Mr. Janak Raj Bhatta
Basketball Coach
Sports are one of the most entertaining activities that have many benefits. Sports benefit the people in many ways. It is impossible to exclude some of the benefits and include the others. I strongly believe when we play a sport we not only experience immense thrill, but character building also takes place whether we wise it or not. All of us have heard famous sayings such as ‘A healthy mind lives in a healthy body’, and ‘All study and on play makes Jack a dull boy’. Sports and games are undoubtedly the building blocks of the health and character of children. Their importance in the overall and holistic development of children cannot be denied. Let us see what happens when we play a sport.
Sports instill in us many values and virtues. The first is a sense of discipline. All sports are time bound activities. They start at fixed time, continue for a specified amount of time and then there is always ending time. The players have to do their best within the given time to win game. This time limit makes him aware of the value of time. He prepares himself keeping the time in mind.
Secondly, games teach us focus and concentration. The player focuses on strategies to win a game. For example in order to score the target in a basketball match, he scores the target in mind and plays accordingly. This enhances his focus.
Thirdly, sports teach us teamwork, camaraderie, and cooperation. A player has to play in coordination with other team members. He learns how to adjust and adapt in relation with others. This ability to work in a group and team is very essential in the current times. Later on I life one has to work always in a team, at work, research projects, or any types of work, it is all teamwork. So team work one learns the best at playground.
Fourthly, sports teach us sportsmanship. We learn good etiquette and polite behavior with our opponents. Games also teach us how to accept defeat and further self-improvement. Therefore, sports indirectly help us build a strong character. We must encourage young children to play at least one sport regularly.