Does participating in team sports help develop good character?
There are all types of sports that children of all ages can participate in throughout their
lives and at many different levels of learning, participation, and competitiveness. Playing
sports is beneficial for children because it helps them develop better social skills,
self-confidence, discipline and overall health. Many people will argue that team sports do
help develop good character and few will argue that it does not. It depends on what your
definition of character is. Character defines a person, and our character determines how we
respond to the situations and circumstances in life.
Participating in team sports while in school does help build good character. I know this
from personal experience, when I was younger I was a very quiet kid and didn’t have
many friends. When I was about 10 years old, I started playing basketball and training in
karate. Playing sports has helped me come out of my shell and become more social with
kids who had the same interests as me. I started out with no experience, I practiced for
years and became very good at basketball and karate. I perfected my skills and achieved
many awards and won many trophies which helped boost my self-esteem. I had a tough
childhood and sports were an outlet for me to release my stress from my home life. I
became very confident in myself, and I learned discipline. It takes hard work to perfect any
skill and I believe this is why I have the determination and drive that I have today.
