Each elementary school student should be required to play a team sport. First off, regular physical activity has clear benefits. It burns fat. It also helps keep people flexible. This can lead to healthier joints. Many team sports can also help with balance and coordination. These skills can help areas of life outside of sports. The best thing is that these habits and skills don’t go away. They stay with kids as they grow. Youth sports are a great foundation for a healthy adulthood.

Sports don’t just have physical benefits. They build character, too. Team sports build an understanding of teamwork. That’s no surprise, but that’s just the start. They also build a sense of personal responsibility. This means that players learn to be responsible for their own actions. They learn that their actions and choices matter to the team. Players also know that others are relying on them. This also creates a sense of pride. It is a pride that is shared throughout the team. That’s a wonderful thing. Every player must learn to rely on others, too. They must learn how to trust. This is just the beginning of the character building benefits of youth team sports.

These benefits are too important to ignore. We simply can’t risk students missing out on them. That’s why kids should be required to play team sports. They’re great for the body. They’re great for character. What else can offer both?