Sport as school of life teaching resilience through practicing sport

Can sport enhance resilience? The main goal of our study is to highlight the positive effects of sport on emotional intelligence and, in particular, to evaluate how it can educate children to a greater resilience. Sport is an area that can promote resilience in a structured way. Several studies show that the regular practice of a sport can positively affect a child’s mental well-being, increase self-esteem, and improve problem-solving skills, autonomy, empowerment and internal locus of control; these can be considered protective factors for enhancing resilience. In our study, the relevant literature was reviewed through the theoretical argument approach. The different theoretical perspectives draw a conceptual framework which suggests that interpersonal relationships, commitment, respect for others and for the rules, responsibility, motivation, clarity of objectives are key factors for the development of resilience. Sporting activities create conditions that favor fulfillment of the needs of sociality and affiliation, while exposing individuals to difficult situations calling for greater awareness of their own attitudes in order to overcome challenges and obstacles. Sport, through the interpretation of roles and functions, can be considered a preparatory course that makes the children physically and psychologically more resistant to stress. Sport activities in schools are an important tool for educating to resilience, which can be used to develop children’s ability to tolerate frustration, relate to others, manage emotions and take the appropriate decisions. Sport: a metaphor of life that teaches us how to fall and rebound stronger after a defeat.