One study I found was a great process in pinpointing just how great sports can be for kids. The study’s frontrunners were Terry Bennett, Ellen L. Lipman, and Lindsay Robertson. Their purpose was to gain information on healthy child development, particularly as it pertains to child athletic participation, review of the studies of competitive sports and developmental outcomes, and to make recommendations regarding how competitive athletics programs support principles of healthy child development, where improvement may be needed and where future research may be needed to answer questions that are as yet unanswered. They used other studies to build on …show more content…
In particular, regular physical activity through the lifespan is associated with improved health and quality of life, as well as reduced risk of premature mortality in general, and of specific health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, colon cancer and diabetes. There is evidence of improved bone strength linked with physical activity, but mixed results for improved cardiovascular risk factors. Early physical activity has also been noted to help children acquire a basic foundation for movement which is needed to enable individuals to participate in a range of physical activities later in life. Ultimately, physical health outcomes for school-aged and older children involve growth, fine and gross motor development, freedom from injuries, sexual development and