Sport is powerful, says NSC chairman
Chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC) Board, Mac Fingall, believes it’s unfortunate that some parents don’t see the link between athletics and academics.
The former games teacher recalled how parents would pull their children from sporting activities, citing them being overburdened with practices and games, and not enough time to focus on schoolwork.
“There have some parents when I was teaching that would call me and say, ‘Mr. Fingall, my child is in fifth form now and preparing for CXCs, so he or she wouldn’t be able to run anymore or play anymore netball or cricket.’ This is because they think that when you play sports you can’t learn, which is foolishness.”
Fingall, the featured speaker at the Togetherness Social Group 11+ Achievers Seminar, explained that sport is not only important because it’s physical activity, but it teaches valuable lessons. “It teaches you to succeed because you are trying to win every day. It teaches you to accept defeat, because you will lose at some point in time. Also, you know how to take instructions and interact with others.”
“Sport is powerful,” Fingall insisted.
He went on to explain that employers are also looking for graduates who have a range of skills, and personal qualities.
“They look at your résumé and only see a degree, but what does it say about your character? A lot of time a degree is regurgitation – you read the book and you rewrite it and you pass. How are we going to know about the person’s character?” he stressed.
The Chairman also said that a survey from employers across America revealed that they preferred to hire a ‘B’ student that play sports, as opposed to an ‘A’ student who did not play sports.
He further explained, “It is because the employer knows what they are getting; they are getting a team player.”
“When you put on your résumé that you were on a team for six years straight, they know that you are going to be on the job for a long time. When you indicate that you were the captain of the team, the employer knows you have leadership qualities… Not only with sports, when you take part in other extracurricular activities – when you put that you were the secretary or treasurer of the after-school club, they know you are responsible and trust-worthy.” (TL)