Physical Education · Ch 2 — Children and Women in Sports
Women participation in Sports - Physical, Psychological and Social benefits
Women participation in Sports - Physical, Psychological and Social benefits
Women Participation in Sports — Physical, Psychological and Social Benefits
Regular participation in sport keeps women fit and lowers their chances of disease. The benefits fall into three groups — physical, psychological and social — and are as true for women as they are for their male counterparts.
I. Physical Benefits
Lifestyle Diseases. Staying active through sport reduces the chances of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, helping women live healthier lives.
Bone Density. Women face a higher risk of osteoporosis than men. Sport helps them build greater bone density and stronger bones.
Toned Muscles. Regular exercise and sport increase muscle tone, helping women stay strong.
Cardiovascular System. Regular exercise increases the number of capillaries and improves oxygen intake, so a woman can keep playing for longer without becoming fatigued.
Obesity. Obesity is a lifestyle disease found the world over, and much of India's population is affected by it. Women are more prone to it than men; regular sport helps them stay in shape and remain fit.
II. Psychological Benefits
Taking part in sport has a powerful psychological effect on women — it gives them confidence, raises their self-esteem, and provides a sense of achievement that helps them overcome obstacles.
Stress Management. Physical activity releases hormones that lift mood and lower stress. Sportspersons — women and men alike — manage stress far better than those who do not play.
Control Emotions. Facing difficult, high-pressure situations in a game and coming through them makes women emotionally stronger and better able to control their emotions.
Confidence. Every small win raises a player's confidence. When a woman competes and wins, it gives her — and other women who watch her — a real sense of achievement that carries into every area of life.
Self-Esteem. Sport helps women recognise their own self-worth. Participating and achieving boosts self-image, which is vital for any individual.
Leadership. One of the finest qualities sport brings out is leadership. Women who play are better able to lead people, both on and off the field.
III. Social Benefits
Sport helps women open up to society — it teaches them to communicate and to bond with teammates and officials.
Coordination. Sport improves coordination between team players, so women learn the skill of working together.
Communication. Communication is central to sport, since players must talk to one another while playing; this makes women participants more vocal and expressive.
Inter-relationships. Sport is a team effort, whether on the field or in the supporting staff, so women learn to build and maintain relationships and to respect one another on and off the field.
Cooperation. Women learn to cooperate on the field, and this habit of working together in harmony and peace carries over into the rest of their lives.
Encouraging women's participation
Because of these benefits, women's participation in sport should be encouraged in schools, colleges and universities. Regular awareness programmes should be run, and women should be encouraged towards competitive sport. Families need to support their girls, and better media coverage and sponsorship can lift participation across India. Sports equipment should be designed with women's physiology in mind. Appointing women coaches, providing opportunities to compete, removing cultural and social negativity, and building proper facilities will all bring more women into sport. States where social or other factors are a constraint should offer incentives so that their women too can take part and live healthier lives.