Positive Effects of Video Games on Youth Sports

Many people say that violent video games have a negative effect on children and that they should not be allowed to play video games for an extended period of time. According to a study by Craig A. Anderson and Karen E. Dill published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology "Violent video games provide a forum for learning and practicing aggressive solutions to conflict situations." I believe that if violent video games can affect people negatively and teach them negative solutions, then it must be possible for non-violent sports video games to teach kids and help them practice the sport. The key factor is that there is an effect on the person playing the video games. Therefore, couldn't there also be a positive effect if playing a positive game?

I have by personal experience seen that sports video games help kids learn sports skills. Children learn many things while playing sports games for example: Hand/Eye coordination, rules of the game, and they also get to test out what works and what doesn't in a game like situation.

Hand / eye coordination is improved by playing sports video games. During baseball season, my stepson, learned how to play several baseball games and would play them before his games and practices. Video games today are so realistic and lifelike that his batting average actually improved. Having to respond quickly and watch the ball on the screen and determine when to swing (or push the button), actually helped him when he was at the plate in the real game.

Children also learn the rules of the game while playing sports video games. Some advanced rules, like off sides in soccer, are hard to explain to a child. When they can see how the game is being played and when different penalties and rules are called it helps them to understand the rules. It would especially help when a child is trying to learn football. Football is not just about tackling, there are many rules of what you can and can not do on both sides of the ball, offense and defense. For a child to be able to see the game and play it from an overhead view where they can see the entire field and the entire play as it is being played out is priceless training. If something is missed or a penalty is called that the child didn't see, there is always the option of going to Instant Replay and seeing the play in slow motion.

Sports video games are also a great forum to simulate real game like situations. Children can try out tricks in soccer, basketball, or football or try to steal a base in baseball. This is good training to allow the child to learn, for example that you can't always steal a base; there is the time and place for everything. In soccer, basketball, and football games they can learn different tricks and fakes and what will work to get around a defender. Even professionals use these games to train. For example, many NASCAR drivers will play the NASCAR video games and practice on the game track before they drive it in real life. It is as close to real life as you can get. The games turn into something of a simulation machine used for training of whatever sport is being learned.

While I know that no training with a video game is better than real life training with a coach or parent, these games can be used as a supplemental tool. The games can perfect the skills the child already has and build upon those skills. I recommend trying them with your children; you will be surprised at how quickly they will pick up on them.