Junior One Listening Exercise

1 The leaders of tomorrow are shaped and molded in the here and now. As the Roman poet, Juvenal, famously said, "A healthy mind is to be found in a healthy body." For parents, teachers, and coaches, there is no greater responsibility than sustaining the mental and physical health of our young people.

2 Growing children need inspiration and physical stimulation. Team sports are a great way to provide these attributes! More than just entertainment, through sports young people learn critical skills that will serve them well in their adult lives. The ability to work toward a common goal underlines the value of teamwork. Being both humble in victory and generous in defeat emphasizes the mutual obligation of graceful manners in all human interactions. The lessons our youth learn will stay with them all their lives, and there is no better place to assist this learning than on the playing field.

3 Of course, the most critical lessons youngsters receive are those that they are taught by their parents and teachers. Nevertheless, many lessons remain abstract concepts until they are made real by life experiences. You can talk about how bitter lemons are or how sweet honey is. However, until you actually taste lemons and honey you cannot experience the true meaning of "bitter" and "sweet". Knowledge comes from the application of ideas in the experience of real life. Strategy, teamwork, and cooperation are crucial concepts that can be best learned and understood through sports. Team sports give children a natural place to work hard and learn valuable life lessons.

4 Naturally, those who are inherently talented will spend more time on the field and will achieve fame. They have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and earn the respect of their team

members. However, the benefits of participating in team sports are not dependent on natural ability. Youth need not be stars to benefit from team membership. It doesn't matter whether they are gifted at their chosen sport. As a famous American sportswriter said, "It's not whether you win or lose. It's how you play the game."

5 Sports can inspire and encourage the less naturally talented athletes to be their best. What is missing in natural talent can be overcome through hard work, practice, and learning from the example of others. Those lacking in talent should never be envious, and they may learn more about the real world than the gifted players because they learn early on that there are no free rides and they will have to make continuous effort if they want to achieve in this world. Through sports, they will learn the value of individual hard work and even greater value of cooperation and teamwork. They will also learn the fundamental importance of planning and preparation for the positive outcome of their life's ambitions. These are all lessons that will be valuable to them throughout their entire lives, both in their careers and their personal lives.

6 Of course, participation in competitive team sports is not without hazards. Some psychologists have expressed considerable concern about the intensity of competition in youth sports. They argue that children often suffer psychological harm when the emphasis is exclusively on winning. A football coach, famous for his competitive spirit, said: "Winning isn't everything; it is the only thing." Such an outlook can be harsh on children when they feel pressured to win from the adults around them. Child psychologists often blame parents and coaches for being too demanding. By placing excessive emphasis on winning, children miss the learning opportunities sports can offer. In such circumstances, the sports experience uncovers negative, draining and harmful consequences, canceling out the many desirable effects of sports.

7 Sports teach much more than what is easily seen on the surface. Young athletes learn something every time they step onto the field. It does much more than just keep young bodies in shape and growing at healthy rates. Sports give youth a sense of self-worth and accomplishment and teach them to deal capably with failure and success. It helps them learn the ways of the world, the benefits of hard work and determination, and how to coexist with others to achieve a common goal, even with other team members they may not particularly like! It allows youth to find a role they can fill, then to change or adapt to that role, and, over time, to grow and redefine who they are and who they will become. These are all traits that can be extremely useful in the real world, and developing such traits at an early age paves the way for success later in life.