For a number of years, I taught at a major public university, which from time to time, had a very good American football team as well as a very good basketball team, plus outstanding world football (soccer), long distance running, swimming, and men's and women's lacrosse. Some of my American football and basketball players later played on national or international teams. My Kenyan student, Paul Ering, won a Gold Medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Since many of these students were in my classes, and were regularly covered in the media, including the magazine Sports Illustrated, and other national media, I was very aware of the value that sports and games provided for their ongoing health. I especially enjoyed going to the men's and women's basketball games. There were good training rooms, and well as very good sports medicine at this university. Additionally, most American universities have many intramural teams in various sports, and well equipped gymnasiums for physical fitness. Later, at another university, there were also very good world football, lacrosse, and ice hockey teams, as well as crew teams on the nearby river. Many of my students were very strong and physically fit. Some, who exercised much less than they should, of course, were overweight.
We believe that good character is also developed through competition, fair play, and good sportsmanship. Since most students are not able to be on the intercollegiate sports teams, the intramural teams and individual exercise undertaken by many students were also very good both for health and for developing character. A problem which sometimes developed, however, for students, was that some students, whether on intercollegiate teams or intramural teams, spent more time on sports than on their studies. As most of the students also worked 20--30 hours a week, this could be difficult in terms of balancing their lives in terms of sports and recreation, work, and study. For the most part, if done in moderation, it seems to me that sports and games are a very healthy activity. I must confess that I am not pulled toward sports or games as my interests.
So, I am able to acknowledge the benefits of sports and games on health and character for students, without actually being involved in sports myself since I was young.