If you played sports as a kid, you probably have some very fond memories of that time in your life. You probably made friends, learned how to play a game that you might even still play now, and had fun! Part of the fun is the excitement of competition. But is it only fun when you win? Does the losing team take nothing away from playing? Of course not. Children who play sports enjoy many benefits that can last a lifetime.

Playing sports can be a great opportunity to make friends. Children on a sports team might meet other kids they wouldn’t have met through school alone, and will end up with a larger variety of friends.

Losing, specifically, is beneficial sometimes. A person will not succeed at everything in his or her life, and playing sports with supportive coaches and parents can teach kids how to win and lose gracefully. Knowing how to succeed and fail are very important life skills.

Athletic activity from an early age can start children on the path of a healthy lifestyle. Time spent playing sports means less time for television, video games and other sedentary activities.

Playing sports and winning is fun, and Healthy competition is good for kids. But the benefits of children getting involved in team sports go far behind who wins the game.