Sport as social innovation

Sport development, especially team sports, for all ages is one of the
most under utilized tools for social innovation. Amateur sport teaches
health, fitness, team work and cooperation, goal setting, commitment,
peer group bonding, and many other things. It also keeps focus of the
often uncontrollable calamities of life. As Wyclef Jean commented, when
he was an impoverished child in Haiti running and playing he didn't
realize he was poor.

Organized sports brings parents, family members and others of the community together, can be shown to reduce crime among participants, and gives others something to aspire to. The key is to get participation at all levels based on what each person has to contribute. Most governments, regardless of degree of corruption, accommodate sports to some degree so its generally possible everywhere.

Sports such as field hockey and soccer can be played at all levels of competition, by both genders at all ages and lend themselves well to recreational games involving multiple generations. Sports keep parents and other elders involved with children to give them guidance and direction as well as form networks that facilitate relationships away from the field of play, leading to community development, employment and community cohesion.

Play with your friends and teach you children how to have fun playing with theirs.