At Basement Sports, we believe that kids of all ages should prioritize having fun when playing sports. Can  keeping score still be an important component of the activity, though? We think so, and have made it one of our seven core principles on this basis.

Kids can approach score keeping not just as a means of tracking their standing in a game, but also a tactic for developing practical math skills.

Specialists believe that kids learn math best when they approach the subject as something they enjoy. Additionally, studies emphasize the importance of cultivating “number sense” instead of rote memorization. Developing “number sense” involves learning a range of concrete, situation-specific strategies to tackle calculations. Working with numbers in a mixed-reality gaming context can provide an optimal environment for developing number sense.

Keeping score can also be a valuable tactic for setting goals. Per Leslie Riopel, Professor of Psychology at Northwood University, “Setting goals helps trigger new behaviors, helps guides your focus and helps you sustain that momentum in life.” She adds that goal-setting can help align one’s focus and promote a sense of self-mastery.

Lastly, score keeping can add an element of structure to game play, which–perhaps counterintuitively–can help kids better enjoy the activity. Dr. Lindsey Felix, a pediatric neuropsychologist, argues that children thrive with a degree of structure and predictability, especially during uncertain times. Other specialists agree, arguing that children actively make the choice to deal with disappointment once a particular expectation and consequence are known. Score keeping can help infuse that element of structure and predictability, making gaming a better experience all around.

Basement Sports allows kids of all ages to work up a sweat and creatively structure their environment, all while keeping score on an engaging app. Find out more about us and the work we do here.