Dermot Coll on Investing In Your Future Through Sports

Joining sports used to be looked at as a pastime to keep kids busy and for them to have fun. However, now we know the importance and the impact that it has on the success of children and into adulthood. Here are the ways that sports can help a child prosper into their adult lives.

Discipline

Discipline is probably one of the most obvious positives to joining a sport. Playing a game can teach a person to learn the importance of patience and practice as well as learning from failures. These are skills that imperative to develop in life because they are encountered regularly. Joining a sport also teaches responsibility, self-confidence, accountability, and teamwork.

Health and Brain Function

Getting out and joining a sport is a great way to improve your health. But, did you know that exercising can improve brain function as well? Studies have shown that exerciseincreases blood flow to the brain and helps the body build more connections between nerves. The increase in blood flow leads to better concentration, memory skills, creativity, and problem-solving skills. These skills transfer over to all other aspects of life, especially in the classroom and in the workforce.

College and Beyond

The skills and life lessons taught through sports help to create a better student. Participating in high school sports leads to an increased sense of community and allows a student to have different leadership opportunities. It also enables students to learn a multitude of skills from different coaches. High school student-athletes are more likely to havea better GPA than non-athletes and are less likely to miss school days. These factors can lead to college opportunities that would have otherwise not been available. Whether or not a student wishes to pursue a career in athletics or something entirely different, sports offer great opportunities for career success. College student-athletes are held to a very high academic standard as enforced by the NCAA. Since there have been academic reform guidelines in place, the Graduation Success Rate had reached over 85% in 2018. After graduation, former student-athletes are more likely to hold a full-time job, especially women. 62% of former female student-athletes are employed full-time while 56% of non-athletes work full-time.

Sports have proven to have a positive impact on the lives of children through adulthood. Take the time to look into what sports are right for your child and offered in Fresno to help improve their life for years to come.

Dermot Coll is a business professional with over 20 years of leadership, sales, and marketing experience. He is a military veteran and Air Force Academy Graduate. He has worked in college athletics as an administrator and coach, as well as in business as a consultant, sales, and marketing expert.