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Negative effects of sports on children
Negative effects of competitive youth sports
Opinion about competitive sports for children
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In “Children Need to Play, Not Compete.” Jessica Statsky discusses the emerging issue of competitive sport played by children these days. These sports are not meant children under fourteen years of age as they are designed for grownups. Jessica talks about a disturbing thing that the parents support and promotes these type of sports and push their children to fulfill their irrational whims. Statsky is of the opinion that children should not be allowed to play these sports as they feel more like a ‘job’ rather than a children game. She claims that these sports affect a child's well-being by causing them mental and physical health problems. The sports effect them psychologically making them a victim of the inferiority complex when they fail to …show more content…
score the desired victory or when they can't even make it past the selection. The core objective that a sport needs to teach children like fitness, socializing, teamwork and sportsmanship gets lost due to the entire focus of winning. Statsky further talks about how these sports put the children into an extrem physical strain which is beyond their limits. In the end, she concludes by saying that the sports for children should eliminate the idea that winning as the only outcome but rather device new types of sports system that maintain the essence of playing. Strong response I am in total agreement with Jessica Statsky in “Children Need to Play, Not Compete” that the emerging trend of competitive sport puts too much pressure and importance on winning.
These competitive sports are accountable for ,mental illness in many underage children. I of the same opinion that how exposing the children to these sports can have a negative impact on the growth of their personalities. Parents are unaware of the damage these sports do their children physically as well as mentally. These sports should not be a part of a child’s life at such a tender age.
I strongly think that the rough selection trial conducted for this kind of sports leave the children devastated. The trainer and coaches choose the players that have already mastered the skills. This makes a lot of children back out from even trying out in the first place and the handful of students who gather up the courage to try out are left disappointed when they can't make the cut. The children can prove t great assets for the team with a little assistance and guidance leave the sports altogether unaware of their hidden
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potential. I agree with Jessica’s point about the unbelievable pressure on the children demanding extream physical activity. This activity is beyond what their bodies can handle. The severe injuries faced by these children on the field make them avoid playing. Few of the time they quit due to the fear of getting injured again. The whole competitive environment is intimidating for young children. They refrain from playing once they have gotten hurt.
In reference to this Thomas Tutko , a psychology teacher says that children at a young age are more worried about ‘self-preservation’. The children lie and pretend to be sick so that can escape the pressure of the game. I remember doing the exact same thing. I hid in my room all day so that I can avoid the final match against the opponent team because one time I sprained my ankle really badly.
The brutal physical activity and extream pressure make children lose the internet. Parents and coaches expect victory as the only result of playing. They impose their wishes and desires unto the children without even considering the damage It can do to their mind and body.
The whole point of playing the game is gone when your objective is nothing than defeating the other team. I agree with Jessica that you lose the perspective of playing the game. Tings like sportsmanship and teamwork start to fade due to the highly empowered idea of winning. The children should not be obligated to live up to the irrational expectations of their
grownups. Some of the children even after getting selected in the team are not allowed to play in the real game because they fail to meet the ridiculously high standards of the coaches. They are made to sit on the bench while their fellows are playing in the field. I believe that this type of situations is the cause of depression. When asked, the majority agreed that they would rather lose the game than sit outside the field. I share the belief of Jessica Statsky that a fresh new system is the need of the hour. A child should learn the idea of fitness and workmanship. They should not be pushed to their physical and mental limits but rather they should enjoy playing which their fellows as these early years are crucial for the development of a child’s personality. The children need to be carefree and just relish the spirit of sports and consider it a bonding and collaboration opportunity with other teams.
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.
In the United States today the age for a kid to start playing competitive sports continues to get lower and lower. Parents in America have started to get their children involved in sports at a much earlier age than they used to, hoping that their child will be the next superstar. Parents are placing too much emphasis on winning and being the best, instead of teaching their children how to have fun. Parents in the U.S. are also placing too much pressure on their kids to be the best. Parents in America are becoming much too involved in youth sports and are starting to get out of control, sometimes even resorting to violence and vulgarity.
When the coach turned his head, the seven-year-old stuck a finger down his throat and made himself vomit. When the coach fumed back, the boy pointed to the ground and told him, “Yes, there it is, Coach. See?” (Tosches A33).It emphasizes the fact that if a child gets hurt once, they will fear the possibility of getting hurt again ,so they try to find excuses to prevent themselves from playing the game.Second,Statsky states how competitive adults have drained the fun out of children's sports and made the game unappealing for children.She cites Martin Rablovsky, a former sports editor for the New York Times says that in all his years of watching young children play organized sports, he has noticed very few of them smiling. “I’ve seen children enjoying a spontaneous pre-practice scrimmage become somber and serious when the coach’s whistle blows,” Rablovsky says. “The spirit of play suddenly disappears, and sport becomes job-like” (qtd in Coakley 94). It shows the fact that competitive adults are oblivious to their actions and don't notice that what they are doing can really affect a child mentally.Third, Statsky is concerned that competitive sports will lower a child's self-esteem and make them lack confidence.’’Like adults, children fear failure, and so even those with good physical skills may stay away because they lack
Kids just want to have fun. In a bygone era, parents wanted kids to play sports for fun and camaraderie. However, a new attitude is developing among coaches and parents, which is mopping-up fun from youth sports. Now it's all about the team and the game. The team must win the game at any cost.
At this early stage of the child’s life, it is nearly impossible to believe a child could make a split second decision to make the winning play. The brains of these children are simply not yet wired to make those decisions. It’s through experience that the necessary connections are made in the brain and in turn create the possibility of those amazing plays. Most parents are simply observers during games, and thus it is far too easy to allow expectations for their child to be the star player run rampant. The parents have most likely been alive for three times longer than their child, which means they’ve had considerably more experience both within and outside the realm of sports. The failure to realize that their child lacks experience and thus can’t always act in the same way that the parents would have creates an environment that harms a child’s sense of worth and
Athletes in times of difficulty can be important role models.” This shows that sports are in fact helpful because they can grow children into being important role models for the rest of society. Studies have shown time and time again that playing sports can be beneficial to children and we also believe this to be true. Many people still think that sports cause “too many injuries”, or coaches “are not fair enough”, but adolescents will experience these things all throughout their lives because injury can happen anywhere and they will not always be the best at what they are doing. Sports are beneficial to the youth because they can teach children and teens important life skills, help them maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle, all while improving their mental health.
Many parents will argue about whether kids should be allowed to play sports at such a young age. In my opinion, I think kids shouldn’t be allowed to play sports at a young age. When they grow older, I think that kids should be allowed to play sports. When a young athlete gets injured, coaches may not be trained for an injury and the child can suffer more serious injuries just from that. Kids want to skip practice so they will often fake an injury, serious coaches will use shaming techniques and call athletes “ladies” or man up, and athletes might not have the best protective gear, making them more likely to have a concussion. Worst of all, coaches
Our society, in terms of world sports, has grown increasingly impressive. Most professional athletes have been playing their specialized sport since grade school, and although impressive, the people we are rooting for are wearing out quickly. Although youth sports programs are a health benefit to society, they also pose disadvantages to a young person’s growth and development.
Participating in a sport at an early age can be essential to the overall growth process during a child’s upbringing. Whether the participation is through some sort of organized league or just getting together amongst friends and playing, the lessons learned from this can help teach these kids and provide a positive message to them as they develop. There is a certain point, however, when organized sports can hinder progress, which is when adults get too involved and forget about the underlying reason to why they are helping. While adult involvement is necessary, adult involvement can sometimes send the wrong message to children when they try to make participation become more than just about fun and learning. According to Coakley (2009), “organized sports are worth the effort put forth by adults, as long as they do what is in the best interest of their children and put that thought ahead of their own agenda” (Coakley, p. 151). This is a valid argument because once adults put themselves in front of the children and their values, it needs to be re-evaluated as to why they first got involved in the beginning. Partaking in organized sport and activity from a young age can be beneficial to the overall development of children, as long as decisions actions are made in the best interest of the children and not stemming from ulterior motives of adults.
Sports are a popular pastime among all ages and types of people. People not only participate in them for fun, but also for money, physical fitness, rush of competition, and for many other personal reasons. Playing sports is especially common among young people in schools. Athletics are great and enjoyable for many reasons, but there can be a point where sports participation can go too far and become negative for children and adults. Sports specialization for young people is an increasing trend that results in sports having a negative impact on individuals and society.
youth sports [were] the one haven for good sportsmanship," says Darrell Burnett, a clinical child psychologist and youth sports psychologist. "Not anymore. It's not just a game anymore." With technology (etc) distracting our children with violence and so on, we cannot afford to ruin what sports may do for them. With sports being just one of the few things left that can contribute to success in life, education, and health, parents need not to put any sort of unnecessary pressure on their kids at such a young age, or any age for that matter, ever.
Statsky also makes another faulty assumption, which is that competition is an adult imposition on the world of children’s play. She says in her article, “The primary goal of a professional athlete – winning – is not appropriate for children” (629). Children compete to win in the same way that adults do, and they do so on their own without any adult pressure. Common playground gam...
When kids are playing sports at an early age, it seems as if they are satisfied with losing all the time, and they will start thinking that things in life are given and not earned; whereas, it is the other way around. Others may feel that it is good
According to statistics gathered by youth sports organizations, “Up to 50 million kids play youth sports in America, and 73 percent of those who begin playing a sport quit before they turn 13” (Binns). The children could have quit because they did not like the disappointment of losing, or because they are exhausted from their parents pushing them too hard. But parents have their reasons for pushing their children into sports. “Studies show that kids who play sports are less likely to become obese, abuse drugs or alcohol or to perform poorly in school” (McCormick). If children are not active, then they will most likely become overweight, and if they have nothing to do in their pastime, they may turn to drugs and alcohol, which usually leads to a decrease in grades in school.
Children who participate in sports are developing rapidly in sports skills, sportsmanship, and psychologically, but does this come from organized sports are just nature’s process. Children develop emotional and social benefits from participating in sports. Children experience character and leadership development through peer relations leading to an increase in self-esteem and a decrease in anxiety levels. Children will get opportunities to experience positive and negative emotions throughout their practice and games trials. It is important for the coach to understand the “psychology of youth sports and physical activity participation” (Weinberg & Gould, 2011 p.516).