If your body is prepared and warmed up, if your brain is prepared, if you are able to focus and at times relax, you can benefit from sports participation. Some sports with no physical contact can be lifelong activities, like golf and swimming. Many sports, however, require physical contact, and more risk is involved in sustaining injuries, like boxing and football. Some injuries may affect the rest of the athlete's life.
Most people are aware of the positive aspects of sports, but aren't mindful of the negatives. Athletes and parents of young athletes need to weigh the positive with the negative. Perhaps another less risky sport or physical activity would be better in the long run.
Parents may believe their young athletes will receive the benefits of the sport. They also may enjoy watching the accomplishments of their offspring. Plus the athletes often get adulation from their peers. The possibiity of financial benefits from scholarships, college play, or turning pro is very slim.
Participation in sports is one thing; being a fan or spectator is another. Vast amounts of money is made from ticket sales to sponsorships. So the value of many sports rests on how much money is made from the spectators. Many of the more popular spectator sports involve physical contact team sports, almost like a substitute for battle. Often the possiblity of the damage to the athletes is ignored.
One leads to another. Sports most enjoyed by spectators may be the ones young people want to play.
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