Do we need sport?

INTRODUCTION

Speed, excitement, danger.

 You can find all these in the different extreme sports

that have become popular last 10 years.

You've probably seen the term "extreme sports" in magazines, heard about it on the evening news, and seen it advertised in sporting goods stores. The term is becoming more and more common as the concept of extreme sports gains popularity especially among young people.While use of the term "extreme sport" has spread far and wide to describe a multitude of different activities, exactly which sports are considered 'extreme' is debatable.

In recent years, many teens have expressed increased interested in “extreme” or “alternative” sports. With its own Olympics of sorts—the X Games—extreme sports have reached the mainstream in several ways.  Other times, a teen is inspired to take up a sport because an athletic role model: a friend or maybe a professional. Extreme sports are especially popular with those teens and young adults commonly known to be part of Generation X and Y. Hence, there is usually a youthful zest and determination associated with extreme sports. 

While that the question "what are extreme sports?" is beeing discussed, you may try some of them out. Certain versions of extreme sports require proper training, while other types, such as mountain biking, can be performed without professional guidance.

As people, young and old, continue to develop these activities, more will understand what extreme sports are. While the trend continues, you can expect to see a greater variety of sports available, each one more unique than the last.

There are however several characteristics common to most extreme sports. Generally speaking, extreme sports are activities that are associated with an adrenaline rush that is felt by the participant. These activities are often dangerous and any mistake could result in injury or even death. Extreme sports are usually done by individuals rather than teams.

Definition of Extreme Sports

The definition of extreme sports is not very clear. During the 1970's and 1980's, the term "extreme sports" was almost exclusively used for sports that had high risks involved and often resulted in death.

The history of extreme sports is a very interesting topic and shows how it developed into the huge craze that it is. Today, however, extreme sports also include activities that give a feeling of an adrenaline rush not necessarily putting the participant's life in harms way.

Classification

Extreme sports are classified into those that take place in air, land, and water. There are 9 air sports, 18 land sports, 15 water sports. Air sports includes Parachuting, skydiving, Bungee jumping, Wing suit flying, Gliding, Sky surfing, Hang gliding, Powered paragliding, Sky surfing. Land sports are Snowboarding, Skateboarding, Snowboarding, Ice climbing, Rock climbing, Mountaineering, Abseilling, Inline skating,  Motocross  Rallying, Drifting, Motorcycle rally, Potholing, Top-roping. Water sports are Rafting, Whitewater kayaking, Whitewater canoeing, White water rafting, Free-diving, Scuba diving, Ice diving, River boarding, River surfing, Surfing, Windsurfing

Extreme or not?

Extreme or not, it's important to encourage kids to express themselves physically, whether their athletic tastes run to the trendy or the traditional. Both solo and team-oriented sports can build self-confidence, relieve stress, and promote physical fitness -- all of which are vital to growing kids and adults alike.

Kids in "alternative" sports are expressive, highly skilled athletes. And sports like rock climbing, snowboarding, inline skating, surfing, skateboarding, extreme skiing, and mountain biking (to name just a few), require significant technical ability as well as strength and endurance.

Plus, alternative sports can help your kids develop positive qualities like discipline, persistence, and determination -- provided they avoid any serious injuries.

"Ouch, That Hurts!"

Often, extreme sports involve a significant amount of danger—and it is this danger that lures many to become devotees. Fear is probably the number-one reason many of us avoid taking risks. For partisipants in extreme sports, conquering fear is part of the adventure of sport.

Yes, extreme sports can often lead to extreme injuries. Boys get injured more often than girls, and inline skaters get injured the most. The most common injuries in alternative sports are broken bones, strains, sprains, serious bruising, and facial cuts. But studies show that nearly 75 percent of all people who get injured participating in extreme sports incurred their injuries because they wore NO protective gear at all!

Just make it completely clear to your kids that safety, not fashion, comes first when they're out doing their thing.

Kids and Sports Injuries

Until there's more research, it's hard to say whether the most injury-prone sports for kids are really more dangerous than alternative sports. Team sports may cause more injuries -- not because of the nature of these sports but because greater numbers of kids participate in them. More kids play a popular sport like basketball, for example, than skateboard.

Though kids can be injured playing any sport, some sports do have a higher injury rate than others. So if your child is playing one of these "high-injury incidence" sports, you need to pay extra attention to safety.

There are two kinds of sports injuries:

·         Chronic repetitive or overuse injuries. These cause stress fractures, muscle tears, or progressive bone deformities.

·         Acute injuries, which occur as a result of trauma from contact with a major force, cause fractures, dislocations, and more serious spinal and brain injuries.

Prior to puberty, the risk of sports-related injury is the same for both boys and girls is the same. At puberty, boys gain in both strength and size, and are injured more often and more seriously than girls.

After puberty, boys are three times more likely than girls to get injured.

The seriousness of injuries for both sexes increases with age and the level of competition. A less developed child competing against a mature child is at greater risk for injury. Children should be matched and grouped according to skill level, weight, and physical maturity, especially for contact sports.

Benefits of Participation

Participating in extreme sports may offer many benefits for the developing teen. In addition to the physical and psychological benefits of exercise, extreme sports often provide means by which the teen may individually excel. Extreme sports are often carried out separately from those that are more traditional; this “alternative” nature sets enthusiasts apart and often provides an enriching means of development. Extreme sports are often perceived as fresh and innovative, as opposed to traditional sports, which may be seen as being bogged down with many rules. In this way, proficiency at an extreme sport may be connected with the fostering of a teen’s self-esteem and uniqueness.

Safety Precautions

Parents sometimes have reservations when teens propose learning an extreme sport. Most often, the source of such angst is concern over safety. Thus, it is very important to take safety precautions before participating in any extreme sport. Precautions include using the appropriate gear and engaging in the sport under proper supervision and in a safe locale. Professionals on television are equipped with appropriate protective gear and state of the art equipment. Teens must take care to ensure they carry out the same safety precautions. Nevertheless, even if all precautions are heeded, there are injuries that result from extreme sport involvement.

When involved in extreme sports, an adolescent may suffer injuries. Acute injuries are those that result from a significant trauma. Common injuries in this category include sprains, fractures, cuts, and bruising. If one’s face is injured, teeth may be broken also. Chronic injuries result often result from overuse. Examples include stress fractures, tendonitis, and runner’s knee. Both acute and chronic injuries may be minimized if proper safety measures are taken. It is important to balance ensuring safety while avoiding stifling the curiosity and risk-taking nature of the teen.

Some extreme sports are riskier than others. For example: skydiving and heli-skiing and bungee jumping may present more overt risks to the novice than do mountain biking or kayaking. Parents might encourage first trying a sport that poses fewer safety risks to beginners.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that extreme sports are becoming more and more popular nowadays. Nevertheless, these sport are considered rather dangerous and it is quite difficult to understand why people put their lives in risk.

As for me, I can understand people who are addicted to risky sport. First of all, they try extreme sports for the thrill and excitement. They just want a new experience and new emotions to conquer. For them extreme sport is an antidote to our safety-first, shrink-wrapped world. Besides risky sports enable people to confront fears and to satisfy their curiously. Finally young people are likely to take risks because they want to look daring and outrageous.

However, parents are often against extreme sports because of the possibility of injury. They are also afraid that young people will become addicted to taken risks. As a matter of fact, many extreme sports are even less dangerous that traditional ones. Improvements in equipment allow the reduction in risks and if you do not take things to the edge, extreme sports are rather safe. In addition, risky sports help people to relax  and to find new friends who share the same passion.

To sum up,  I strongly belive that extreme sports are as beneficial as traditional kinds. The offer the opportunity to carve your own path and find our where your limits lie. Personally, I am risk taker and I respect people who are involved in extreme sports.

The Involving in Extreme Sports

The using of safety precautions