Why is physical education important?

With college admissions and job placements becoming more and more competitive, why do students need to participate in a sports class at school? Shouldn’t they use that time to study, and leave physical activities for their parents to figure out during holidays and free time? Not if you listen to experts. The benefits of physical education are many and varied and might even increase a student’s academic learning.

Top five reasons why physical education is important:

1. It promotes academic learning. A healthy body with a good cardiovascular system has better blood and oxygen circulation. During any type of aerobic workout, the heart is working harder than usual, becoming stronger and better at pumping. This means more blood and air is supplied to the brain when it is time to study. The effects of exercise have been shown to increase a student’s ability to focus and recall information.
2. It builds self-esteem. Students who participate in physical games like basketball, volleyball, or even individual sports like running or martial arts also display more confidence in school. They are better able to meet the social expectations of peers and family, and they are calmer and more self-possessed during academic stresses like board exams. The discipline and determination required to excel in sports are carried over to other areas of students’ lives as well.
3. It develops cooperation, teamwork and sportsmanship. Most physical education programs are holistic. They are designed to engage both the body and the mind of the student, and to test the ways in which students interact with their external surroundings. They allow students to work together towards a common goal. While bringing out the competitive side, it also promotes sportsmanship.
4. It promotes good health. If not through physical fitness, how else would students learn the value of regular exercise, healthy eating, and hygiene? Many doctors today agree that obesity is a serious health risk. With the numerous processed foods students intake every day, combined with a sedentary lifestyle, there is high risk of issues like heart disease, hypertension and diabetes afflicting the student later in life. Physical education in school acts as a preventive measure against this.
5. It facilitates overall development. Physical education develops students’ motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It also develops the upper body muscles through activities like pushups, and the lower body muscles through running drills and jumping exercises.