A person doesn’t have to be a musician to enjoy music and a person doesn’t have to be an athlete to enjoy playing sports.
Sports aren’t limited to superstars like Michael Phelps or Shaun White and even people who aren’t athletically gifted can play sports for social and health benefits.
Omar Pimentel-Gonzalez, first-year law student, is not involved in any organized sports but plays basketball and catch regularly with his friends.
“Just sitting around playing video games isn’t the same as going outside and running around, because when you’re actually using energy, you have a lot more fun than when you’re just sitting around,” he said.
Kristina Labossiere, junior nursing major and member of the track and field and cheerleading teams, said people never know what they can do until they try.
“It’s not like you’re born with athletic ability,” she said. “I don’t think it’s completely out of the question for anyone to be decent at sports.”
Lesa Bonne, head softball coach, said exercise is good for the mind, improves mood and helps people sleep better.
“Exercise will stimulate the mind,” Bonne said. “People will find after they exercise, that they’re more alert.”
Giuseppe DePalo, head men’s soccer coach, said one doesn’t have to be physically fit to try sports. He said there are a lot of sports that older people or people who are not physically gifted can play such as golf, tennis, and racquetball. DePalo said the first step in playing noncompetitive sports is to have fun. He said sports also have social benefits and are cross-cultural.
“I’ve traveled with teams to Europe and South America where the language barrier wasn’t an issue in making friends through sports,” he said. “Whatever language you speak, I think sports bring people together. It’s a common unifying bond that people across the world have.”
DePalo said competition isn’t integral to sports. “It depends what your purpose is and what your objective is,” he said. “That varies for every individual and for every age.”
Bonne said whichever sport persons choose to play they must be interested in it. She suggested that people who are starting to play sports for health benefits consult their doctors first.
