Why Sports Are Good for Your Mental Health

Sports are the greatest form of entertainment in the world. It brings people together no matter what beliefs they have, but how is it good for your mental health? As a sports fan, of course I would say very good. Most people argue how your team plays determines your mood for the next day or week. That is a true statement; however, the world of sports also creates lifelong bonds that cannot be broken. Just ask Mikayla Boyd and her fantasy football and hockey teams.

My favorite sports teams are not from one area and there isn’t a specific reason why I root for them. I watch the four major sports in the United States, which are baseball, football, hockey and basketball. For Major League Baseball (MLB), I am a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, while for the National Football League (NFL), I am an Indianapolis Colts fan. Even if you don’t know sports, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis are not near each other, nor are they near New Jersey, where I am from. 

Having grown up in a sports household, I found my love for the game of baseball specifically as my dad and I played catch starting from a young age. I still play baseball and founded the club team here at Canisius, continuing the love I have on the field to this day. Throughout my years of playing ball, I have watched my best friends grow into college athletes and have moments they’ll never forget. My favorite moment was my senior day game in high school, where I went up to the plate for the only time at the varsity level and notched a single into the record books. The memories I made on the field, but also with my teammates and friends, are one of the many reasons sports helps to let go of stress and just focus on the game in front of me.

For me, sports give meaning to my life. It’s an outlet for me in the craziness of my life to sit with friends, trash talk each other and come together to watch a team fail to win the Super Bowl – an NFL reference for those unaware. Though my mood is determined by the Colts winning or losing each week, my spirits are always high watching games with friends or family. It also gives a great topic of discussion for people when socializing at a work event. My dad watches soccer when the World Cup is happening or if there is a big match between two countries just so he can go to work and talk about the match with his co-workers. Sports have a connection that is so special that it makes people cry when their baseball team loses a game in July in the middle of a six-month season. The Pirates will waste Paul Skenes’ career, but I digress.

If you still don’t believe me when I say sports are awesome, sports not only teaches, but also gives kids a way to build a community. Not only kids, but at every age there is an opportunity to live out a dream of playing on a field with your best friends. There’s no better feeling. The heartbreak will never leave sports, but that’s part of the game. To quote the late and great John Witherspoon, “you win some, you lose some.” For Bills fans, winning it all might still not happen this year, as the Indianapolis Colts with Indiana Jones are on their way to domination. Regardless of what team you like, sports bring passionate fans together in a divided world. So as you enjoy your Halloween this weekend, watch out, Buffalo – Patrick Mahomes awaits on Sunday.