A wide range of physical and mental health benefits have been associated with outdoor sport. These benefits include but are not limited to: physical fitness, psychological well-being and emotional development, education and lifelong learning, social inclusion and integration, and active citizenship including volunteering and community cohesion. Moreover, outdoor sports also have an important ecological dimension as they promote sustainability-related behaviors and attitudes.
The vast majority of outdoor sports take place in natural environments and are therefore considered to be environmentally friendly. These activities can have positive effects on the environment through both direct and indirect means, for example, by reducing air pollution, increasing biodiversity, fostering recreational opportunities and creating economic benefits.
In a world of increasingly hectic and stressful lifestyles, outdoor sport can provide the escape from daily stressors that many people crave. Exercise in nature helps to reduce stress levels, alleviate depression and anxiety, and enhances overall wellbeing. Furthermore, a large proportion of outdoor athletes claim to enjoy the activity more than exercising indoors and have a stronger desire to do it again.
Outdoor sport teaches kids the value of healthy competition, that it’s okay to fail and that success requires tenacity and a willingness to fight through adversity. In addition, it teaches children how to work with teammates, that sometimes it takes a team to win and that no one person can achieve anything without the help of others. These lessons are carried with them into adulthood and help them succeed in their career and personal lives.
A number of studies have shown that outdoor sport can increase self-motivation and show positive effects on volitional qualities like assertion and inner strength, endeavor and readiness to face challenges, and self-confidence. It has also been found that participating in outdoor sports can improve educational performance and contribute to a more favorable attitude towards learning, greater engagement within classes, more effective academic achievements, and improved student self-esteem.
In a world where kids are prone to obesity and insufficient levels of physical activity, outdoor sport is an excellent way to promote healthy and positive habits. By promoting healthy and happy lifestyles, it is a valuable national resource that should be encouraged.