Continue with Microsoft TeamsRead the Following Selection
Read the following selection, or click on the play button below to listen aloud.
Why Playing Sports Is Good for You
Playing sports is fun. Even if you do not win every game, you are still spending time doing something you enjoy. Having fun is not the only reason to get involved in a sport. Playing sports helps you in many different ways.
Making Your Heart Stronger
Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood through your body. Like any muscle, your heart gets stronger when you make it work hard. How do you know when your heart is working hard? You breathe faster. All sports make your heart work harder.
Making New Friends
Playing a sport is a great way to get to know people and make new friends. If you play on a sports team at school, you can get to know students in other classes. If you play sports outside of school, you can get to know more kids in your community. Some of the people you meet might become new friends.
Learning That Hard Work Pays Off
Playing sports is fun, but it is hard work too. During practices, you might do exercises and drills to improve your skills. During a game, you work hard to help your team win. The more you practise and play games, the better you get. This helps you learn that hard work pays off. Learning this important lesson will help you at school and throughout your life.
Improving Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself. People with good self-esteem have confidence and feel good about themselves. Scientists have discovered that playing sports helps most young people improve their self-esteem. Even if you are not a star player on your team, just being involved in the sport can help you feel better about yourself.
Now you know that there are lots of good reasons to play sports. You will have fun, and you will help yourself in other ways, too.
Now, show what you know!
Complete some questions about the reading selection by clicking “Begin Questions” below.
