Youth Sports: Now Fun for Kids

A new study looks at what makes organized sports fun for kids, and some of the findings might surprise you. The new study that got published today dispels the popular myth that what makes sports the most fun for girls are the social aspects, like friendships, while for boys the fun factor has to do with competition.
Amanda J. Visek, PhD said"Our data describes that girls and boys are more similar than different when it comes to what makes playing sports fun,". He is an associate professor of exercise and nutrition sciences at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health "What counts most for girls and boys are things like 'try your best,' 'work hard,' 'stay active,' and 'play well together as a team.' These are the same things for athletes at younger and older ages and across recreational and more competitive levels of play."
Visek's analysis is a follow-up to the original research she and her colleagues done at the Milken Institute SPH previously conducted which engaged soccer players ages eight to 19 in concept mapping all of the determinants that make playing sports fun for players. The resultant maps, termed as FUN MAPS, uncovered 81 fun-determinants within 11 fun-factors. This new study took a deep view at that data and found that, among the 81 determinants of fun, 'winning' ranked No. 40 in importance, scoring farther down on the list than many might have identified.
On the same time, this study has found some small yet intriguing differences in fun priorities, which depends on the age or gender of the young athletes.
For example, younger players reported it was more important to have a coach who allowed them to 'play different positions' than older players. This study's findings underscore other research that suggests younger players are more likely to benefit from this strategy compared to older, more developed athletes.

By: Saksham Gupta

Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191114100903.htm