If you’re out of your teen years, you may have forgotten how difficult they can be. That tumultuous time is incredibly difficult and messy — but there’s an easy way to get rid of some of that stress.
School sports have been shown to help ward off teenage angst. Some people may scoff at the idea of teenagers needing a place to blow off some steam when they don’t have bills or many responsibilities, but it’s not easy to face societal and academic pressure at a young age.
In fact, 27 percent of teens experience extreme stress during the school year, and 31 percent say their stress has increased over the previous 12 months. Perhaps even more worrisome: 34 percent expect stress to increase within the next year.
Whether you’re a teenager or the parent of a high schooler, a team sport is a great option. Exercise can help reduce stress and give kids an opportunity to bond with each other. However, it’s important to note that young athletes will still experience an ample amounts of stress.
Balancing practice times with homework isn’t always easy, and some kids may get nervous when all eyes are on them. Additionally, some sports have higher injury rates. But don’t worry —as long as you know your boundaries and educate yourself on to how to prevent injuries, you’ll be fine.