Some think that playing competitive sports at too early of an age can put them at an increased risk of injury but others think that it helps them socially and prepares them for later in life. It’s clear overall though that kids should be able to play competitive sports because, one it helps them be prepared for later in life, two it helps them make good choices and three it keeps them healthy both physically and socially.
The most important reason is that it prepares them for later in life. From an essay entitled, “Get Off the Couch” by Lucy Calkins says “It teaches them how to handle criticism professionally and so it’ll benefit them” (Calkins, 2010). Learning about criticism is important because if kids can learn about criticism from an early
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We need strong-minded people in the workplace. Adam Buckley Cohen who is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation writing exclusively for the New York Times says, “Kids experience competition and learn the lessons that sports teach” (Cohen, 2009). The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is one of the oldest and most well-respected non-profit biomedical research institutes in the country. And with Mr Cohen being a very high ranking official there it makes him perfect for speaking on this topic. This being said definitely shows how kids playing competitive sports is needed to develop some much needed skills for later in life. If kids didn’t play competitive sports some kids wouldn’t even be able to get any experience with the feeling of competition. An article found on The Huffpost Parents by Anne Josephson writes that, “Competition teaches commitment. There is a saying that says ‘Successful people do the things that unsuccessful people don’t want to do. That is why they are successful.’ Building the habit of commitment is a wonderful byproduct of being involved in competitive sports” (Josephson, 2015). Anne Josephson …show more content…
Found from Aspen Project Play sponsored by the Aspen Institute, “Exercise is one of the least expensive ways to stay healthy, with one study finding that exercise can prevent chronic diseases as effectively as medication (British Journal of Medicine, 2013)” (Facts: Sports, 2016, http://www.aspenprojectplay.org/the-facts). The British Journal of Medicine is a very well-known and respected medical journal. With them being one of the best in the world it makes them a very viable source for providing info on this topic. If being active and getting involved in sports and moving around being almost as effective at preventing chronic illness it’s shocking that there aren’t even more kids getting out playing competitive sports making their life and lifestyle better. We need kids playing competitive sports! In The Benefits of Competitive Athletic Sports Participation in Today's Sports Climate, Kirk Mango explains, “Participating in sports gives athletes the ability to develop tight and lasting friendships with others who have common interests. This is a valuable experience that usually leaves them with lasting life long memories” (Mango, 2010). Kirk is a PE Teacher, former coach, national champion and parent of two Division-1 Athletes he completely knows the feeling about if competitive sports are too much for kids. This quote pulled from the article once again definitively shows that by kids
For instance, I am a competition dancer. Going to different competitions you can see the differences in the way the dancers, teachers, judges, and moms view outcomes. The teachers just want you to do your best because no matter the placement received you had fun. When you are on a team, you want your team as a whole group to compete with other teams not each other. You see this with other sports too, such as baseball, basketball, soccer, etc. where kids try to outperform their teammates. This poses risks such as “loss of self-esteem, injuries… increased stress.” (Berger, pg. 245, 2014) However Active play and competition do not only pose risks they contribute to the following as well “Better overall health, less obesity… respect for teammates and opponents.” (Berger, pg. 245, 2014)
After first reading the essay “Sports Should be Child’s Play,” I believe David Epstein made a valid point when discussing the issue of children participating in competitive sports at a too young of an age. He effectively delivered his argument by giving an appropriate amount of evidence without crowding the piece and losing the reader. There were certain sections of the essay that would have been difficult to understand without context, however Epstein was able to guide the reader and explain the evidence and situation when necessary. The title of the essay drew me in because “child's play” coincides with something that can be easily accomplished and is enjoyable. However sports, at the higher level, are challenging and are required to be taken seriously. If children are playing at competitive level too early in their life, it can cause a loss of enjoyment and be detrimental to their physical and mental health.
The benefits of participating in competitive youth sports are worth the drawbacks because athletes learn discipline and responsibility and sports also help athletes make and keep commitments that they will make later in life. In the article “Have Youth Sports Become Too Intense?,” the issue of youth sports and if they have become too intense is debated. Children are taught to be respectful and to be nice to others. Students who play sports are better well rounded than those who aren't.
As one evaluates the article, “Children Need to Play, Not Compete,” Jessica Statsky explains the dangers of children being involved in competitive sports at a young age. She worries that sports “entice children into physical actions that are bad for growing bodies” (para. 3). She also states that coaches and parents may push their child athletes farther than they want to be pushed. Statsky explains how life lessons may be learned and friendships may be gained through sports, and that winning should not be the most important part of playing. With possible risks of life long injuries, one should support Statsky in her claim that children should learn to play the game, not so much compete.
Competitive sports are a very hot topic right now, and people have different views on children participating in them. Some may think that competitive sports help children to be healthier, because they are very active during practices and games. Although this is a good reason, sports can lead to concussions and other dangerous injuries. The truth of the matter is that sports can be very dangerous, and they can lead to many other problems. Children shouldn’t be playing competitive sports because they can get concussions or other dangerous injuries, they can develop excessive amounts of stress, and they can develop poor attitude.
Some people may argue that Competitive sports give children many chances to work with a team, and get in shape(Lisa Bigelow). But this is not always true, some coaches and parents push their kid to the edge and can harm them. Over working a child is not good at young ages, because they can only take so much and their body is not fully developed. Teamwork skills aren’t always provided if a coach is making a player the star of the team, some of kids may feel left out and possibly want to quit. Kids that aren’t as athletic as some kids might not be able to physically do what more athletic kids can do, this can make them feel like they aren’t good enough. With coaches pushing kids too hard can get kids to go against each other, potentially causing them to harm one another. Getting kids to going against each other is not good teamwork. Working kids over the limit of what
Youth sports are a staple in nearly every American’s childhood as highlighted in “Children Need to Play, Not Compete” by Jessica Statsky. Statsky makes two contentions in favor of this argument: first, that the participants of youth sports are not physically and psychologically ready, and second, that the mentality of win or lose is more harmful than helpful during the formative years of a child’s development. I agree with Statsky that children’s sports are too often over competitive, but some competition is beneficial to their development.
For most children, sports are their favorite time of day. Going to practice and pushing oneself to get better, studying at night to make sure you ace the test, practice questions for the interview tomorrow, and working an extra shift for a few extra dollars to spend on nicer clothes are all examples of common competition. Throwing the best party, working the hardest, and winning are components of being the best. Competition is part of the everyday life, not something ignorable. Recent studies are showing that competition is not good for a child’s health or mind.
Sports teach kids to learn many life lessons, lessons that will be important such as working in a team or working hard toward a goal. Parents are far too involved in youth sports. In our current time, kids have no independence in sports, everything is parent run, with the intentions of the parent trying to have their kids win and become elite superstars. Atkinson writes in an article that in his home town of Methuen Massachusetts he and all the other kids in his town used to organize all the sports, and parents would help cover the financial part, but the sport itself was directed by the kids, the way youth sports should be run, for the interest of the kids. Kids should determine what goes on; kids should be able to experiment with different sports in a non hostile environment in which they can fun. Having fun is most important in youth sports along with learning life lessons. Kids who enjoyed youth sports growing up were more likely to go onto play high school sports (Atkinson). Of course there are exceptions in which some kids will want to be pushed in a sport; however, it must have the child's desire to be pushed not the parents’(Hatter). Lastly, as important as sports are in society in the 21st century especially in the U.S. kids need to be able to have a life outside of sports. Kids should be able to have fun away from sports (Katen). Kids should be kids, very few kids will be going professional in sports, and it is important kids
I agree with the point that the focus of sports has shifted just to winning the game as the world has turned into a big rat race where everyone is trying to bring the others down. These types of sports should not be a part of children’s life. They have a hazardous effect on the development of a child’s body and personality. Due to the demanding nature, the children are affected mentally and physically. Their bodies are not developed to take this much of pressure. Jessica puts it rightly when she says that the inability to perform physically leads the children to develop mental health
All the time, you hear adults say they wish they were children again. It’s because children get to have fun, they don’t have to worry about so many responsibilities. As adults, we have to provide for ourselves and maybe even our families. We have to make sure our priorities are taken care of before we can do what we actually want to do. Children on the other hand, do not have to do this. They get to enjoy life and have fun without so much pressure on their shoulders. Competitive sports do not let kids be kids. Competitive sports are not what is best for children because the children ae being pushed too far by their parents, their bodies are not developed enough to endure so many collisions, and their losing can harm their self-esteem.
There has long been disagreement about competitive sports. For example, gymnastics, football, or tennis and even more. Some people think that when kids play competitive sports, they are a target for injuries and concussions. However, in my opinion, I see it as an opportunity for kids to evolve in schools, help kids learn life skills, and prevent health problems. That’s why kids should play competitive sports.
Confucius once said, "he who does not do well is less guilty than he who pushes too hard." People found that competitive sports are often physically straining and it is detrimental to proper emotional development. This blows away the misconception that competitive sports create a healthy and engaging atmosphere for kids. This and an overly strong obsession with winning create a toxic mix for the child’s wellbeing. People have begun to realize the world of competitive may be doing more harm than good for their children. Parents have also begun to notice that competitive sports often injure their children severely and also make the child feel left out, which in turn is detrimental to the child 's emotional health. Therefore, competitive sports
Have you ever been put in a life or death situation? Hopefully not! However, some things you do may feel like “life or death” situations at the time, especially for young children. Competitive sports can help with conquering those fears. There will be times when you feel pressure; as if you’re under a spotlight. Moments when it seems like people are almost daring you to fail. By participating in competitive sports, children are prepared for these moments. These are the times where you go back to what you have learned, all the hours you put in to learn a skill. These are the times worth living for because by putting in the work, you have trained yourself to expect success. Competitive sports have a positive impact on children and teach them many life lessons.
Flash Draft “Sports is a metaphor for overcoming obstacles and achieving against great odds” quotes Bill Bradley, a former basketball player, and a New Jersey senator. An issue that has been debated numerous times, is whether competitive sports should be included in schools. Many people are against sports due to injury rates, but it is clear that there are many benefits that outweigh the negatives in terms of importance. Even the professional tennis player Billie Jean King says, “Sports teach you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose, it teaches you about life.” I believe that there should be competitive sports in schools because doing sports gives kids a healthier lifestyle, they will learn basic life skills, and the kids will have a better mental health by playing sports.