Sport boosts self-confidence
MIDRAND - Sport remains a favourite pastime for children, keeping them focused, especially during this pandemic.
A psychologist and local residents involved in coaching sport talk about the benefits of keeping young ones fit and mentally strong while having lots of fun.
Nicolette Visagie, a clinical psychologist at Fourways Family Health said sport was a vehicle that enabled children to build their strengths. “A poignant and important benefit of involving a child in a sport is self-confidence. This sets off a process that has far-reaching developmental influences that last a lifetime. Self-confidence builds self-esteem, which, in turn, affects volitional aspirations and goal building which informs the quality of children’s lives now and for the future,” she said.
Visagie explained that in sport, the process of mastering technique and tactics helped children learn to self-regulate their emotions and make decisions, which therefore affected their cognitive functioning and reasoning ability. “The impact of feeling confident in an act of playing an individual or team sport, can set off the motion to the building of individual personality formation, cognitive development and the formation of relationships.”
Midrand United Football Club coach Morgan Moodley agreed that confidence was a bonus prize for his soccer players. “Since 2018, as a coach and physical education teacher, I have watched players develop confidence, show respect and stay disciplined. At the club we also ensure a balance between sport and academic achievement, we encourage them to excel in both.”
Coach Shelby van der Merwe of Flip Flop Gymnastics said sport was an important and fundamental element in developing a child’s physical and mental skills. “In gymnastics, we have seen that the programmes and activities hugely benefit children and improve their self-esteem and fitness.”
Horse riding was another fun way to keep a child happy and fit. Kimberly Orme of Sun Valley Stables said, “In our experience, we have witnessed children develop better fine and gross motor skills, become independent, expressive and their coordination develops at a faster rate.”
While most sporting activities come at a cost, schools have free sporting activities for their learners. There is also basketball court at Country View where community members can play for free.
Details: Midrand United Football Club 071 646 2130; Flip Flop Gymnastics www.flipflopgym.co.za; Sun Valley Stables 082 571 0309.
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