Sports and other forms of physical activity can help students develop positive traits like discipline, teamwork and perseverance

In addition to the obvious health advantages, sports and fitness activities have been proven to benefit children socially and psychologically, enabling them to live happier and healthier lives. One of the most essential benefits is discipline. Having the right amount of mental, physical and tactical discipline is key in every sport’s activity. A child’s willpower and ability to exercise self-control are all honed by participation in sports. 

Activities in sports also instil in young people the values of patience and perseverance, teaching them that hard work and dedication eventually pay off. If they learn how to persevere at a young age, they will have greater coping skills as well as the ability to think critically. This will prepare them to handle greater challenges in the future.

One cannot always win in sports, just as one cannot always win in life. Young people who participate in sports gain an early understanding of this principle. So, they learn to take setbacks and lose with dignity. They learn to keep trying even when they fail and to not let failure get them down. Also, they learn the value of friendly rivalry through this experience. The value of working together is another crucial life skill that kids can pick up by participating in sports.

Children learn the importance of teamwork and the need to play to each member’s strengths in order to win. Also, they learn to put others before themselves and not allow pride get in the way. Learning to work with others is a crucial trait, and if they acquire this quality at an early age, they will be better team players as adults in the workplace.

Sports activities foster leadership skills as well. Becoming or striving to be a team captain, for instance, teaches kids valuable lessons in leadership, such as how to communicate with teammates, handle group emotions, sacrifice for the greater good, and so on. 

At St Joseph’s International School Malaysia (SJIIM) (Tropicana PJ campus), sport is very much part of school life. All students experience a wide variety of different sporting activities through PE lessons, as well as the diverse co-curricular activities programme the school has to offer.

“We believe in the concept of ‘sport for all’ with a focus on progression and enjoyment. All pupils are encouraged to pursue sports in which they are talented or interested in. We aim to promote lifelong participation in sport by adopting an inclusive, fun and supportive approach to all sporting competitions.”

At Tenby International School Tropicana Aman, students’ participation in extracurricular activities is an essential component of their education and their active participation is a reflection of their commitment to the success of their academic careers.

This is because such activities promote holistic growth by providing them with opportunities to try out pursuits that pique their interest, while fostering a love of learning and a growth mindset through the satisfaction of meeting and conquering challenges in a fun, engaging and participatory environment.