Which Sport Is Best For Confidence Building?

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Which Sport Is Best For Confidence Building?

Monday, September 21st, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

We have all seen those surfer types, strutting their stuff on the beach and making everything they do look effortless. I’m sure you’ve asked yourself if it’s something in the water that gives them their confidence or could it be those large surfboards that inflate their self-esteem? Well new research from Exeter University in the UK has now proven that surfing is officially the most confidence-building of all sports and there are a couple of theories why.

Before we delve into what influenced the findings, let us first examine just how the research study was carried out. Over 150 non-athletes took part in the research which tested 15 popular sports. An industry-standard written confidence test was filled out by each person that took part, who then participated in one of the sports for a duration of three month, before filling in the test once more after the three months was up. The research concluded that the participants who recorded the most improved marks on their confidence tests were the surfers, and by quite a margin.

Surfing is a sport that promotes confidence on a variety of different levels according to the Exeter University students who conducted the confidence study. Firstly it takes place outdoors and participants are pitted against the elements. “This is something that we have seen promotes a great deal of confidence” suggests Tony Billingham of the Sports Sciences department, “as people are very empowered by being able to overcome elements that they have previously not been challenged by”. Additionally, due the very physical nature of surfing, participants usually dramatically improve the way they feel and look, which naturally boosts their confidence. Surfers are often made to look even more healthy by the all-over tan that they often pick up from being outside in the sun for much of the day. Another reason that surfing helps people become more self-assured it that it has ethos of laid back, happy-go-lucky confidence at all times, which is something that rubs off on new comers very quickly indeed.

Runner up in the list of most confidence building sports was cycling, so if you’re in need of an ego boost grab your surfboards or mountain bikes, get outside, and start training today

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