Children exposed to sports at an early age are able to develop their skills at a much higher level than those who do not have the same opportunities early in life. Sports are no different from other areas of interest and talent. As a rule, musicians, artists, dancers, etcetera, who begin study early in life usually are the most prepared and outstanding in their areas as they progress through their lives. The earlier the better!
Sport activity helps children develop and improve cognitive skills, according to a study that tracked children from kindergarten to fourth grade. Physical activity is associated with improved academic achievement, including higher grades and standardized test scores. Physical activity can also affect attitudes and behavior, in and out of the classroom, and increase levels of concentration and attention. A 2019 study found that children who reported no exercise were twice as likely to have mental health problems. The loss of organized sports during COVID-19 hurt the mental health of many children. One in four youth sports parents said their child’s mental health suffered, according to a 2021 survey by Project Play and Utah State University.
Sports feeder programs for young children are very important for skill development and make a huge difference in their progress. Some communities across the United States have programs sponsored by organizations such as the YMCA, Optimist Club, Police Athletic League (PAL), Babe Ruth Baseball, etcetera.
Some citizens are unable to pay the fees associated with various sports programs. This puts many children at a disadvantage from an early age. “Pay to play” has done harm to students coming from homes with few or no discretionary dollars. As with most things in our lives, having a good income makes a huge difference in regard to which children have the ability to be exposed to organized sports. Children coming from above average to high income homes can afford lessons in their sports, hire private coaches, and attend sports camps, putting them at an extreme advantage. This not only helps them with being well trained in their sport, but also in making sports scholarships more attainable to pay for college costs. This has taken away the ability of excellent athletes who have families working hard to make ends meet to be as well trained in sports as their wealthy counterparts, therefore lessening the ability for them to be gifted with an athletic scholarship.
Due to the financial hardships of Pottstown families that have a higher prevalence of children living in poverty and are among the highest concentration of young people of color in Montgomery County, Pottstown youth are at greater risk of the consequences that are prevalent among young people that lack good access to sports during adolescence. Other urban, financially unstable, or families of color in neighborhoods all over the state of Pennsylvania suffer from this same plight.
However, there are other barriers in addition to finances that may interfere with a child accessing organized sports. For some children, there are issues of transportation for a child coming from a home that is less financially stable. Many parents work two or three jobs to care for their families, leaving no time for them to transport their children to sports practices and games, especially if they are held outside their school district. There are also many families that do not have a car, and public transportation many not even go to practice fields and courts.
Transportation is always an issue in communities that contain families facing economic barriers. Every effort should be made by all area sports organizations to assure most practices and games are held on local fields due to the transportation issues for these children and families.
Travel teams are also putting pressure on students with limited incomes. Many students that can afford to pay the fees associated with a travel team have opted to play on them rather than participate on traditional area sports teams. This leaves the less affluent students, who are just as talented, out in the cold in regard to playing on these teams that are very competitive.
Our bodies are made to move throughout our lifetime. Children, teenagers, and adults can remain fit both mentally and physically by exercising on a regular basis. But let us not forget, this should start in childhood. Let’s try to make sports and physical activity available to all children no matter where they live or the status of their family income. We are stronger when we work together and opportunities are offered for all.
Dr. Myra Forrest is an education liaison for the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation. She is a lifelong educator and former school district superintendent and former executive director of the Foundation for Pottstown Education.
