When you're a kid growing up, and you think you're gay, you know that you're different; you're often teased and it can really destroy your self-esteem. But sports can be great for building self-esteem.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I'm very passionate about the use of sports in young people's lives to build self-esteem and self-discipline and self-confidence. It's been a big thing for me.
Team sports are very important for shaping personalities. It's important that kids understand the mentality behind playing team sports and playing for one another and playing with friends.
First of all, what happens is, when you're good at something, you spend a lot of time with it. People identify you with that sport, so it becomes part of your identity.
People in the States used to think that if girls were good at sports their sexuality would be affected.
But I was very much into sports when I was a child.
For a kid, self-esteem can be as close at hand as a sports victory or a sense of belonging in a peer group. It's a much more complicated and elusive proposition for adults, subject to the responsibilities and vicissitudes of grown-up life.
Sport develops your brain. It helps your learning. It's not an add-on at the end of the day.
We all know that girls who compete in sports perform better in school, are physically healthier and have a stronger self-esteem.
I think sports are extremely beneficial for our youth. They parallel life in so many ways.
The great thing about sports is you constantly have to prove yourself. You constantly have to go out there and do it, day in and day out.
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