Video games can be useful

J's World, by Jeremiah Bartz

Newsflash -- video games can help children. Yes you heard it here first folks.

Not all video games brainwash your children and turn them into hyperactive youths. Before you break out the bottle of Ritalin to try to settle those youngsters down, know that there are an assortment of video games that can be of great help to your kids.

These games are sports games. EA Sports is a quality learning resource. The company is the creator of such classics as Madden Football, NHL Hockey, NBA Live and Triple Play Baseball -- in my mind the greatest games ever created.

Each year these games become more and more complex and realistic. It is not just the improvements in the graphics that is so incredible, but it their use of the details and strategies of the games that is so amazing.

In many ways, by just playing these games and understanding what it takes to win at these games, children are getting a broader sense of the concepts in sports. If they transfer what they have learned in the video game to the playing field, it is a monumental advantage.

For example, in the

Madden series a way to have success in the game is to figure out the defensive schemes. Just by playing the game, one can normally figure out when it is useful to run the cover two defense. For those young defensive backs out there, the Madden video game could have

given them a background on basic coverage schemes. When they begin to play organized football, they already at least have a basic understanding.

On the offensive side of the ball in Madden, you quickly learn to watch the safeties when throwing the ball downfield. This is a concept that young quarterbacks need to learn also.

Madden is not the only game one can learn from. In hockey, players can learn about collapsing defenses, the umbrella style powerplay and figure out what the heck forechecking is. In basketball you can master the triangle offense or the pick and roll.

So next time your kid comes up to begging them for a Playstation, remember that you are actually helping them in the long run.

Just remember to stick to the sports games.