Various areas of the globe cover a vast array of sports channels on TV, leading individuals to think that this demotivates the youth from physically participating in such activities. Although this view can be considered, I disagree and believe that, as a matter of fact, when younger children engage in sports shows on television, this rather encourages them and inspires them to partake in sports to become legends like the athletes they see on the screen.
Many current and past sports figures began their careers by gaining inspiration from watching their own idols. For instance, Killian Mbappe, a world-renowned footballer, pursued his passion for football after seeing exceptional players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Southgate, and, not to mention, Lionel Messi excel on the field and in life. On a personal level, another example of this would be myself. I spent many years of my childhood behind my monitor watching the Olympics. As an upcoming acrobat myself, I would be in awe of the determination of the gymnasts of Team USA, which then led to me wanting to pursue a career in gymnastics coaching.
In addition, kids pick up techniques, tips, and tricks from watching sports figures on screen, in an attempt to replicate their every move in physical form. When I was in school, district competitions took place every year, and prior to them occurring, the head coach sat us down and suggested we watch a few netball teams play on the TV to pick up mistakes and gain deeper knowledge on team formation. This not only encouraged us youngsters to take on board a variety of strategies but also made an impact on improving our game play.
Furthermore, I understand that children sitting at home and watching TV could prove to be a problem by promoting an unhealthy lifestyle, in which all they do is sit idle behind the screen. This is seen in daily life where healthier children are kids who are more active and do not spend their hours behind a device. However, if you were to ask those same children why they like football or rugby or any other sport, they would respond with: “because I like the footballer Mason Mount,” whom they saw on TV.
To conclude, I believe that viewing sports on TV is beneficial to the younger generation. Most importantly, because it could play a massive role in their future by guiding them and encouraging them to see the possibilities that the world has to offer and follow in the athletes’ footsteps.