why sports are important for youth

why sports are important for youth

 In ancient Greece, sport played an important role in the life of the Greeks. Physical exercise, as it is called, was half of all young people's education. The ideal citizen was fit in body and complete in mind and soul. Exercise was a means of education with the main element of competition and noble rivalry. The Greeks were the first to give this content to the exercise and did not limit it in the context of military preparation. Exercise was also used in medicine as a therapeutic practice.

However, the modern way of life, with the stress, the lack of free time and suitable spaces, but also the insufficient education of the children for the benefits of sports, make the person sluggish and motivated. It is no coincidence that the chronic diseases associated with lack of exercise have increased dramatically in recent years and all indications are that the condition is deteriorating. Exercise affects everyone, young and old, women and men, poor and rich, sick and healthy.

Movement is a natural tendency of children and in fact the younger they are, the more spontaneously they express it. Growing up, however, physical activity is a challenge as it seems that young people tend to give it up! Causes? The increased demands of the school, the feeling that not everyone is good in sports, the lack of standards but also the absence of physical activity of the other members of the family. Thus, children today end up being less active, while at the same time watching TV and playing games and computers is increasing. As a result, childhood obesity is on the verge of an "epidemic" and chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, appear from a very young age.

However, with their involvement in sports:

They build strong muscles and strong bones,

They can better regulate their body weight and are less likely to gain too much weight,

They have a reduced risk of developing chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension,

They sleep well,

They can better manage physical and emotional challenges,

They have increased self-confidence and experience less stress and stress in their daily lives.

Sport is not only about physical development and health, but also about the way a child begins to perceive the world. By participating in sports the child becomes a member of a team and learns to communicate equally and, above all, with rules, to participate in a common effort for a common goal.

It is an opportunity to make new friends and learn to work with them. Equally important, however, is the fact that through sports the child perceives and accepts diversity and cultivates the idea of ​​mutual respect and tolerance.

But because sports for children today is essentially the game of an era where the alans have disappeared, we must not forget that it should first and foremost be a fun activity and a valuable experience for the child.

But before any participation of the child in a sports activity should be checked medically, primarily by the pediatrician, who will assess the physical condition and development of young, aspiring athletes. It is an opportunity to diagnose potential health problems or increased risk factors and to ensure sports activity without health risks.

During the visit the pediatrician will ask about the individual and family history of the child, with emphasis on cardiovascular disease and symptoms (such as bloating, chest pain or fainting during exercise, deaths at a young age in the family), but also about other chronic diseases (asthma, musculoskeletal diseases, dermatological problems, allergies, etc.).

The child will be examined with emphasis on cardiology and orthopedics and may request laboratory tests such as electrocardiogram and / or echocardiogram to rule out underlying heart disease.

Following this, a Child Health Certificate is issued stating:

any chronic diseases,

if he suffers from an infectious disease,

if he has allergies,

if he has had any surgery,

blood pressure and heart palpitations,

if he has problem behaviors such as sleep disorders, urination, etc.,

if he has been vaccinated normally with all the prescribed vaccines prescribed by the National Vaccination Committee of Greece or any vaccine is missing,

height and weight,

the condition of the skin,

if he has scoliosis or kyphosis,

if it has good visual acuity,

if he hears well in both ears,

condition of his teeth,

if you experience fainting, fatigue, pain, etc. after exercise,

condition of the genitals.

An integral part of the proper development of children is their proper nutrition. From an early age children should be familiar with every taste and food. Their diet should be enriched with fresh salads and fruits and we should resort to ready meals in very rare cases.