Running head: ​INFUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 1

Influence Of Team Sports on the Adolescent Population

Myles Lee

Global connections 1A

Tallwood Highschool GSWLA

INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 2

Abstract

Sports play a huge factor in the development of the majority of humans. This paper

highlights the positive influence that team sports have on the adolescent population. This paper

will dive into 3 major cultures, and how their specific sports influence, and shape the way people

live, interact and grow. This paper will also cover life after sports. The healthy habits team sports

provide, and the people’s ideas on sports looking forward to the future.
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 3

Table of Contents

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………….………….2

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………4

Limitations…………………………………………………………………………………….….5

Literature review….……………………………………………………………………………....6

Lit review ………………………………………………………………………………………...7

Lit review........................................................................................................................................8

Lit review………………………………………………………………………………….……...9

American football……………………………………………………………………….…...…..10

Futbol in

spain………………………………………………………………………….…..…….11

Rugby in England………………………………………………………………….…….……...12

How sports impact your future…………………………………………………….…………….14

Conclusion and further evidence………………………………………….……………………..15

Interview…………………………………………………………………………………………16

References………..……………...................................................................................................17

Appendix (charts& further

studies)................................................................................................20
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 4

Influence Of Team Sports on the Adolescent Population

In the United States, 55.5% of all high schoolers participate in at least one sports team

and for the past 30 years, this number has been gradually increasing. This shows the amazing

impact that team sports have on adolescent development. Team sports create an outlet for

students to relieve stress, get over daily life stressors and also get in amazing shape and assist

with cardiovascular health this will affect long and short term health. Studies also show that

sports help with grades of these young students because it helps them with time management and

organization of time and responsibilities.

These effects don't just happen in the united states this paper will highlight sports around the

entire world that assist in the development of teens across the board. Different cultures favor

different sports and this paper will highlight those other sports that teens participate in

In the united states, the biggest sport is American football this very high speed, high contact

sport has endless benefits but it also comes with its own risks. As one moves up into the higher

ranks of American football the pay becomes higher but the beneficial payoff may decrease with

studies of early-onset brain diseases and arthritis but everything has a limit before the payoff

decreases. There is a risk you take with every decision you make but the payoff of competing in
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 5

this sport in a highschool setting does nothing but good for a person. It benefits cardiovascular

health mental health, mental toughness, ability to deal with adversity down the line and is a great

outlet to release tension and anger from our daily lives.

In England, one of the most popular sports played in the sport of Rugby which is sometimes

compared to American football because of its aggressive nature and tackling and then there is the

sport of futbol or soccer this paper will highlight the importance of futbol in the country of

Spain. Futbol is the most widely known and played sports around the entire world, and there is

no country on this planet that doesn't know about the game, and this is partly because of its

simplicity as a game it can be played anywhere with anyone as long as you have space and a ball

to kick around. Sports continue to affect the lives of adolescents everywhere and the benefits turn

these teens into productive members of our society.

​ limitations

This research will highlight the impact that team sports play in the lives of adolescents

in highschool. This paper will not go past the confines of the three countries that are covered

which are Spain, England, and the United States. This paper will cover three sports these include;

The sport of American football which is very prominent in the United States and is a pastime to

watch for millions of Americans and is ingrained into the American culture. The sport of rugby

which goes back many generations and is known as a sport of hard work grit and is highly

honored and respected by millions in England. and soccer or “futbol” in Spain this is not only the

most popular sport in the country of Spain but in the entire world. This paper will also cover the

benefits of play with several scientific studies on its neurological and neuromuscular benefits as

well as cognitive skills and sports ability to create life long skills habits and bonds for people.
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 6

This paper will also cover the risk to reward ratio in playing high contact sports such as

American football and it will highlight when that pay off starts to decline and become quite

detrimental to short and long term health and quality of life. This research paper will also cover

many accounts of successful people such as Dwayne Johnson and how these sports molded them

into the icons that they are today. this research paper will also compare the different aspects of

the sports and which one may have the highest payoff for the amount of work invested into it and

the nature of that specific activity. No sport is created equal but this paper will convince you that

they are always going to be with the time and effort put into them by young athletes all around

the world. The range of this paper will not extend beyond the range of information found online

and will not contain first-hand evidence from professionals in the field.

Lit review

Team sports play a major factor in the development of the youth of the world and as

humans become more technologically advanced, people are tending to stray away from sports as

adolescence. It should be highlighted how important these team sports are in the development of

character for youth everywhere. Melissa Lambert (M.ed) states that. ”​Athletes participating in

sports should understand the importance of being part of a team and how their behaviors will

impact everyone else.”​ (Lambert 2019). Sports help develop life skills such as communication,

perseverance and resilience, social skills and builds bonds, strong bonds that may last forever.

Team sports are also very beneficial to the heart and cardiovascular system, it keeps one in good

condition and reduces brain fog which can help with grades and stress from everyday life.

Lambert also highlights how these team sports play a key role in composure, confidence, and
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 7

commitment are all very essential life skills that can be taken into the workplace and can give

people a great advantage over certain peers and colleagues.

One of the sports highlighted in this paper will be American football, American football is

a very high-intensity high contact sport that if played correctly and safely can benefit the youth

in such a profound way. It is said to improve work ethic, relieve stress, works one’s entire body,

improves mental health and wellbeing, and improve bone and cardiovascular health. Football

also releases endorphins which is a chemical that evokes happiness when running or doing any

sort of physical training. Sports like this shape the perspective of the world for these kids and it

is very important that they get involved.

Another highlighted sport that will be apart of this paper will be the sport of rugby Liana

Kell highlights the main benefits of competing in this high contact sport and highlights how it

promotes discipline for young athletes that can be used throughout their lives. ​“Rugby is a

highly social sport with plenty of interaction between team members. Players will learn how to

work well as a team and will think about how decisions that are made will benefit not just

themselves, but also their peers. Rugby also teaches children that there are boundaries and rules

which need to be followed and provides children with responsibilities.”​ (Kell 2019) these sports

are the foundation for productive members of society and they are similar but are primarily

played on 2 different sides of the planet and that's what makes sports such a beautiful thing.

In an interview done on the (OWN) network, a tv network owned by Oprah Winfrey

Dwayne Johnson a popular movie star and former professional football player said that high

school sports changed his life and made him become the man that we all know today if it wasn't

for his high school football coach teaching Dwayne lots of morals and that Dwayne would have
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 8

never become the man he is known for now. Dwayne stated, “My thought process changed, that's

when I started to think about goals and what I wanted to accomplish.” (Johnson 2015) “I love

that man I’ll never forget the impact he had on my life” (Johnson)

The third sport highlighted in this paper is the most well-known sport in the world it is

played in every single country around the world and has a massive influence on the youth of

Spain, in particular, this sport provides an athletic outlet for the youth of Spain and is a very

popular pastime in this European country. A study done at Western Michigan University by

Kelly A Brown and Dilip R. Patel highlights the benefits of physical and cognitive benefits of

participating in sports such as soccer and American football. Body composition, flexibility, and

muscle growth and strength are all benefited when participating in these sports which benefits

long term health.

Body

In this world, there are roughly 7 billion human inhabitants. Within this incredible

amount of people, there is an endless amount of cultures in which people around the world

immerse themselves. And an incredible amount of these people enjoy playing sports that their

individual cultures provide. More specifically, this paper will delve into 3 very large and popular

sports-related to specific cultures. This paper will explain, and break down the many health

benefits, life skills, and healthy habits that these sports provide, including the associated risks

and how these sports reflect the culture of the people who play them. This paper will also

highlight the three different sports in-depth and talk about their influence on the young

adolescent population and how geographic area and culture of the people in its effects which
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 9

sports are played. this paper will also dive into the minds of the players and discuss why people

play, and how sports can create an outlet for the people who enjoy them.

This journey will begin with the sport of American football. American Football is a very, very

popular pastime for a large majority of Americans. The sport of American football is

permanently ingrained in the American culture, some may even consider it “America’s game”.

Millions of Americans look up to their favorite football players and aspire to be like them.

Young men across the country aspire to play in the National Football League (NFL) when they

are adults. This is part of the reason why so many people are so interested in playing in high

school. Many Americans flock to stadiums on Friday nights to watch their local high school

teams play and create a sense of community where all residents set aside all differences to attain

one goal, to win Friday Night Lights. This is one thing that makes the game such a beautiful

thing. Football also takes a lot of grit, resilience, and dedication because it is a mentally draining

and testing sport that will break you down and build you back up. Football provides the

adolescent population with an outlet to release emotions, improve work ethic, relieve stress, and

release endorphins which is a chemical released in your brain that makes people happy. Football

is unlike any other sport it has some traditions that other sports may have adopted but did not

keep and it is a grown man’s game one must be willing to lay everything on the line for the love

of the game. Most football players consume lots and lots of carbohydrates and proteins to

withstand the long practices and games this, in turn, maintains healthy bone density and prevents

conditions such as osteoporosis as you age so that your bones don’t become weak and frail, the

sport of football also provides lifelong health habits to increase future quality of life. In an

interview on the own network Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson a very well known WWE star and
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 10

the highest-paid actor on the planet and an inspiration to millions upon millions of young men,

said that highschool football changed the entire course of his life. He tells this story of how

football taught him discipline, how his grades improved and it gave him an outlet to release all of

his emotions built up from his daily life and his rough family situation. He also talks about how

he believes that every high school student should consider playing a sport because of the endless

positive effects it provides. Johnson also mentioned in his story about how he was getting

attention from schools all across the country to play football, therefore he had an opportunity to

go to college and get a free education at an amazing school. This sport opened so many doors for

Johnson and put him in a situation better than the one he had before he played. We see many,

many benefits from the game of American Football and this sport is a savior for many young

men. This might explain why it is the number one high school sport in the united states with 1.1

million young men suiting up every season to play the game. But one very crucial element of the

game that people must improve on is safety. This game is great for healthy habits for a long life

but may also hinder the future quality of life for some unfortunate players. This game has been

shown to affect the mental health and well being of professional players and is a very high-risk

game some refer to football as a contact sport, but it is better described as a collision sport it is

also said in football that there is a 100% chance of getting “hurt” and there is always potential to

get injured. American Football is a sport that must be played correctly in order to ensure safety.

Which, in turn, means that there is a very high chance of getting injured due to the pure

aggressive nature of the game. There are numerous studies on brain health after years of

high-level football and this shows there is always too much of a good thing. Some players are

left with debilitating injuries that ruin their lives and shorten their lives dramatically but this does
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 11

not mean we cannot improve the safety of the game by continuing to improve the technology of

the gear and enforcing rules and fines in order to keep our players out of harm’s way and prevent

long term issues. Improving the safety of the game will also allow players to have longer more

productive careers in the NFL and allow them to more safely play the game that these players

love.

In the country of Spain, the culture of the people is strongly influenced by the sport

of Futbol or also known as Soccer to the people of America. Modern Futbol was introduced in

Spain in the late 19th century by a combination of mostly British immigrant workers visiting

sailors and Spanish students coming from Britain. The first clubs were organized in the late 19th

century and ever since then the sport of futbol has made its way into the most popular sport in

the country of Spain. In Spain, Most children are born with a ball and taught at a very young age

to play the game and much like the sport of American football many teens look up to the pros

and aspire to be like them in order. to play amongst the pros. In a survey about sports habits of

the Spanish population made in 2010, it is said that approximately 75.9 percent of the population

has bought tickets to attend a futbol match and 67.3 percent claim that they have seen all of the

matches broadcast on television that year. Some Spain natives will agree that futbol is the law of

the land and that some consider it more important than just a sport, it is their culture. As said in

an article by the people's daily online it states “futbol, first team sport in Spain by a number of

practitioners, has become an important phenomenon that involves cultural, social, economic and

even political factors.”(People's Daily,2011). a study showed that almost 1,000,000 locals go to
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 12

the stadiums every week to watch the team’s first and second divisions of the national

championship. These numbers are staggering but what is even more impressive is the number of

people who watch their team on television 15 percent of the population tunes in to watch

regular-season games and when there are championship games, views reach upwards of 20

percent watching weekly. During the world cup in 2010, the views of the Spanish population

shows that 50 percent of the population tuned in to watch the final championship. A large reason

that futbol is such a popular sport in Spain because of tradition. They have become very

successful in the sport and developed the culture around their incredible teams. This is a large

influence on the adolescent population of Spain and plays an important role in the development

physically and mentally of the teens in Spain some benefits of soccer include lower body fat

percentage, increases strength, flexibility, and endurance, increase in muscle and bone strength,

and a great improvement on cardiovascular health. Soccer also helps with building bonds and

friendships, teaches values such as; teamwork and significantly contributes to higher self-esteem.

Soccer also provides many healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

In the country of England, many interesting sports are played such as Cricket, Bandy,

Tennis, Golf, etc. but one of the most popular sports played in England is the sport of Rugby this

fast pace game is commonly referred to as the “gentleman's game” and was commonly known to

be played by groups of working-class men in its budding days and is now played in countries all

around the globe and is becoming more and more popular in the United States as more people

discover the game. Similar to the other sports mentioned, the sport of Rugby brings a great

source of community, and the sport of rugby defies all differences and tensions and puts all of
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 13

them aside in order to succeed as a group of men. The sport of rugby also creates an outlet for

more than 2 million young men to release aggression and tension built up on a daily basis in their

stressful lives. One important fact about rugby is that it teaches an incredible amount of

discipline to its players there is almost no comparison when it comes to the discipline and mental

toughness taught by rugby. The technique must be flawless in order to ensure the safety of the

players and prevent serious injury. This discipline teaches these men to perfect their craft and

this has a direct correlation to the rest of their lives. When in a workplace environment these men

will have a great advantage over their peers. In an interview for the rugby team at Brighton

College, the head coach of the team stated. “We’ve managed to create an environment where all

of the boys just, love playing rugby, love playing their sport, and no matter what level they are

and its an environment where they can achieve their potential not just on the rugby pitch but

within the classroom….and puts them in a good place for the rest of their life” This shows how

crucial sports are to the development of these young boys and. How impactful the inclusion of

team activities in these young men’s lives will affect them for the rest of it. The skills learned

from these sports will assist them in their professional careers and will assist them in dealing

with stressful situations later in life. The benefits are limitless physically and mentally so no

wonder It is said that over 2 million young men play rugby in England and are reaping the rich

rewards. A study done at the Penn state university states that a staggering 94% of business

executives stated that they played a sport growing up, and 61 percent of them said that it was the

sport that directly helped in their current success. Another study that surveyed 75 fortune 500

vice presidents stated that 95% of them had played a high school sport. That being said, this fact

does not mean that if someone plays a sport that that person will become successful. But what it
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 14

does mean is that the involvement if sports at a young age creates an outlet for the youth

population to develop life skills,team-building skills, and leadership skills that they can take with

them for the rest of their lives. This article also states how essential sports are for adolescents to

develop time management and life organizational skills. It is said that 55.5% of all high school

students play an organized sport and this number continues to rise at a gradual rate. Time

management alone can be the deciding factor between someone extremely successful and the

average Joe. One person could be brilliant but not know how to manage his or her time properly

and that can hinder goals and aspirations. Whereas someone with a background in sports and

managing time efficiently and effectively between school, sports friends and family and maybe a

job will understand what it takes to become successful and not crumble under pressure like his or

her unprepared peers. Studies also show that students who engaged in athletic activities are better

off in the classroom and achieve better grades on standardized tests than the ones who do not

participate in these athletic endeavors. Studies also have proven that people are 15 percent more

likely to attend college if that person participated in highschool sports. One is also 10 percent

more likely to not experience obesity later in life due to the healthy habits formed earlier in life.

In an article written by Judy Mandell, Mandell states that the pure action of participating in

athletic endeavors is enough to become successful in the future because athletes are accustomed

to failure, success, and adversity all things that derive from the pure drive to compete and which

also directly correlates to the business world and will play a large role in your success in the

business world. Brian Scanlon states “Athletes enter the world of business with the ability to

wake up and compete on a daily basis.”​The journal of leadership and organizational studies

found that 43 percent of high school students in the united states who have played sports tend to
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 15

have more leadership skills, self-confidence, and self-respect. Another quote by Scanlon states

“to continue to strive under conditions of failure shows determination, the ability to handle

frustration and resiliency. In another article by By, observer states many facts about business

executives, and the likely hood of being hired if one possesses the skills of former athletes such

as; resiliency, competitive behavior, and willingness to work overtime play a key role in the

hiring process. The main point made in this article is that to persevere even when one is not

good at something takes a great deal of character, this is why it doesn’t matter if the end result is

a success in the sport or not. Some employers even claim to hire former athletes because they

believe that they understand and value hard work, accountability, competition, resiliency and

being apart of a team. Greg Spillane a former American football player at SanDiego stage

university claims that football taught him a lot about business and leadership he is now the chief

operating officer for events.com an icloud-based application connecting people with experiences

that they love. Spillane states “in football, there are winners and losers on almost every play,”

says Mr. Spillane “somebody is always trying to beat you…”(Spillane).

Conclusion

This paper has explained all of the positive benefits of participating in team sports as an

adolescent and proved with scientific evidence and data that the payoff for deciding to participate

in competitive sports as an adolescent is unmatched to any other. This paper describes many

personal accounts of how these sports influences very successful peoples lives, and gave them a

mindset that they could take into the work environment this paper also discussed the incredible

amount of health benefits that participating in sports has on the human body such as

cardiovascular benefits bone health and long term healthy habits. This paper also dove into three
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 16

very different cultures and discussed how the culture of the people is decided by the sport that

the majority of the population decides to play. In the united states, American football plays a big

role in the lives of millions upon millions of Americans either they are watching on television or

played organized football this sport defines many Americans. In the country of Spain, futbol

plays a major role in the youth of Spain and the professional players are idolized by millions of

residents. People flock to stadiums in order to watch local professional teams play and represent

the country. In England, a large part of the culture is ingrained in the sport of rugby millions of

young men in England decide to play this high contact game and continue the culture.moving on

in the future society must encourage the young population to continue to participate in these

athletic endeavors. Because the payoff for playing team sports is unlike any other.

Interview

An interview was conducted with Tallwood Junior Varsity coach, and very successful Rec

league coach “Coach Thomas” he was asked a series of questions regarding the climate of

highschool football and the introduction of football at a young age and the positive disciplinary

and health effects it has on children.

Question one: what do you think are the most important qualities of a great football player?

“In a great football player you have to have grit you have to love the game and you have to be

fearless. This game is not for everyone you have to be a different breed.

Question two: How do these skills translate to the real world?

“In the real world, there are 3 main categories that are important to being successful. Financial

responsibilities, Relationships with others, all finds, and health taking care of your body. With all
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 17

of the aspects of the game, it forces you to learn many, many life skills. Football teaches you

skills and a mindset that you can take into your adult life.”

Question three: what opportunities will sports provide for people?

“Sports provided multiple people in my family with free education and gave us an outlet to stay

in shape and build bonds with people it has done so much for so many people I know

personally.”

stadiums to watch real Madrid and countless others play clubs across the nation. In England, the

“gentleman’s” game of rugby plays a massive role in the lives of teenagers and adults in the

country with the sport being permanently ingrained in the culture the people of England have no

choice but to fulfill that legacy. The future of participation in these sports is bright as the

participation of youth sports is gradually inclining people will continue to see these positive

effects on the youth of the world.

References

This article highlights the importance of rugby as a team sport in England and explains how

the best players play and the history and culture of the game which is very essential for my
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 18

project it also breaks down everyone involved with the sport like how the coaches are and each

player and the fans all the way to the referees,

Clover, N. (n.d.). The Culture of Rugby – Tackling the Issue of Respect. Retrieved from

http://www.appetite4recruitment.co.uk/?p=6209​.

This article states 8 benefits of playing American football and how it affects how people develop

and it also highlights its real-life and adult life benefits it teaches you to focus and how to accept

defeat its benefits are said to far outweigh the risks that are associated with such a brutal game

such as football.

Mlb.org. (2019, April 12). Top benefits of playing American Football. Retrieved from

https://major-league-baseball.org/top-benefits-of-playing-american-football/​.

This article highlights the origin and manifestation of futbol or soccer as Americans call it came

to be. It also talks about popular teams and why it is so popular among active adolescents in

Spain. It also talks about how important soccer is to culture and how Spanish children learn to

play the game of futbol before anything else because it is such a large part of their culture in

Spain.

Satalkar, B. (n.d.). An Interesting Insight on the History of Soccer in Spain. Retrieved from

https://sportsaspire.com/soccer-in-spain​.

Mandell, Judy. “How Playing Sports, Even Poorly, Can Make You More Successful in

Business.” ​Observer,​ Observer, 14 Mar. 2016,

observer.com/2016/03/how-playing-sports-even-poorly-can-make-you-more-successful-in-

business/.
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 19

S.l. “Football in Spain.” ​Just Landed,​ 28 Oct. 2014,

www.justlanded.com/english/Spain/Articles/Culture/Football-in-Spain.

Simco, Matthew Edward, et al. “SiOWfa16: Science in Our World: Certainty and

Controversy.” ​SiOWfa16 Science in Our World Certainty and Controversy,​ 20 Oct. 2016,

sites.psu.edu/siowfa16/2016/10/20/does-playing-sports-as-a-child-help-you-become-succes

sful-in-life/.

Nauright, John. “Rugby.” ​Encyclopædia Britannica,​ Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 28

June 2018, ​www.britannica.com/sports/rugby​.

Bull, Andy. “England Defy Rugby Stereotypes to Put Life-Changing Glory in Reach |

Andy Bull.” ​The Guardian​, Guardian News and Media, 1 Nov. 2019,

www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/nov/01/eddie-jones-england-defy-stereotypes-rugby-wor

ld-cup-andy-bull​.

Fuller, Steve. “Topic: Rugby in the United Kingdom (UK).” ​Www.statista.com,​

www.statista.com/topics/3208/rugby-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/.

Groth, Leah. “Your Crash Course on Spain's Soccer Team.” ​SportsRec,​ 5 Dec. 2019,

www.sportsrec.com/6559965/your-crash-course-on-spains-soccer-team​.

Belson, Ken, et al., directors. ​The New York Times​. ​The New York Times,​ The New York

Times, 8 Nov. 2019,

INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 20

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/08/sports/falling-football-participation-in-america.h

tml.

“At Your Own Risk: Benefits of High School Sports.” ​Atyourownrisk.org,​

www.atyourownrisk.org/benefits-of-sports/​.

161. “Soccer in Spain Matters More than a Sport.” ​Soccer in Spain Matters More than a

Sport - People's Daily Online,​ en.people.cn/90001/90779/90871/7360151.html.

“High School Sports by Percentage of Total Participation: Bar Chart Made by

Kateknewing: Plotly.” ​Modern Analytics Apps for the Enterprise - Plotly​,

plot.ly/~kateknewing/81.embed.
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 21

Appendix
INFLUENCE OF SPORTS ON ADOLECENTS 22

700 × 500 

This chart shows the percentage of people who participate in each sport in high school In the

United States showing that American football is the most practiced sport by highschool students

with almost 15 percent of the highschool population participating.