<p>Movement and physical activity in sport are fundamental needs for the healthy development of children and adolescents. In addition to physiological components, sport also involves psychological and social factors that contribute to healthy development, can be used therapeutically in the treatment of mental disorders and, in cases of incorrect or excessive strain, can also lead to psychological risks, for example in performance-oriented training. Data from basic biological research and clinical studies show positive effects of physical training, particularly in depressive disorders, attention disorders, hyperkinetic symptoms and in the reduction of impulsive behavior. Due to its positive effects on psychological functioning, sport and movement therapy is an integral part of the multimodal psychiatric treatment of mental disorders in children and adolescents. In performance-oriented training, adolescent athletes require special protection to avoid negative consequences of training in the form of specific mental disorders, for example female athlete triad syndrome, overtraining or the use of illegal performance-enhancing substances in the context of doping. Differentiated research is necessary in the coming years for a better understanding of the importance of specific factors in the interaction between physical activity and psychological functioning in children and thereby enable targeted applications for the treatment of specific mental disorders.</p>