Children in Sport Develop Life Skills Sport is defined as an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often a competitive nature (Webster). Since the creation of man, sports have played a huge role in how people live their lives. The world today is consumed by sport. What is it about competition and games that make us so drawn to something that consumes so much of our time? From the moment we are born until the moment we die, most of us are involved in competitive physical activity in some way. Whether it was gym class in elementary school, college basketball in high school, or even professional baseball as a career, sports play an influential role in our daily lives. Children are taught from an early age to love sports and to consider it a necessary part of life. Why is it essential that children are included in sporting activities? Beyond the joy of participating in sports itself, there are several valuable lessons learned by young athletes through involvement in sports that make them better, well-rounded people in life. Lessons learned through participation in sport include psychological skills, self-confidence, and motivation (Hardy). These lessons allow young athletes to be more successful when applied to their regular lives. Whether the sport is gymnastics, golf, or even hockey, psychological skills become critical in the development of a successful athlete. These skills not only play an important role in how an athlete performs in his game or routine, but they also help develop character, developing off-field skills. The first of the very important psychological skills learned is that of goal setting (Hardy and Jones, 19). In any sport it is vital to... half of paper ......actively participate in the sport. Meeting this requirement serves as motivation for many student athletes. When asked if he could convey ideas to young athletes still in elementary school who are not as interested in their education as in their athletic achievements, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar responded: "I would tell young athletes that their athletic dreams are big." “Those dreams will motivate them to do wonderful things, but that cannot be the only motivation they have in their lives” (Mertzman, 296). There is more to life than sport, but being actively involved in sporting activities at a young age will develop lifelong skills that will benefit people outside of the sporting sphere. The skills, including psychological, self-confidence and motivation, will be of great support to those who use and display the skills in other areas of their lives.