Sport and Socialization: What Is the Role of Sports in Socialization?

Sports help children interact with others at an early age.

On February 9th, 2016 in my American Sport in the 21st Century class we talked about sports and its impact on socialization. In an article wrote by Richard Tenorio for livestrong.com on October 17th, 2015 he discusses the impact of youth sports and its impact on socialization. Tenorio shows how youth sports form bonds and help children socialize with others as we discussed in class. Tenorio also shows that youth sports can help children interact with adults as well since they are interacting with a coach constantly. Many traits can be learned and transmitted as you play sport and if you have children learn those traits at an early age it can be very beneficial to them later in life. Character building is one of the top values in sport as we discussed in class and if someone presents a good character it makes them more likable and easier to talk too. Socialization plays a big role when it comes to sports and Tenorio shows how sports can bring boys and girls together at a younger age even though they are different do to their gender roles. Being part of a team creates a social identity, builds self-esteem, and helps children fit in to a social group as we discussed in class. Sports also create a peer group, help children relate to others, and create bonds that may have never been possible without the use of sport. Lastly, sport teaches integrity, work ethic, leadership, sportsmanship, honesty, respect, confidence, and teamwork as we discussed in class as well. All of those traits are learned through socialization and without socialization sports would not be where they are at today. You can read Tenorio's full article here: 

Sports help children
 interact with adults at an early age.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/532903-what-is-the-role-of-sports-in-socialization/

Do sports play a big role in socialization? Yes.
Do children learn helpful traits from sport? Yes.
Do sports help children fit in to certain peer groups? Yes.