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Values kids can score from playing sports
Playing sports can help a child get ready in the game of life. Some parents enroll their kids in sports to improve their social skills, or allow them to learn something new. Getting children into sports, however, can teach them more than just how to make friends or play the game. Sports can teach youngsters many lessons they can actually use in real life. Here are some values kids can score from playing sports:
Develop self-discipline
Engaging in sports means going to practice. Kids need to show up several times per week to learn the ropes. However, it is not enough to show up to the sessions. Arriving early is very important in deference to other kids who show up on time. This ability is crucial once kids step into the workplace.
Increase productivity
Engaging in any sport keeps kids busy. With this, children can use their time more wisely as they focus on their chosen activity, rather than giving them an opportunity to get into unproductive vices like drugs or spending too much time on gadgets.
Boost confidence
More than building skills, sports can help a child gain confidence. Practicing on a regular basis will help improve a kid’s ability to play. Coupled with encouraging words from parents, having faith in a kid’s abilities can do wonders not just in the playing court, but also in his or her world outside school.
There is strength in teamwork
Playing in a team would teach kids that “there is no ‘I’ in TEAM.” It’s an overused phrase, but rings true nonetheless. In a team, each member has a role to play; otherwise, a game can take an ugly turn if they don’t work together. Similarly in the workplace, to achieve the same end goal, a team player must learn to work with others.
It takes hard work to succeed
Taking up a sport and being good at it will not happen overnight. It requires time and consistent hard work to improve a player’s game. In the process, kids will learn to never give up if they want to be good at something. This level of determination can be the difference in the workplace or other opportunities.
Be a follower to be a leader
Committing to a sport binds the player to a leader who pulls the team together. Coaches and trainers serve as guides providing motivation and direction to players. Kids will learn to listen to an authority figure. As followers, they can pick up from these mentors to learn how to be better leaders.
More real-life lessons can be learned through athletic endeavors. Fortunately, in the Philippines, it’s not difficult to look for a sport for children to get into, as opportunities abound—from schools up to barangays. This year, MILO launched its Barangay MILO Liga program to bring sports closer to the Filipino youth, especially in the grassroots level. The effort is in partnership with barangays across the country in a bid to encourage more kids to pick a sport and train like champions.
“All these efforts are being made so that the barangay’s young residents, and even children from surrounding communities and nearby schools will have access to well-conditioned sports venues and become inspired to go out and play. We want to encourage kids in the barangays to become more active through sports, and not be too consumed with their gadgets,” said Lester Castillo, MILO Sports Executive.
The Barangay MILO Liga program covers 100 barangays and spans from as far as Baguio to General Santos City. It aims to modernize the community’s sports facilities and transform it into MILO Courts of Values. Improvements include repainting or restoring basketball courts and supplying brand new sports equipment. The program also provides various sports trainings. To know more about the Barangay MILO Liga Program, visit MILO’s Facebook page at facebook.com/milo.ph or log on to www.milo.com.ph for more updates.
