How Sports Can Help Prevent Youth Crime

One of the biggest things tennis has taught me is how to deal with pressure. There are so many moments in a match where you have to stay calm, make a decision, and move on quickly if something goes wrong. I never started playing tennis because I wanted to learn those skills, but they came with it. And I think that is part of what makes sports so valuable for girls. You are constantly practicing how to handle frustration, control your emotions, and make decisions when things aren’t going exactly how you want them to.

Those skills also have a place in conversations about youth crime prevention. The CDC has identified problem-solving and emotional regulation skills as protective factors against youth violence. Youth.gov also lists positive social skills, healthy friendships, and safe activities with peers—including sports—as protective factors associated with a lower likelihood of delinquency.

None of this means that playing a sport automatically prevents someone from committing a crime. However, I do strongly believe that sports give girls a chance to build skills that can help them outside of a game or match. Learning to deal with pressure on a tennis court is very different from dealing with difficult situations in real life, but the ability to slow down, think, and handle your emotions still carries over. That is why I see sports as one piece of crime prevention. They give girls a place to practice these skills while also surrounding them with structure, positive relationships, and something productive to work toward.

Sources:

CDC — Risk and Protective Factors for Youth Violence

Youth.gov — Positive Youth Development