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How playing sports benefits your body ... and your brain - Leah Lagos and Jaspal Ricky Singh

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TEDEd Animation

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The victory of the underdog. The last minute penalty shot that wins the tournament. The training montage. Many people love to glorify victory on the field, cheer for teams, and play sports. But should we be obsessed with sports? Are sports as good for us as we make them out to be, or are they just a fun and entertaining pastime? Leah Lagos and Jaspal Ricky Singh show what science has to say on the matter.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

The benefits of playing sports are wide and varied. This article and podcast from NPR: Benefits Of Sports To A Child's Mind And Heart All Part Of The Game is sure to make you want to stay active. This article is also a great resource.  Strong heart, strong lungs and better emotional well being are all side-effects of playing sport.

There are however, some negatives to playing too many sports.  Youth sport: positive and negative impact on young athletes will give you some insight into why you shouldn’t really overdo things. Everything in moderation, including sports.

Does exercise really help bone density? Is there really a link between the two? Check out Exercise in Youth Makes Bones Strong in Old Age and see.

Participating in a sport isn’t just about the physical component; there is also an emotional component to playing sports. Feeling a bit “down?” Read: Group exercise boosts happiness,” for some inspiration to move! As you may already know, you don’t win every game, you can’t score with every shot and sometimes, it takes practice. Sports are also an awesome way to build resilience and grit! Need some proof? Read: Resilience in Youth Sport: A Qualitative Investigation of Gymnastics Coach and Athlete Perceptions and What’s the Value of Youth Sports?

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Leah Lagos, Jaspal Ricky Singh
  • Script Editor Mia Nacamulli
  • Director Serin İnan, Tolga Yıldız
  • Producer Serin İnan
  • Designer Tolga Yıldız
  • Animator Tuncay Çetin
  • Composer Cem Misirlioglu, Brooks Ball
  • Narrator Susan Zimmerman

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