ANALYZING THE EFFECTS OF TEAM SPORTS ON STUDENT’S SOCIAL SKILLS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.2 Background Of The Study

Sport socialization is a complex process in which individuals develop skills, attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral patterns that allow them to function within a specific culture. These patterns are picked up through settings such as hospitals and homes. Socialization allows individuals of a society to interact with one another and thereby pass on skills, values, beliefs, knowledge, and behavioral patterns specific to that civilization. Sport is widely recognized as having a substantial impact on socialization (DeMaria, C. 2014).

Participating in team sports allows children to develop various social skills, such as leadership, communication and socializing skills, and team-building skills, all of which will be highly beneficial throughout their lives, whether in school, future professions, or personal relationships. Team sports can also teach students how to engage with adults such as coaches, referees, sports officials, managers, and supporters, in addition to their peers. Students who participate in a team sport are more likely to be in good shape and healthy than students who do not participate in any sports and children who practice sports are more likely to be nutrition-conscious and know how to eat and have a proper diet for others who do not practice sports (Fitness Advisory 2013).

Team sports have grown in popularity in recent years. Sports have become an essential component of many students' life in recent years. Some people consider it more than a sport; it is their passion. According to the Sports & Fitness, approximately 21 million adolescents between the ages of 6 and 17 participate in team sports on a regular basis, with another 5 million participating on an irregular basis, according to Project Play Institute (2014). However, in the sphere of sports, injury is unavoidable and might result in trauma. The physical benefits of sports are well known and very essential, but it is the social aspect that draws students to participate in sports. They are more concerned with the fact that they can meet their friends and spend time with them outside of school than with the fact that they are physically active. Team sports educate young people how to associate with their friends, solve and prevent problems, and communicate and socialize more effectively with their colleagues (Duggan, T. 2014).

According to Winkel (2012), team sports can become physically damaging if they are taken way too seriously and students begin to ignore their limits. Yet, sports affect students not only physically, but also socially. The Fitness Advisory (2013) states that being part of a team gives students access to a totally different social scene that would encourage them to interact more with others.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

According to De Maria's (2014) research, basketball is the most popular team sport among male students and volleyball is the most popular among female students. According to Ryan (2012), students who participate in sports are under a lot of pressure to win, which leads to poor performance and miscommunication among teammates. Furthermore, because of the competitive nature of sports and the social acceptance of aggressive behaviors in sport, acts of aggression are becoming more common in the youth sport setting. It is also relevant to state here that sport do not alone affect students social practice and perception but as well as their interest, participation and concentration on other paramount academic activities such as teaching/learning,  doing of assignment, participation in in-school activities which include debate, quiz, etc. Hence, this backdrop emanates the purpose this study.

1.3 Objective Of The Study

The primary and major aim of this study is to analyze the effects of team sports on students’ social skills. To systematically achieve this, the following specific aims were formulated:

1. To investigate the advantages of team sports for students.

2. Determine whether team sports improve students' socialization skills.

3. Determine whether a team sport encourages aggressive behavior among students.

4. Identify if sports affect students' interests in other academic activities.

1.4 Research Question

The following questions will guide the research.

1. What are the benefits of team sports for students?

2. Does team sport enhance students' socialization skills?

3. Does team sport instigate aggressive behaviour among students?

4. Do team sports affect students' interests in other academic activities?

1.5. Significance Of The Study

This study will mostly be relevant to school teachers, administrators and other school authorities as it will report and bring to their awareness the benefits and also the demerits of team sports when not moderated. Students and researchers will also find this study useful as it will add to the body of existing literature on the topic under study.

1.6 Scope Of The Study

This study is specifically focused on analyzing the benefits of teams for students, identifying if team sport enhances students' socialization skills, identifying if team sport instigates aggressive behaviour among students and identifying if sport affects students' interest in other academic activities. Hence, the study is delimited to secondary schools in Oredo Local Government of Edo State.

1.7 Limitations Of The Study

This study is delimited by various factors, ranging from the time frame of the study, financial implications necessary for the success of this study and the inadequate availability of the materials needed to carry out the study. More also, ethical issues and institutional politics which arose in the course of this study were an impediment factor to this study.

1.8 Definition Of Terms

Sport: This pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment for participants and, in some cases, entertainment for spectators.

Team Sport: A team sport includes any sport where individuals are organized into opposing teams which compete to win. Team members act together towards a shared objective.

Social Skill: A social skill is any competence facilitating interaction and communication with others where social rules and relations are created, communicated, and changed in verbal and nonverbal ways.