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The Pros and Cons of Athletes as Role Models
The Pros and Cons of Athletes as Role Models
The Pros and Cons of Athletes as Role Models
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Debate- Are Athletes Good Role Models?
“One could gather from the amount of admiration present in the heart of so many
children even at the tender age of five that professional athletes are mystified, almost
superhuman figures in the eye of our children whether they want it to be that way or
not.”(dropr.com) When most five year olds grow up, they want to be a professional
athletes. Sports athletes make great role models in many ways. Role models
are people whose behavior, success, or example rubs off on people, especially younger
ones. Athletes show kids that confidence is essential to have in themselves and in their
teammates. It gets them outside exercising instead of sitting inside on their phones and
devices. It also teaches them
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Because confidence is hard to maintain, kids need these athlete role models to
show them that they can accomplish hard things. Athlete role models also have
confidence in their teammates as well. This teaches kids that in order to play their sport,
they have to trust their teammates and believe that they can accomplish difficult tasks
as well. This is not the only reason athletes are magnificent role models.
Next, having an athlete role model gets kids outside and playing sports. “Just by
hitting the field or the court, athletes give children the opportunity to see that physical
activity has the ability to pay off.”(livestrong.com) With all of the advancements in
Technology, all kids want to do is stay inside on their phones and gaming systems.
However, if they have an athlete role model that they strive to become like, they will
want to go outside and practice their skills. This will also benefit in the future as it will
lead to healthy habits.
Lastly, having an athlete role model teaches kids the value of hard work.
Athletes in times of difficulty can be important role models.” This shows that sports are in fact helpful because they can grow children into being important role models for the rest of society. Studies have shown time and time again that playing sports can be beneficial to children and we also believe this to be true. Many people still think that sports cause “too many injuries”, or coaches “are not fair enough”, but adolescents will experience these things all throughout their lives because injury can happen anywhere and they will not always be the best at what they are doing. Sports are beneficial to the youth because they can teach children and teens important life skills, help them maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle, all while improving their mental health.
Stephen D. Keener, writer for the New York Times, says in his article Sports Teach Kids Valuable Lessons, “The lessons young players gain between the foul lines have guided some to become astronauts, emergency first responders, bestselling authors, military heroes, professional athletes and even president of the United States” (Keener). Keener talks about how playing on a sports team as a child can teach the kid very important characteristics, like: teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship. Any kid who wants to get a job when they’re older is going to have to know how to work well with people, which is where learning the skill of teamwork is so huge. Considering Ripley’s point about sports lowering academics, Keener argues, “These lessons directly translate into the classroom and beyond” (Keener). These are some very important lessons I think that kids can benefit from
Sports help them stay in shape because, the Aspen Institute, a nonprofit organization that does humanistic studies, said, “Exercise is one of the least expensive ways to stay healthy, with one study finding that exercise can prevent chronic diseases as effectively as medication,” (Aspen Institute). One of the many benefits of playing sports is that the children will build character. Building character is important because with character they will make new friends and develop different skills. Playing sports at a young age can build character in many ways, “Playing sports at a young age enables children to participate in social interactions and build skills such as teamwork, leadership, and responsibility as they learn to work with others to achieve a common goal,” (Aspen Institute).
Involving your child in sports is important part of growing up. There are several benefits to children playing sports. The child will learn how to make friends outside of school, church, and family. It will help develop self-esteem and physical skills. They discover what it means to be a member of a team, and how to win and lose with self-respect. Children also need to be active every day; exercise promotes growth and improves physical and emotional health. The Office of the Surgeon General states that active children are at less risk to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease as well as many cancers (Office of the Surgeon General, January 11, 2007).
A role model is someone you look up to, someone you admire. Whether it be a family member, an actor or actress, a friend, or an athlete -- these people who you see as a role model are people you look up to to inspire and influence who you are as a person. They help to better who you are because they care for you. I proudly call my sister, my father, and my grandmother my role models. Throughout my childhood, my sister, Nikki Tam, contributed to my confident demeanor. In my days of early adolescence, my father, Alan Tam, influenced my mindset to establish and follow strong morals. Today, my grandmother, Maxima Ramos, illustrates the quality of strength -- mental and physical strength. Ultimately, those three people
Sports teach kids to learn many life lessons, lessons that will be important such as working in a team or working hard toward a goal. Parents are far too involved in youth sports. In our current time, kids have no independence in sports, everything is parent run, with the intentions of the parent trying to have their kids win and become elite superstars. Atkinson writes in an article that in his home town of Methuen Massachusetts he and all the other kids in his town used to organize all the sports, and parents would help cover the financial part, but the sport itself was directed by the kids, the way youth sports should be run, for the interest of the kids. Kids should determine what goes on; kids should be able to experiment with different sports in a non hostile environment in which they can fun. Having fun is most important in youth sports along with learning life lessons. Kids who enjoyed youth sports growing up were more likely to go onto play high school sports (Atkinson). Of course there are exceptions in which some kids will want to be pushed in a sport; however, it must have the child's desire to be pushed not the parents’(Hatter). Lastly, as important as sports are in society in the 21st century especially in the U.S. kids need to be able to have a life outside of sports. Kids should be able to have fun away from sports (Katen). Kids should be kids, very few kids will be going professional in sports, and it is important kids
Though some people oppose the thought that Athletes should be role models, they are deeply wrong. The fact that people think athletes cannot be role models because all they need to worry about is their “game” is untrue, because their game is what inspires young fans to fulfill their dreams of being a pro athlete. Some might say that they don’t need to worry about their behavior off the field because it’s their own life. Yes it is your own life but that doesn’t mean people don’t look up to you. Also some other arguments are, the parents should be the role models, and they aren’t paid to be role models.
I believe that athletes are some of the greatest role-models on the planet. Athletes are some of the greatest role-models on the planet because they can show people that nothing is impossible because most athletes have insane stories and they can teach everyone something. And I am going to tell you why they are the best athletes. In the article¨Athletes and Sports,¨states that athletes are some of the best role models on the planet.
When one thinks of a role model the first thought that comes to mind is a dependable hero who will give a person an example of ways to better live their own life. A role model is “a figure who gives one hope and inspiration”. Superman, Miley Cyrus, and even family members are many examples of what one would consider to be a role model, but a role model can also be a figure who negatively influences a person’s daily life. One may ask how could a role model effect a person negatively; the answer is when one previously looks up to a negative figure they will believe that their actions are justified, even though their actions may be bad, but they will continue to follow in the figure’s steps due to the figure’s past accomplishments . When people think of a role model, they immediately think positive thoughts.
A parent putting his/her child in sports gives the child something to do and keeps them fit. Parents also put their child in a sport hoping that he/she will get success out of it “Eager to nurture the next A-Rod or Michelle Kwan, parents enroll their 5- or 6-year-olds in a competitive sports league or program” (Stenson). While not all parents are pushing for future Olympians, the fight for a sports college scholarship is competitive and parents may feel that their child will have a better chance of gaining one if he/she starts competitive sports early. Parents push their children to succeed, and children—not wanting to disappoint their parents—push themselves, sometimes harder than they should. If done right, pushing a child into sports can have a positive effect on the child’s interaction with other children while teaching them commitment and healthy competition.
Athlets have been lookd up to as role models for as long as sports have exsted. There is just something attractive about the thought of being in good physical condition and being talented in sports. But, are athlets the kind of people that children should be looking up to for direction and guidance? Many children often look up to the professional athletes as role models. In fact, in 1995 Sports Illustrated for Kids did a survey for kids who were ages 7 through 12 about who their role model was. The majority of the kids answered that a professional athlete was who they most looked up to. Only four percent of the children answered that their role model was one of thir parents. Because of today?s media, athletes are constantly in the public eye. Everything they do on and off of the playing field. Some professional athletes speak a positive message through their fame by demonstrating constructive ideas such as teamwork and commitment while they are on the field. Even off of the playing field some athletes set a good example by visiting children in schools, going to hospitals, or even setting up foundations and organizations to help the ill and less fortunate people. However, other athletes are not as considerate to the fact that someone may be looking up to them, some athletes are not concerned about anything other than the sport they are getting paid to play and themselves. These athletes are the ones that propose questions over whether athletes should be considered role models or not. A role model can be defined as a person whose behavior, example or success is or can be emulated by others, especially young people. Who would want their child looking up to someone who has been convicted of domestic violence or has a drug addiction? It is an argument of opinion that cannot be settled.
Role models can make a huge difference in a child's life. My Physical Education teacher had a major impact of effecting of what I want to be now. Aleta Jo Crotty helped me to learn to take responsibility for my actions, and in my choices I am in control. By using guidelines that was set by her for my life, I hope to reach just one child.
For decades we've debated the merits of whether or not we should consider professional athletes to be role models. The debate is really unavoidable; it's thrust upon us - and upon the professional athletes - for one simple reason: our kids just happen to idolize, emulate and identify with these popular characters more so than any other group of people. In 1993 Charles Barkley - then one of the highest profile stars of the NBA - attempted to settle the debate in a Nike commercial when he declared, "I'm not a role model." He further clarified his stance in the ad by explaining that only "parents should be role models," and that just because he got millions of dollars for dunking a basketball, doesn't mean he should play some sort of surrogate parent role and raise other people's children.
Many life lessons can be taught through sports. Children can learn the importance of work ethic, working with others, perseverance, and the list goes on. There are studies that have shown that kids who are involved in athletics are more successful in the business world. It is only when parents turn the sporting events into an ultra-competitive requirement for their child that it can become detrimental. The lessons that sports teach kids about real life is one of the greatest benefits that can be gained from sports. Because so much can be learned through sports we need to make sure that we put focus on teaching lessons through sports rather than making it all about winning. It is a sad when parents turn a great beneficial thing into something that can be harmful for their children.
Role models have an astounding effect on the lives of young people in our society. A role model has the ability to shape the views, ideals, and actions of a young person. Role models help youth discover how they wish to become in the future. The influence that role models have on young people is tremendous. It is important for role models to be positive and responsible in instilling good morals and values because future generations are directly dependent on the role models of today.