I have given a great deal of my life to sport, and I have received a great deal in return.  Now my days of competitive sport are done, I am excited to have the opportunity to help the children of our community to live out their sporting dreams, and to experience the benefits of sport as I have.

I firmly believe that sports can give children opportunities for growth that they cannot find though any other means. The discipline, responsibility, accountability and teamwork necessary to be successful in a team sport environment, carries over into the real world and puts young athletes at an advantage above their peers. 

There are also some correlational studies that show varied positive effects of sports on young adults. It is said that Students who play at least one sport are 40% less likely to be regular smokers and 50% less likely to be heavy smokers. Also Female athletes in grades 9 through 12 are less than half as likely to get pregnant as their non-athlete peers. That is on top of higher graduation rates, and lower occurrence of eating disorders and body image issues.

I feel that one of the most important things we must convey to our young athletes is the importance of upholding the spirit of sportsmanship, and healthy, friendly competition.  The mark of a good sportsman is the ability of an athlete to aggressively compete to the best of their ability, then the second the game is over congratulate the other team on their performance with sincerity, and without any animosity, regardless of the score. 

The benefits of sports for adults can be just as great for adults as for children. Impact exercise is one of the best ways to prevent the loss of bone mass that leads to osteoporosis. Studies have also shown exercise to also help maintain a healthy heart and a healthy mind.

So it is for the reasons listed above, and a variety of others, that I encourage you to be active, and to take advantage of the many sporting opportunities available in our community. Also if there are any new sporting activities you would like us to consider adding, or if you have any suggestions for how we could improve or augment our existing programs please do not hesitate to come by and see me.

Sincerely

 

Liam Hughes

Sports Coordinator

City of Newport Parks and Recreation Department

Email Liam Hughes

541.574.5453