A Persuasive Speech on Why We Should Play Sports (Essay Sample)

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A Persuasive Speech on Why We Should Play Sports
When I was a child, my father would play baseball with my brother and me every Saturday evening. At first, I hated playing any sort of sports, whether in school or at home. However, the fact that my father would take time off just to be with us and share his love for sport and outdoors made me change my mind. I saw sports as a way to bond with my father in a place that allowed me to be free and compete in a friendly way with my brothers.
According to WHO, 39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight, and about 13% of the world’s adult population (11% of men and 15% of women) were obese in 2014 (Who.int). These statistics are of concern because one of the main causes of obesity is physical inactivity. Therefore, if more people stayed physically active, perhaps through sports, then it would be a start towards preventing fatness.
That sums up one of the main reasons why people should play sports since it is not debatable that obesity is a problem that needs to be eliminated. The other health benefits such as physical fitness and maintenance of healthy weight boosts the immune system’s response. This aids in the prevention of other diseases that arise due to a drop in immunity strength (Bunker, 6).
Another reason as to why we should play sports is to foster the development of the mind. Using the example of a school, students who play sports tend to perform better than those who do not (Fejgin, 21). This is because exercise improves learning, memory and concentration. This was witnessed in me since my concentration on the things that I do improved significantly when I started engaging in sports. It is, therefore, a way of boosting one’s performance not only in school, but also at work.
The third reason we should play sports is that it fosters the development of good character in a person (Lesyk and Kornspan, 400). This includes teamwork, sportsmanship, and keeping calm in the face of an emergency. This is seen in the activities that sport players engage in, the injuries that require one to act fast, and the rules that a good sportsman/woman is supposed to follow. As people play the sports that they enjoy, they tend to adhere to the rules of the games so as not to be denied the chance to play. In addition, they do this due to the discipline instilled by their trainers and coaches.
The fourth and final reason we should play sports is to reduce the stress in our lives. According to Macphail, Gorely and Kirk (p. 261), research shows that people who play sports are less likely to be stressed because the chemicals released during sports or exercise tend to lighten one’s mood. In my experience, playing baseball is an outlet when I am angry, sad or frustrated. After playing the game, I usually feel confident and much determined.
In conclusion, there are so many different sports with different...