Dr Tasaduk Hussain Itoo
Sports instill positivity, team spirit, competence, self- esteem, self reliance and self-confidence in a person. If we talk of sports as a route to erase the menace of drug abuse, we may be too enthusiastic and it might be a dream situation – but it really has the potential to sensitize youth towards something positive. But would the initiatives in conducting sports events at any level really bring change? I have many things to say. It is not merely lingering here and there in the play ground that could prove effective but a comprehensive and lasting approach towards sowing the seeds of true sportsmanship and subsequently converting sports into an innovative tool for a ‘drugs-free’ tomorrow is the way out.
Before we acknowledge it, we should at first have a clear understanding about the variety-in-sports that youth are magnetically drawn to. Knowing the interest of youth towards sports and its variants would be an effective first – line step in giving a moral and ethical touch to such de-novo initiatives.
Sportsmanship is never considered true unless its worth is imbibed very enthusiastically. It is actually a positive team dynamics, culture and patriotic unison that determines the worth outcome of true sportsmanship. Respect and understanding between teammates, coaches and captains, handling authorities and selection committees – is the crucial unique character that holds sportsmanship with true spirit.
While drug abuse can be found among sports persons as well and we have a huge list of top notch sports figures who became addicted to drugs and ruined not only their careers but their lives too. It is unfortunate to witness that sports persons too fall prey to drug menace ,but proper encouragement, skill development learning, counselling and catering about healthy ways of body maintenance could prove to be an effective agenda for giving birth to true sportsmanship.
The best opportunity is to use true sports as a source of community development free from evils of the society – smoking, alcoholism, substance abuse or in short, the drug abuse menace. While organising tournaments for any kind of sports ,we should have proper protocols, rules and regulations that if a player, at any time, was found indulging in any kind of substance abuse; he/she shall be barred from playing.
During my interview with Hollywood Actor Chris Levine, who has been a steroid Abuser in his teenage – we relate healthy ways of coping with body image issue which is almost an inborn thought of concern among youth in the current times. Amazingly there was an elucidation that sports could be a far fascinating health- friendly option in overcoming body image issue – indirectly drug menace.
Some Benefits of Sports
Improved self-esteem: It has been observed that sports can help people improve their self-esteem. Individuals feel a sense of accomplishment and success when they compete with others and do well. This contributes to their overall personality development which helps them face other challenges of life.
Motivation: Individuals that get involved in sports are motivated to accomplish their goals especially when they are to compete with others. Sports influences and enables them cultivate and groom this trait. Staying motivated helps one face up to the challenges of daily life and it helps to build this personality trait in individuals.
Determination: If anyone wants to succeed in sports, he or she must be determined and willing to make the right effort. It takes practice and commitment to be a good sports person. This personality trait when developed in an individual will help them succeed in anything they do whether in career, business or relationship.
Goal-setting: Sports helps people set and accomplish their goals. For you to do well in sports, you must set goals and ensure that you religiously follow them if you will ever reap the benefits from the exercises you have done. This is a good personality trait. It helps people learn how to set goals and builds the endurance required to make those goals come to pass.
Training: Every serious sports person must train regularly if he or she desires to do well. It teaches people how to exercise themselves in anything they do in life. Training is an important part of the process of self development. Without disciplining yourself to train in whatever you want to do, you may never achieve it.
Social skills: Sports helps you develop good social skills, that is, it enables you learn how to relate with people. It has been observed that people who play sports have better social skills. This is because playing sports requires cooperating with someone else, playing fair and having fun with others while at the same time pursuing a common goal. It also helps to develop in people a healthy sense of competition with each another.
Leadership skills: Sports helps to teach young people and even adults leadership. Through sports, individuals are able to learn and practise these skills at the same time. This personality trait is not easily learned and sport is a fun way for young people to learn and inculcate this skill.
Resilience: Another personality trait that can be developed through sport is the ability to remain resilient even in the face of tough challenges. Knowing how to cope with the high times and lows in life is resilience.
Mathematical skills: It has been observed through research that sports like tennis, cricket and baseball help in developing mathematical skills in young people.
Sympathy and Empathy : Playing a Sport instills Empathy besides Sympathy. It gives a realisation of kindness, peace , prosperity and happiness. You become more caring and encourage love for each other thus ignoring hatred and biasness.
Time Management and Concentration Skills: Playing a sport also helps in helping people learn how to manage their time efficiently.
If we talk of J&K, there are several initiatives taken by either NGO’s or other well-policy based groups regarding the matter of controlling drug menace. They are using multiple projects, protocols and strategies to multi-directionally create a way towards drug free society. I remember two of such Non- Governmental organizations — Mother Helpage Worldwide, founded by a well known Kashmiri doctor turned pilot, Dr Sohail Nasti, and Nirbhay Bharat Foundation(NBF) founded by Tarun Uppal, a prominent social activist based in Jammu. Under their banner and protocol – there is an initiative for healthy community development that includes encouraging and conducting sports events mainly to work for a drug – free society. Youth are getting an opportunity to freely and fairly explore their talent in sports of their interest under the aegis of these organizations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would say that sports with vigour and positivity should be encouraged at all levels of community development to engage youth. Our youth should be provided a platform to help them freely in playing sports and prevent them from getting involved into evils of the society. There is a need to inculcate sports in all schools, colleges and universities with complete sincerity to acknowledge and help student community in developing positive attitude towards life.
(The author is Founder/Director Jammu and Kashmir Innovative Foundation for Transforming Society(JKIFTS), works at Narayana Hospital Jammu.)
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