Do sports keep kids out of trouble?

For the most part, participation in organized sports helps keep kids out of trouble. For instance, high school athletes are less likely to use drugs or smoke cigarettes, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These students are also more apt to disapprove of such behaviors.

Compared to nonathletes, females who play on high school teams are 80 percent less likely to have unplanned pregnancies, reports HHS. Both male and female athletes have better school attendance, higher grades and lower dropout rates. They are also less likely to get into trouble with the police. However, the rate of binge drinking is not lowered by participation in sports.