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Play and Sports
Sportive activities are one of the most universal forms of play. Different continents have their own popular/dominant sports. For example, European, South American, and African countries enjoy Soccer (also known as ‘Football’ in Europe), while North American countries prefer Basketball, Ice Hockey, Baseball, or American Football. In Asia, sports such as Table Tennis and Badminton are played professionally; however Soccer and Basketball are played amongst common folks. Events such as The Olympics Games and FIFA World Cup showcase countries competing with each other and broadcasted all over the world. Sports can be played as a leisure activity or within a competition. According to sociologist Norbert Elias; it is an important part of “civilization process”. Victory and defeat in sports can also influence one’s emotions to a point where everything else seems so irrelevant. Sport fans can also imagine what it feels like to play for their preferred team. The feelings people experience can be so surreal that it affects their emotions and behaviour.

Benefits of playing sports in youth
Youth sport can provide a positive outcome for youth development. Research shows adolescents are more motivated and engaged in sports than any other activity, and these conditions predict a richer personal and interpersonal development. There is a high correlation between the amount of time that youth spend playing sport sports and the effects of physical (e.g., better general health), psychological (e.g., subjective well being), academic (e.g., school grades), and social benefits (e.g., making friends). In order to maximize these effects, the following are recommended:
 * Youth should have a group of supportive people around them (teammates, coaches, and parents) with positive relationships
 * Youth should poses skill development; such as physical, interpersonal, and knowledge about the sport
 * Youth should be able to make their own decisions about their sport participation
 * Youth should have experiences that are on par with their certain needs and developmental level

Research Findings on Possible Health and Physical Benefits of Youth Sports
With regular participation in a variety of sports, children can develop and become more proficient at various sports skills (including, but not limited to, jumping, kicking, running, throwing, etc.) if the focus is on skill mastery and development .Young people participating in sports also develop agility, coordination, endurance, flexibility, speed, and strength. More specifically, young athletes could develop the following :
 * enhanced functioning and health of Cardiorespiratory and Muscular systems
 * improved flexibility, mobility, and coordination
 * increased stamina and strength
 * increased likelihood of maintaining weight

Moreover, research shows that regular participation in sport and physical activity is highly associated with lowering the risk of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and other related diseases. Young people also tend to be more nutrition-conscious in their food choices when participating in sport Girls involved in sport tend associate with lower chance of teenage pregnancy, begin smoking, and/or developing breast cancer. Young athletes have shown lower levels of total cholesterol and other favorable profiles in serum lipid parameters associated with cardiovascular disease. Sport provides an arena for young people to be physically active and in result reduce the time spent in sedentary pursuits, such as watching TV and playing video games.