HEALTH The power of children’s sport

The power of sport


Personal Trainer
Paul O'Brien

Nelson Mandela once said, “Sport has the power to change the world … It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.” I remember hearing this quote many years ago. It sent a tingle down the back of my neck.
Mandela acted out these words when he, as South Africa’s first black president, embraced the Springbok rugby team before they hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It was a seminal moment in the lives of all South Africans; a heartfelt gesture of reconciliation, hope and brotherhood. It was an act that sent spirits soaring across the globe, a swell that created a sea change in the political and social dynamics of his country. Mandela knew the power of sport and wielded it to inspirational effect.
Sport is also accessible, open to all. To those for whom money, a lack of education or simply being born in the wrong place closes off the path to opportunity, sport offers a way. For the investment of time, dedication and hard graft it offers everyone the chance to reach the summit of achievement.
The breadth of sporting disciplines available broadens its appeal to all comers. Even the least sporty of us can usually find a sporting past-time we enjoy.
I have previously written in this column that sport is, in essence, a microcosm of life. And so it is. It can teach us how to succeed and how best to fail, to take opportunities and learn from mistakes. It teaches our children key life skills such as teamwork, discipline, self-confidence and application. Sport enhances social skills and bonds people together. It’s good for our physical, mental and emotional health. At its best, sport brings out the very best in the human character – graciousness, humility and even love.
The role of sport in modern Ireland is an essential one. Our youth are battered on the rocks of consumerism and technological advancement. Basic life skills such as effective communication are waning, as texts and twitter replace talk. Simple games that brought kids together in local fields and parks don’t seem to exist anymore, or have been replaced by virtual games played in front of a screen.
A generation ago, a field beside the house I grew up in was swarmed daily with kids playing tag, soccer, hide-n-seek and all sorts. It now lies empty, almost pining for the laughter it once took for granted. Where are the kids now?
Sport is an antidote to this trend. An awareness of the importance of sport, or games as play, is surfacing, as we begin to turn full circle. Communities have a responsibility to put sport and games at the forefront of their plans. Sports days, theme events and the like give a huge return for a small time investment. In helping to bring kids together, sport helps them to develop the life skills they will need. It does so, as Nelson Mandela stated, in “a language they understand.” Let’s get talking.

Paul O’Brien is a personal trainer and life coach based in Westport.