Many parents would agree that children playing outside is a good thing. But other than getting some fresh air, what are the real benefits of playing, and, in particular, playing sports? With childhood obesity rates in the U.S. between 16 and 33 percent, according to the American Academy of Adolescent & Child Psychiatry, as of August 2010, playing sports could be seen as a means to help maintain a healthy weight as a child, as well as establish a love of sports that may keep an individual healthy from childhood to old age. There are other arguments for sports involvement.
Types
Youth sports offer children the chance for team play, with soccer, baseball, softball and football, as well as individual sports such as swimming, tennis and gymnastics. A child's personality and interests will steer him toward his preferred activity. Some kids like the social aspect of being on a team, where they will make new friends. Children who are also a little unsure of their abilities may prefer a team sport in which they are not the focus of attention. Other children, however, may want the spotlight and not have to rely on teammates to help determine who wins and loses.
The American Academy of Adolescent & Child Psychiatry notes that sports for children can facilitate friendships, social skills and self-esteem, as well as provide a vehicle to teach lessons about teamwork and sportsmanship. And sports for young children can simply be about fun, too. Children need an outlet for physical activity, and sports like soccer and swimming can help them burn energy. The University of Florida's Family, Youth and Community Sciences Department also reports that children who play sports tend to perform better in school.
Misconceptions
Most have heard about or seen obnoxious parents and coaches of young athletes. But they are more the exception than the rule. Most adults involved with youth sports have good intentions and want the kids to have a positive experience. If you are hesitant about letting your child participate in sports because of the stereotypical mean coach, take time to get to know the people involved in your area's Little League or other programs. And to help ensure a positive influence for an upcoming season, become a coach yourself.
Long-Term Effects
The long-term effects of youth sports involvement can be profound. A child may discover a sport she wants to play her entire life and that will help keep her healthy. The Kids Sports Network suggests encouraging lifelong sports like tennis, golf and bowling to children to set the foundation for activities they can enjoy for decades. A child also may find a way to bond with a parent through sports, which can, in turn, help maintain a close relationship throughout life.
Expert Insight
The American Academy of Adolescent & Child Psychiatry notes that a positive experience with sports as a young child can have lasting effects that will help make for a more well-rounded, well-adjusted adult. "The lessons learned during children's sports will shape values and behaviors for adult life," the academy says. However, a bad experience can teach negative values, such as win at all costs, that can provide a distorted and unhealthy perspective.
An investigation by Yahoo Sports has found that players from as many as 16 NFL teamshave already begun securing high-interest, short term loans, in anticipation of the NFL lockout.
The interest on these loans can be anywhere from 18 to 36 percent, putting them on par with bad credit cards or even payday loan services.
In addition, some of the lenders have required players to get insurance policies to cover the loans, in case they're injured. That can add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of loans.
All of which these players can scarcely afford. (That's why they need the loans, right?) If players are already running out of money — or anticipating that they will soon — it only underscores the harsh reality of professional sports, where millionaires live paycheck to paycheck and end up broke as soon as the league is done with them.
That explains why there's a hidden industry of private lenders that target the sports industry. Yes, these are adults, but for one of these lenders to claim that they aren't trying to take advantage of financially naive rich guys is pretty disingenuous.
DURING THE opening ceremony of the IPL 4 in Chennai on Friday, superstar Shah Rukh Khan will enthrall spectators with a dazzling performance. The organisers of the event, Wizcraft Entertainment, is said to hold a short but an eventful show full of dance and songs.
Others who will be joining Shah Rukh Khan include popular pop singer Sona Mahapatra, Sunidhi Chauhan, Kunal Ganjawala and Akriti Kakar. The status of the last three singers has not been confirmed as of yet.
Reliable sources at the venue stated that it was not a tough call to rope in SRK as he already owns an IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders, and has to be present when Kolkata take on IPL 3 winners Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on April 8.
Upon her take to perform at the IPL 4, Mahapatra said that it was quite a late decision to have a colourful opening ceremony, and she was asked to be a part of the show about two weeks back. She also stated that although she normally travels with her band, doing a gig at an event like this was totally unexpected.
Mahapatra made her mark in the industry with the song Dumadum mast kalandar and is also being considered as an apt song for the occasion. However, with the time running short, the excitement level is at its all time high with India winning its second world cup.
The Super Bowl! It’s the one time each year when people who like to watch football can sit down and rest assured that the moments between plays (i.e. the commercials) will be just as entertaining as the plays themselves. They can also be assured that a middle-aged rock act will perform during halftime promptly followed by a display of fireworks. They can even count on the fact that there will be lots of beer, pizza and fried foods available for the duration of the afternoon. It’s almost better than Christmas.
The Super Bowl is a uniquely American tradition. It’s like we took all the excitement that people in the rest of the world have over the World Cup and squeezed it into one beer-swiggin’, cheerleader tossin’, French Onion Dip of a day. With all that spectacle in the air, it’s easy to forget the reason for the season – football.
Sometimes we watch the Super Bowl to follow our favorite team. Sometimes we watch to follow our favorite players. Sometimes we hope to be surprised by a play or sideline drama – like the mental breakdown Jim Maynes experienced before he left pro-football to open a gym in the series The Jim.
Every weekend, we football fanatics sit on our couches to bow at the altar of the pigskin. And, year after year, the pigskin has not failed us. And while the Super Bowl promises epic levels of play, not every Super Bowl has been exciting. But the ones that have been, really have been.
The Jim – Save The Jim 1. Super Bowl XXXVI – Vinatieri Kicks a 48-Yard Field Goal
Fifty yards is a long way to kick a football – even more so under pressure. But that’s exactly what New England Patriot Adam Vinatieri did in the final moments of the game against the St. Louis Rams. The score was locked in at 17-17, and the world held its breath as the ball soared through the air. There was no way he was going to make it. But it just… might… go.. all… the… way. A final Hail Mary play like this is the stuff football dreams are made of, and made for a moment we’ll never forget.
Patriots: 20
Rams: 17 2. Super Bowl XXXIV – Jones Keeps Dyson from the Last Yard
A game coming down to a ball being kicked half a football field is memorable, but a game coming down to one last yard might just beat it. Rams linebacker Mike Jones had the tenacity to hold back Titans receiver Kevin Dyson one yard away from Super Bowl victory – in a moment where we’re pretty sure time stopped completely. How could Dyson not get that one extra little yard? It’s hard for us to say, seeing as how we’ve never been blocked by a 250-pound monster like Jones.
Rams: 23
Titans: 15 3. Super Bowl III – Broadway Joe Gets His Ring
One of the most remarkable images in football history is Jets quarterback Joe Namath heading off the field with his right index finger raised in the air. We wanted him to have it, and he apparently wanted it too. The odds were against the Jets going in, and what a stunner the match turned out to be. The Colts went down in flames, and from those flames rose that plucky young phoenix Broadway Joe. Not a great moment if you were a Colts fan, but a great moment if you like a classic underdog story.
Jets: 16
Colts: 7 4. Super Bowl XXXII – Elway Gets Pummeled, First Down
If you’ve never seen a man turn into a helicopter, we highly suggest you watch footage of John Elway getting taken out by two Packer defenders in the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXII. Denver was six away from a first down on the third. Elway broke through from the pocket and did a flying leap for the first-down marker. He was then rudely interrupted. But it didn’t stop him from celebrating his victory. The moment turned the tide, rallying the Broncos to victory.
Broncos: 31
Packers: 24 5. Super Bowl VII – Yepremian Tries His Hand at Passing
It’s always fun seeing someone do something outside of their job description… and failing miserably. That’s what Miami kicker Garo Yepremian did after failing to get a 42-yard field goal past the defensive line. He picked up the ball and tried to be quarterback for a day. The ball slipped out of his hand in one of the worst displays of football handling since back in pee wee league. Redskins safety Mike Bass grabbed it – running it in for a touchdown. It wasn’t enough to break Miami’s lead, but it was probably enough to break Yepremian’s ego.
Dolphins: 14
Redskins: 7 6. Super Bowl X – Lynn Swann’s 53-Yard Catch
A great throw needs a great catch to complete it, and the greatest catch we’ve ever seen in a Super Bowl was pulled off by Pittsburgh receiver Lynn Swann in Super Bowl X. He barely had a handle on it at first, even falling over Cowboy Mark Washington, but he got control of it by the end. The catch netted Pittsburgh a 53-yard gain and paved the path for a 21-17 win over the Cowboys.
Steelers: 21
Cowboys: 17 7. Super Bowl XXIII – Montana’s 10-Yard Pass to Taylor
Joe Montana’s passes are lean and mean. A man on a mission, he scored two epic plays in Super Bowl XXIII. You might remember his 10-yard bullet straight to John Taylor with 39 seconds left. But many forget it was preceded by a 97-yard drive. Joe Montana isn’t screwing around, and Cincinnati learned that the hard way.
49ers: 20
Bengals: 16 8. Super Bowl XX – The Fridge Gets a Touchdown
In a moment ripped from an inspirational movie, William “The Refrigerator” Perry scored a touchdown on a 1-yard dive in Super Bowl XX. The Fridge was a defensive tackle, which makes the moment that much sweeter. It’d of been a cherry on top if the Bears weren’t already punishing the Patriots, but we can’t really fault them for playing some damn fine football.
Bears: 46
Patriots: 10 9. Super Bowl XXV – Norwood’s Kick is Wide
Poor Buffalo. They could taste the win and lost it in a fleeting moment when kicker Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal as time expired. That was the first loss in what would be four consecutive Super Bowl losses. It’s like Norwood’s kick floated right because it was being carried by angels who really liked the Giants – and then they stuck around for the next couple of years to make sure they got the message.
Giants: 20
Bills: 1910. Super Bowl XXVII – Beebe Knocks the Ball out of Lett’s Hand
Making a touchdown in the Super Bowl is the crowning moment of every footballers career. But the moment to celebrate that is not before you cross into the end zone. That’s what Dallas defensive tackle Leon Lett did as he was dancing his way with the ball in hand after a fumble return. Buffalo receiver Don Beebe apparently didn’t like that very much and went after Lett with zero impunity. Beebe batted that sucker right out of Lett’s hands for a touchback and taught him a valuable lesson: you haven’t won ‘til you’ve won.
Cowboys: 52
Bills: 17
The Jim – Huddle Up The Jim – The Belly And The Bootcamp
Chris Littler lives in Hollywood. He has a degree in Dramatic Writing from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, one of the most prestigious writing programs in America, which he totally plans to hang on the wall when he has a Study. Chris currently covers video games at UGO.com when he’s not performing improv at iO, and is currently writing a one-hour TV pilot with his friend Wes. Like everyone else you know, he has an album available to purchase on iTunes and has lots of things to say on his blog: chrislittler[dot]com. 10 Most Memorable Super Bowl Moments | The Sixth Wall - KoldCast Media
