The role of Sports in American society is important for many reasons. Sports promote healthy lifestyles and foster values of fair play and justice. They also contribute to racial and social integration. For this reason, Sports have served as the social glue for America. As early as the 18th century, American presidents stressed the importance of physical activity and promoted swimming and running. These ideals have continued to shape American culture for nearly 200 years. Listed below are some of the benefits of participating in Sports.
History of Sports. History has no clear record of when sport began, but children have played it since ancient times. The first depictions of hunters pursuing prey were of happy huntsmen. Eventually, the pursuit of prey became a sport, and ancient civilizations turned it into a form of worship. Today, many of the same sporting events are held all over the world. Whether it is football, basketball, or ice hockey, sports have shaped our world.
Among the many benefits of sports, athletic participation benefits young girls in particular. Because adolescent girls tend to have lower self-esteem than boys, many of them believe their bodies are only useful if they attract boys. However, studies conducted by the Women’s Sports Foundation reveal that participation in sports has substantial social and psychological benefits for young girls. Girls who participate in school athletics are 92 percent less likely to engage in substance abuse and pregnancy, and they are more than three times as likely to graduate from college.