How Football Prepares High School Students for Adult Life

Regular physical activity is one of the most beneficial things human beings can do. There are the obvious physical benefits and studies have clearly demonstrated that exercise is good for mental health too. When we combine all of the benefits of physical education with those of competitive team sports, we have one of the best methods to prepare high school students for adult life. And when that sport is Football, we also have one of the best sports for this purpose. So, let’s take a look at six ways Football prepares high school students for the real world…

Social Interaction

Football, by its very nature, is a social sport. In order to work as a team, each individual needs to communicate with their fellow team-mates. It teaches players to support one another as well as work towards a single goal. These interpersonal skills are a valued asset no matter what your future holds.

Learning to Win and Lose

Winning is great – it is the proof that if you train hard and work as a team, anything is possible. However, it is losing within a competitive atmosphere that is one of the most important experiences a young human can have. As an adult, you will face setbacks, you will experience failures and at times, you will feel like giving up. Football teaches students real-life lessons that students can take with them and use for the rest of their lives.

Decision Making

Every second of a Football game requires you to make a decision: where to stand, where to run, when to pass and whether or not to make a tackle. Often these are small decisions, but once you are involved in a crucial game, every decision matters. There are also the times when Football clearly requires the big decisions – how to react to not starting a game, to losing a final or what to do in the last ten seconds of a close encounter.

Just like a game of football, life constantly forces you into making decisions, both small and big. For example, if you were going to book a hotel online, you would look at customer reviews to see if previous guests enjoyed their stay, or if you were planning on visiting an online casino, you would look at casinomarket.com in order to find trusted and reputable options.

Football can give you the confidence to make both big and small decisions in a calm and calculated manner, both on and off the field.

Mental Health

Competitive sports have been linked to positive mental health. Participating in Football has been shown to reduce anxiety levels and increase both self awareness and self-esteem. The experience of feeling part of a team and making progress as a player can improve confidence and improve overall emotional well-being.

Physical Literacy

Physical Literacy is the development of fundamental movement and sport skills. Football, and all of the training and gameplay it requires teaches children how to safely and efficiently stay physically healthy. Becoming physically literate provides students with the confidence and competence to continue exercising for their entire lives.

Academic

The benefits of football are not only reserved to the field but also make their way into the classroom. Studies have shown that Football reduces stress and improves student’s overall academic performance. Football can also help students become more disciplined and can reduce disruptive behaviour.