Hey guys, when was the last time you played some pick-up basketball with a group of other guys? Or joined an adult soccer league, hockey league or your company baseball team? Well, if the opportunity arises, go for it. It’ll make you a better man, on and off the field. According to The Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, science proves that playing team sports can make a man a better father, better husband, better employee and improve his health. So here’s some ammunition to use when your wife asks why you’ll be spending every summer Saturday afternoon on second base. This comes from Rodale Publishing:

  • Tell your wife that it’ll help you connect better with the whole family. Most men don’t have any close friends – which makes them withdraw even more from their families. According to Dr. Steve Durant, from Massachusetts General Hospital Sports Psychology Program, men who play team sports feel more connected to others – and their families. A man who’s socially connected is healthier and will live longer.
  • The next point in favor of Saturday afternoon baseball: You’ll be better able to handle stress. Experts call it “adaptability” – which means, on the field and off, you’ll be better at coming to quick decisions and a changing game plan. Why? Because sports requires constant improvisation – and that helps remap your brain to overcome obstacles. It’s also a good environment to learn from one’s mistakes in a setting that doesn’t have a lot of consequences – like being fired.
  • Playing a team sport can also reduce anger in men by giving them a place to release it. You can swing a bat as hard as you want, you can trash talk other players, then laugh about it later. According to sports psychologist Dr. Durant, you’ll feel a sense of peace and relaxation when you get your aggression out on the field.
  • Finally, joining a team sport will make a man happier. Why? Because a good performance causes the brain to produce feel-good endorphins. That causes a long-lasting mood shift which results in better performance in the office and improves home life.
                Source: tesch.com