Guest blog by Amanda McConnel, Ehrlo Sport Venture manager
Ehrlo Sport Venture, part of Ranch Ehrlo Society, is a community-based sports and recreation program that works to promote healthy communities for children and families. Sport Venture provides free-of-charge recreational opportunities for youth ages eight to 18 through four drop-in leagues, and operates a free sports equipment lending library so all kids can get out and get active.
We love sports and think that all kids should play. Why?
Well, there are a lot of reasons.
- Sports can increase self-esteem.
- Sports teach accountability and teamwork.
- Sports encourage healthy coping strategies by giving youth a safe place to express their feelings through activity.
- Physical activity is good for everyone – physically and mentally! Exercise releases endorphins, triggering positive feelings.
- Sport Venture leagues in particular allow kids to explore many interests. Practices and games are typically one to two nights per week, leaving plenty of time for other activities.
Sports can also connect entire communities.
- Games and practices get community members out and talking: youth make friends with other players, parents chat while they watch their kids, and seeing other youth participate leads to even more kids wanting to join! Parents and non-parents alike volunteer their time to clear the rinks, coach the teams, and help out in whatever way they’re able, all the while making connections they may have otherwise missed out on.
- Sports can provide relationship-building connections in other ways, too. Our Cathedral Outdoor Hockey League (OHL) rink is a great example of this – the Cathedral Community Association helps with fundraising and securing indoor ice time for the youth of the Cathedral OHL.
Why do you love sports? What benefits have they provided you or your children?
