come with sports.

Unfortunately, many youth athletes play sports in environments that do not prioritize their health and safety, leaving them at an increased risk of injury or illness. This includes teams that have a toxic culture, teams that do not invest in their players' health and teams that do not follow established best practices and policies designed to keep youth athletes safe. Many times funding, lack of community support and access to resources are barriers to implementing these policies, but if schools and communities can provide sports, they have the legal and moral responsibility to provide them in as safe a manner as possible.