To this day I believe playing football was one of the best decisions I’ve made in life.
Football is huge in Texas, where I grew up, and I was encouraged to play the game.
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Hardly anybody talked about head injuries back then. Today, though, the situation is quite different. It’s a big issue and for good reason.
Now a coach, I know that some parents won’t let their kids play football, even if they want to play.
Either way–supportive or concerned–I get with parents to talk about whether their kid(s) should put on pads and play the game.
I underscore the benefits from participating in football.
Any sport–football included–can help children develop a work ethic. They also learn to participate as a team member. Football is no different.
In football you play one game a week, but you practice just about every day. During practice you learn how to improve your skills. And you do it in varying–sometimes brutal–weather conditions, like extreme heat, driving rain, and strong winds.
It’s not just a matter of what YOU do. You have to rely on others.
Honing skills and functioning in stressful conditions aren’t just important to achieve success in football. They apply in life, too.
So, too, is teamwork, especially the ability to have confidence in–and trust–teammates. For example, no matter how good a quarterback may be, he won’t throw for 250 yards–let alone complete one pass–without protection from the offensive line.
Learning how to overcome adversity is another important benefit from playing football. Any player knows that it’s not how you start, but how you finish. Falling behind by two touchdowns is one thing. More important, though, is finding a way to come back.
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That’s important in life, too. Circumstances change, even if you have a good game plan. You have to adjust. You learn how to overcome challenges, disappointments, even defeat.
I learned all of these skills on the football field. That’s why, to this day, I believe playing football is one of the greatest decisions I’ve made in my life.
Is football a brutal game? Yes! But so is life.
I believe football builds character and enhances the ability to weather life’s challenges.
That’s why football is important.
Loved your article Matthew. Football was a big part of my life. I played from the time I was a little kid through high school. Loved every minute of it. The good points of football far outweigh the bad. You might enjoy my article titled, what my mother did for me. Keep up the great work.
Yes, I agree with you. Specially the youth football is most important and the value of modern youth football is increasing day by day. Thanks for covering such interesting news.