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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If your child plays a team sport, the benefits may go beyond athletic skill.
A recent study from the Netherlands says physical fitness may also help your child’s brain development as they grow.
Could playing a team sport make your child smarter?
The Cleveland Clinic
Dr. David Geier, sports medicine specialist
Dr. John Brunelle, sports psychologist with Novant Health
Yes, playing a team sport could make your child smarter.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that children who partake in team sports see improvements in executive functions, such as memory, focus, adaptability, and emotional control.
Dr. David Geier explained that regular cardiovascular exercise and strength training are essential for brain health.
“These activities improve blood flow to the brain, which benefits cognitive functioning,” he said. “This has been linked to academic success and job performance as well.”
Beyond physical benefits, team sports require mental effort. Children must work together with teammates, remember plays, follow instructions, and make split-second decisions. Geier noted that these mental challenges go beyond those of individual exercise.
“When you add a complex task like coordinating with teammates or following the rules of the game, it requires a different level of focus and learning compared to running or working out alone,” said Dr. John Brunelle.
Brunelle agrees that sports help children develop valuable life skills, particularly in managing stress.
“Sports challenge the nervous system, increasing stress levels, which can actually be beneficial,” he stated. “Learning to handle stress in a productive way is crucial for kids, and sports offer the chance to experience that in a healthy environment.”
Both experts recommend that parents consider enrolling their children in team sports, but they caution that children should enjoy the activity to get the most out of it.
“I’m generally a very, very big fan of sports, and I feel like it’s very important,” Geier said. “But I would caution that it needs to be something a child likes to do, him or herself. So let them experiment with a different sport.”
Brunelle added the lessons learned from sports go beyond winning or losing.
“There’s such inherent value of taking those risks, recognizing that failure is not only a possibility, there’s high probability, and that’s why we do it,” Brunelle said.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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