Positive Effects of Video Games on Youth Sports

Many people say that violent video games have a negative effect on children and that they should not be allowed to play video games for an extended period of time. According to a study by Craig A. Anderson and Karen E. Dill published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology "Violent video games provide a forum for learning and practicing aggressive solutions to conflict situations." I believe that if violent video games can affect people negatively and teach them negative solutions, then it must be possible for non-violent sports video games to teach kids and help them practice the sport. The key factor is that there is an effect on the person playing the video games. Therefore, couldn't there also be a positive effect if playing a positive game?

I have by personal experience seen that sports video games help kids learn sports skills. Children learn many things while playing sports games for example: Hand/Eye coordination, rules of the game, and they also get to test out what works and what doesn't in a game like situation.

Hand / eye coordination is improved by playing sports video games. During baseball season, my stepson, learned how to play several baseball games and would play them before his games and practices. Video games today are so realistic and lifelike that his batting average actually improved. Having to respond quickly and watch the ball on the screen and determine when to swing (or push the button), actually helped him when he was at the plate in the real game.