Youngsters have lost the plot

Madam – As a sports enthusiast, I find it disheartening to see fewer and fewer young people taking part in sporting activities.

Every week in the Newcastle Advertiser, I see older people taking part in sports, while children and young adults are nowhere in sight.

Is sport dying out or is today’s youth merely too lazy to move away from their video game consoles?

Is drinking taking the place of rugby and soccer? Are movies replacing cricket?

I believe children who do not participate in sports will never truly understand the concept of team work, discipline and constructive criticism.

Sport, to me personally, builds character as it teaches people to lose gracefully and that through continuous practice and perseverance, anything can be achieved, despite the odds.

No parent wants to force their child to do something they don’t want to, but there comes a time when you need to put your foot down and make them go out and do a sport.

Eventually, the child will either grow to develop a passion for it, or start looking at alternative sports.

If parents continue to allow their children to not participate in physical activities, we will leave the world to an unhealthy and unfit society. Sports is beneficial to a healthy lifestyle and to one’s mental health.

Lets get healthy