So much of the time, we are told, whether in school, or at home, that ‘playing sport is good for your mental health’. Sometimes it can seem boring, or just silly, when you have to run endless laps around a sports field or race to touch a cone in P.E, but in my opinion, the truth is that it really is good for you. 

 

Sports England has invested “more than £8 million of exchequer and National Lottery funding in projects related to mental health”, so if such a significant amount of money has been put towards this correlation, it has to have some truth, doesn’t it? The Mental Health Foundation Website says that “Participation in regular physical activity can increase our self-esteem and can reduce stress and anxiety”, and Health Direct states that “Exercise causes your brain to release 'feel good' chemicals like endorphins and serotonin that help improve your mood”. Let’s find out how that feels in real life.

 

It’s the buzz when it finally clicks, and you perform a new skill again and again, the thrill when you and your teammates celebrate after a goal, or a successful match. For me, the perfect example of this is at my hockey club. I only began playing hockey about a year and a half ago, but in that time there have been so many small but worthwhile moments! My favourite of these has to be my first goal, and the joy I felt as my friends surrounded me! 

 

And it isn't just winning that makes you feel this way- it’s about the development!

Before, and after that first goal, there were still moments when I felt uncertain, but without those moments, the subsequent happiness when something went well would have been insignificant. And that’s another thing sport is good for: becoming a stronger and more resilient person. After participating in new sports over the last few years, I am much more confident joining in with unfamiliar situations and people. The screaming “Pass! PASS! OVER HERE!” on the hockey pitch may be deafening when you first experience it, but it translates to smoother, easier communication in real life. 

 

Another thing that playing sports is about is the memories, like the feeling of being so completely soaked that you don’t even care anymore. I remember the constant pounding on the rain, so heavy that you could barely see who was on which team, and even though we lost, that isn't what sticks in my mind. No, what stays is the smell of rain on the grass, and my laughing teammates as we raced to escape the weather as soon as possible. Similarly, in my cricket team, the fact that we generally lose abysmally isn't what I remember once I'm back home. It’s the sun on my back and the feeling of being outside. It’s a break from screens, school stress, and anything else going on in your life. All you have to do is play, and put your heart into it.