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"KEEP OUR PEOPLE IN SPORT, OUT OF COURT"

Police offices are stacked with dockets implicating our young people in some sort of crime. Courts are filled with cases against young people - young people who are able bodied citizens of our land. Our jails are crammed with young people - young people who should be outside, contributing to the development of South Africa.
It is a terribly sad situation. We all simply have to work harder to create a society that cares for its youth. The reasons for young people's involvement in crime, are legion. Mostly, they stem from the fragmentation of families that was cause by the dreaded influx controls, pass laws and absentee fathers whom our children lost to the struggle.
We acknowledge that socio-economic conditions in many communities are such, that they actually become breeding boxes in which the seeds of crime germinate.
But, we have to stop blaming the past for all our ills and concentrate on ways in which we can keep the youth out of court and on the straight and narrow road where morals are upheld and right is accepted as right-and wrong discarded as wrong.
In this battle to instil a sense of morality into the minds and souls of youngsters, we have to apply every aid at our disposal. One of those, is sport.

THE VALUE OF SPORT

Sport as an aid in the development of people, is invaluable. Let us briefly examine its values.
Sport is an investment in health, vitality and productivity of one's people. The social benefits include an overall improvement in the quality of life and physical, mental and moral well-being of a population.
Successful athletes serve as role models for the youth of their countries-as achievers, as unofficial ambassadors, as individuals, committed to equality and fairness in competition.
Because of its visibility, sport can play an enormous part in redressing gender inequalities and discrimination against the disabled and minorities.
Perhaps, most important of all, is the role of sport in fostering national unity. Sport has the unique advantage of bringing people together and, in societies such as ours, sport ignores cultural, linguistic and racial barriers.
And, sport and recreational activities can be effectively used as important tools in our endeavours to combat crime.

THE IMPACT OF SPORT AND RECREATION

So, what impact can sport and recreation have on our lives?
All over the globe it is firmly believed that community recreation promotes ethnic and cultural harmony. It provides leadership opportunities that enhance the establishment of sound communities, societies and families. Let us look at how sport affects us in the following areas:
* International Relations:
Sport generates the largest world television audiences.
The matches of the 1995 Rugby World Cup played in South Africa were watched by a cumulative television audience of more than 100 million. The equivalent figure for the African Cup of Nations soccer matches played in South Africa early in 1996 was even higher, at 160 million.
Sport, therefore, is probably the most effective means of communication in the modern world, directly reaching out to billions of people world-wide. There is no doubt that sport is a viable and legitimate way of building friendships between nations.
* Nation Building
Sport is an important factor in building bridges across boundaries of race, language, religion, colour or creed in a country. It offers individuals opportunities to play, plan and work together and, in the process, get to know and appreciate one another.
In this way, communities learn no interact socially. It allows for give and take on a personal level and it is through the camaraderie created on the sports field, that participants realise that most people share the same aspirations, hopes and dreams.
Pride in the achievement of a national sporting team, is a powerful incentive towards uniting the people of a country. The more sport is encouraged at every level of participation, and the better the performances at international level, the more it will enhance nation-building.
* The economy
Commercialisation and professionalism have transformed sport into a major industry all over the world. It creates employment in many related industries and it involves a facility infrastructure worth many billions of rands.
In 1996 the Sports Information and Science Agency commissioned research to determine the impact of sport on the South African economy. A summary of the total estimated impact of sport on the South African economy, makes fascinating reading:
Sport has a direct impact of nearly R8,9 billion on the SA economy and creates full-time and part-time employment for approximately 45 000 people. These are figures that we - especially the Minister of Finance - are happy to see.
* Let us look at Education:
Sport is an invaluable aid to the moulding of learners and plays an important role in the development - cognitive, physical and psychomotor - of the child in its entirety.
Participation in sport, prepares one for participation in real life situations. Sport presents the child at school with life skills in a way unsurpassed by any other activity. In this regard Roy McMurtry said the following to the Commonwealth Heads of Government:
"We must remember that sport is not a luxury to a child. Play is a child's business. It is what teaches them about co-operation, achievement and the pursuit of happiness. It shows that the world cares enough about him/her to let them play."
Studies in various countries have consistently shown that a daily programme of physical education does not lead to a decrease in scholastic achievement-on the contrary, it appears to improve performance in literacy and numeracy.
Not all children are necessarily good at academic subjects at school and sport provides them with the opportunity to learn perseverance and presents an incentive to these children to remain at school-and even to go on to further their sporting abilities at tertiary institutions.

THE YOUTH AND CRIME

Sport has a meaningful role to play in positively activating the youth of a country. Sport can be utilised as a means to fight boredom among the youth, resulting in a decreased rate of crime, aggressiveness and social disorders.
According to a former American National football coach, a study of juvenile crime in the USA, revealed that most offenders never had the chance to participate in competitive sport.
Sport is a socially acceptable way for the youth to spend their time and energy without getting into trouble on the streets. The expression "a child in sport is a child out of court" has special relevance in this regard.
In these days where both parents have to work, children or youngsters are often idle as well as unsupervised in the afternoons. As an alternative to taking drugs and pursuing antisocial activities, this time could be redirected through sport.
Concepts such as fair play, self-discipline, respect for others, learning to live according to rules, regulations and laws-and understanding one's obligations to others, should form an integral part of the development of young people. All these attributes can be learnt from participation in sport and recreational activities
Violence is often the result of deep-seated frustration and idleness. Such frustration can easily be redirected through fiercely competitive sporting activities
Through sport, the inclination to behave in an unacceptable or inappropriate manner is contained through the discipline inherent in the approach to sport in general.
Undisciplined play is unacceptable and if individuals wish to succeed, they soon learn to curb their tempers and display appropriate behaviour. Sport provides idle people with an alternative to crime, violence and antisocial patterns of behaviour.

CONCLUSION

Sport and recreation improve individual health; enhance community spirit, personal development and social integration and provide equality of opportunity and a ladder to fulfilment and success.
Sport offer positive role models for young people and provide a context of discipline, individuality and self-esteem. People have opportunities to work with or for others, to be part of a team and to experience adventure.
The saying that the devil finds work for idle hands, has a counter saying that we should never forget: a child in sport is a child not in court.
Let us take our cue from that saying and keep our children out of police dockets, courts and jail.
The South African nation has a natural affinity for sport. Let us utilise that and raise our children so that they can be healthy in spirit and in body.
Let us make our motto:
Sport is not a matter of life and death, it is more serious than that:
"Ezemidlalo Asiyona into Yokudlala".
Playing the game, is the only game.

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