Sports Benefits 1

Running Head: Sports Benefits

Sports Influence on Athletes off the Court

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Investigative Purpose:
The investigative purpose behind the research discovered is to answer the essential
question: How do different types of sports impact the lives of athletes after their careers,
and do athletes benefit from sports as a whole? The majority (80%) of teenagers in
America play sports on a regular basis throughout their development into adulthood,
whether in recreational leagues or school teams (Gorry, 2016). Hardly any of these
athletes make it to the professional level, so if they dont, was it all worth it? Discoveries
on whether these children benefit from playing sports later on in life were intended to be
made. Benefitting as an adult from playing sports as an adolescent was defined in
several ways- financial status, education level, and overall health were some categories to
be tested for correlation with sports. Generalized, benefitting means being more
successful in life.
Though still looking at sports impact on athletes, differences in sports type were
intended to be compared. One major example of this would be team sports (ex. football)
versus individual sports (ex. golf). It was anticipated that those of team sports would
develop social skills, while individual sport-athletes would be more confident in
themselves. Another less-obvious prediction made was that team-sport athletes would
have a stronger future advantage, since they would develop better interaction skills and
have a more complete skill set built. Differences between each sport were also planned to

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be compared, like the difference between hockey, soccer, and Gymnastics towards
athletes development.
Apart from comparing team versus individual sports, other comparisons within the
matter of sports were intended to be made. Gender differences were planned to be
researched, since girls and boys may develop in different ways from gender-split sports
they play.
Also, comparing the competitiveness of sports was another possible path the
research analysis could follow. To what extent should athletes play their sport? Will they
benefit the most from playing the most often at the most competitive level? Is there a
point where one can spend too much time on sports and hurt their outside life? A
prediction was made that a balanced medium of a pretty competitive sport would leave
athletes most well-off in the future, rather than an extreme commitment, which may take
over athletes lives and cause them to over-value the importance of their sport and become
too self-possessed.
An interview from a field expert would give this research an edge and an
investigative advantage, as having an outside perspective from someone with personal
experience and a professional point of view would be valuable. Coach Lee Kelly, certified
accredited elite professional tennis coach, certified sport science tennis specialist, and
United States Professional Tennis Association instructor would be the ideal person to
interview and receive a viewpoint from. Coach Lee Kelly is the head coach of the mens

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tennis team at Glen Allen High School, and has coached tennis for over 37 years (but been
involved in sports for even longer). He also is in the process of obtaining a PhD. Coach
Kelly already gave some perspective on tennis impact on those who play it and the
amazing outcomes of playing all sports in general, and the way in which a team must
conduct itself to become successful- all which was the inspiration for this research. He
spoke to the team captains, telling them that sheep led by a lion are better off than a pack
of lions led by a sheep; essentially, he advocated for strong leadership by example and
military-styled practices with structure. He would say that youll never know where you
might end up if you play the game of tennis and that tennis and all sports can be used as a
social network. He told of being able to speak with president Obama and the first lady,
all as an outcome of knowing somebody through tennis. If the right questions are asked,
Coach Kelly could provide a spectacular take on why sports are so important that could
bring this research a higher level.
Introduction:
One difficult distinction to make was the idea of whether sports actually cause the
change and effect in athletes. Do sports actually effect the athlete, or do athletes remold
themselves as an attempt to be successful within their sport? It was determined that
making this distinction would be irrelevant, since either way athletes are molded as a
result of playing the sport. Through extensive research, it has been discovered that sports
effects an athletes, regardless of their continuation of the sport, generally followed the
initial predictions that were made.

Sports definitely improve athletes cognitive skills,

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and help them become more skilled for their workplace and life in the future, regardless of
what path they follow.
Research:
I.

Trait Development
Athletes overall development of traits were driven through sports, and the mental

skillsets created may have been otherwise unattainable without sports. As athletes
push for victory in sports, they work hard and learn through experience the way they
must conduct themselves to finish on top.
Sylvia Rimm (PhD) asserted that sports lead to an overall generalized achievement, and
enhance their accomplishments (2008). This research provided a strong basis of what most
researchers conclude about sports, but more in depth research was certainly necessary.
Rimm argued that though sports lead to athletes overall accomplishments and build
confidence, they do "cause some problems"; Rimm says that sports need to be balanced with
the life outside of it, and that sports can't "dominate" athlete's lives and be over-prioritized.
Rimm also makes sure to add that girls can play sports just as much as boys, and that both
develop similar traits.
Rather than studying trait development, Kendall researched Which Personality
Characteristics Contribute to Sporting Success. This goes back to the parity of whether
sports develop athletes or if athletes develop on their own, but regardless these traits as an
effect of their sport. General traits that lead to athletes success were narrowly directed to
individual sports. For example, resilience (hockey), determination (horseback riding), and

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controlled emotions (golf), are paired with a single sport to show which traits are most
applicable to each sport (2014). These traits will continue to exist in the athlete even after
they are done playing, and therefore instill humans with traits beneficial for all aspects of
life.
Though team and individual sports may have different effects on athletes traits,
Asgari and Naseri compared all athletes personality traits to those who do not
participate in sports. It was revealed that athletes had a higher level of all personality
components other than neuroticism (instability), which has a negative connotation,
when being compared to non-athletes (2008). This means that overall psychological
development is clearly catalyzed when one decides to play a sport, and that the
generally predicted benefits of sports existent.
II.

Financial, Educational, Health standpoints

a strong benefit from sports on their quality of life as adults. Those who played sports
at a young age were found to be more successful and in a better place than those who
miss out on this priceless experience.
Those who participate in sports at a young age were found to be healthier and more
active as adults. Tammelin, Hills, and Nayha of the American Journal of Preventive
Medicine sampled nearly 800 people from Northern Finland at the age of 14. Followup surveys were take once the participants had reached age 31 (17 years later), which
was considered to a good age for people to be settled into adulthood. Results revealed

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that "frequent participation" in sports as an adolescent led to a high level of physical
activity in adulthood. Adults especially tended to work out if they used to take part in
require intensive endurance and diversified skills at a younger age (2003). It is
significant that the aspect of having a healthy life can translate from childhood into
adulthood.
From a more economical standpoint, Barron, Ewing, and Waddell researched high
school athletes economical state as adults compared to non-athletes. This study,
conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, researched high school sports
participation's effect on students later on in life when it comes to educational
attainment and wages later on in life. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of
the High School Class of 1972 and the National Longitudinal Study of the youth was
used to test for this relationship. Researchers concluded that there was evidence that
athletic participation directly affects both wages and educational attainment. They
concluded that what mediates this relationship is athletes' altered frame of mind in
regard to leisure that has been created through the commitment of playing a high
school sport (2006). If sports significantly increase athletes education and wages later
on in life, sports affect athletes even more than anticipated before beginning
investigation.
Authors Hyytinen and Lahtonen used empirical evidence to determine the "direct"
effects of sports and athletes on long-term labor market outcomes. A Finnish Twin
Cohort Study and Finnish Longitudinal Employment Study was used to with a sample
size above 5000. Twins were used as an attempt to isolate physical activity as the only

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variable effecting income (comparing twins eliminates genetic and family factors). It
was concluded that sports, and general physical activity causes people to be more
"persistent in the face of work-related difficulties", and have a stronger desire to be
competitive, therefore pushing for greater pecuniary, or monetary rewards in the
future.
III.

Team vs. Individual Sports

Sports overall have been concluded to have a positive impact on athletes, but the
way in which team sports vs. individual sports develop athletes were different. Team
sport athletes developed the kind of traits that one would expect one to form when
working with others and having teamwork and team chemistry. Traits involving
sociability and interaction were found to be developed through team sports. Individual
sport athletes had higher levels of independence and confidence for being less
dependent on those around them.
Nia and Beshrat published a Comparison of Athletes Personality Characteristics
in Individual and Team Sports. Personality surveys taken by athletes revealed that
team sport athletes developed greater skills in agreeability, outgoingness, and psychoneurotic stability. Individual sport athletes were found to be more independent and
conscientious (2010).
Gorry provided a very recent study the Heterogeneous Effects of Sports
Participation on Education and Labor Market Outcomes. This is similar to Barron
and Co-authors MIT study in 2006, though it offered two very distinct differences-

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comparison between team/individual sports, and comparison between gender. Gorry
used recent data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to
conclude that in both middle and high school, athletes earn higher grades and are more
likely to graduate. Another conclusion is also made that athletes are more likely to be
employed after their education. Gorry particularly makes the distinction that team
sports show greater gains for team sport athletes than for individual sport athletes, and
that results do not vary between gender (2016). This shows how athletes positive
impact on their lives from playing sports carry into adulthood.
IV.

Immediate Impact on Athletes Lives

future, athletes have several benefits of playing sports throughout their time of being
an athlete. Athletes are shown to be more successful socially, academically, and
healthily while they play sports.
Athletes will consistently be participating in physical activity, giving them a
structured way to be healthy and stay in shape. Sports also allow athletes to meet
people and make friends their sport, and develop close coach-player relationships with
a coach that mentors them through development into adulthood.
Sports keep athletes out of trouble. In a survey of about 100 adolescents, it was
determined that chances of delinquency were higher in boys who don't participate in
organized activities, when being compared to the adolescent athletes. Researchers
concluded that these sports provided unique "peer affiliations" and "unstructured

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socializing" which mediated this relationship between sports and good behavior for
adolescents (Gardner, Roth, & Brooks-Gunn, 2011). This provides more evidence of
sports' positive impact on athletes, especially recreational sports as one develops and
becomes a fully grown and mature adult.
Conclusion:
Athletes develop traits otherwise unattainable that can be used towards success in
any realm of life. Later on in life, adults are at better educational, financial, and health
standpoints as a result of playing sports. Looking back at initial predictions, most were on
point, though some fields lacked enough research to be included in this investigation.
After reviewing the research, the answer to those who dedicate endless time and effort to
sports, while they most likely will not reach collegiate level has been discovered: its all
worth it. Kids need to get out and play sports, since with this comes a stronger skillset,
and future monetary, educational, and health benefits as adults.

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References
Asgari, A., & Naseri, T. (2008). The role of sport and personality traits in psycho-social
development of students. Journal of Iranian Psychologists, 5(17), 53-62.
Barron, J. M., Ewing, B. T., & Waddell, G. R. (2006). The Effects of High School Athletic
Participation on Education and Labor Market Outcomes. The Review of Econmics
and Statistics, 82.3, 409-421. Retrieved from
[Link]
Carroll, J. (2002, February). Teens and Sports: "Let's Play" Retrieved March 28, 2016,
from [Link]
Gardner, M., Roth, J. & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2011 Aug). Sports participation and juvenile
delinquency: The role of the peer context among adolescent boys and girls with varied
histories of problem behavior. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 1(S), 1937. Retrieved from [Link]
Gorry, D. (8 Jan 2016). Heterogeneous Effects of Sports Participation on Education and
Labor Market Outcomes. Education & Economics Journal. 24.1. Retrieved from
[Link]
Hyytinen, A. & Lahtonen, J. (2013). The Effect of Physical Activity on Long-Term
Income. Social Science and Medicine. 96(C), 129-137. Retrieved from
[Link]
[Link]

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Kendall, B. (2013, August 14). Which Personality Characteristics Contribute to Sporting
Success? Retrieved from [Link]
Nia, M. E., & Beshrat, M. A. (2010). Comparison of Athletes Personality Characteristics in
Individual and Team Sports. Procedia, 5, 808-12.
Rimm, S. (2008). "The Importance of Sports. Retrieved from
[Link]
Tammelin, T., Hills, A., & Nayha, S. (2003 January). Adolescent Participation in Sports and
Adult Physical Activity. America Journal of Preventive Medicine, 24.1, 22-28.
Retrieved from [Link]
Vallerand, R. J. Review- Psychological Foundations of Sport. Journal of Sports Psychology, 7,
306-10.