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Children Need to Play, Not Compete
Introduction
There has been an increase in the number of organized /competitive sports among children in the past couple of years. From Jessica Statsky’s argument, most people regard significant games like “Little League Baseball and Peewee Football as a basic part of childhood.” However, it should be made clear that coaches subject children to adult standards when playing, which can make it difficult and less satisfying. Having children take part in competitive sports can be beneficial in the essence that it helps in developing leadership skills and teamwork among them at a tender age. Besides, gaming equips kids with essential problem-solving skills that can be used in the field and handling non-field related matters. However, despite there being benefits associated with competitive sporting among children, the damage that results from either contact or non-contact sporting is vast. Therefore, I support Statsky’s argument against competitive sports among children due to the reasons discussed below.
Over competition in sports can affect a child’s mental wellness. Sporting is indeed essential for development in kids as it keeps them focused, but too much of it can be problematic. The unhealthy competition can make the less athletic kids feel inadequate or unworthy when rejected or dropped for letting down the team. However, it is not a problem only to the low achievers but also to the excellent players as they tend to be overly nervous about their performance. To ensure sporting contributes to mental wellness, it should be more of physical exercise, learning new skills, and also a period of working together, interacting enjoyment or fun. Game instructors should ensure no child is left on the sidelines at this age since sporting should be all about having fun, building confidence and increasing their self-awareness.
Secondly, by exclusively focusing on talent at a tender, a coach would risk overlooking an emerging star. There is a likelihood of coming across lads who are not promising in terms of ability in school teams. At this point, it should be the trainer’s duty to encourage them to do their best as everyone develops differently. Statsky says that competitive sports are highly selective, and only a few children get an opportunity to participate. Besides, she says that “Far too soon, a few children are singled out for their athletic promise, while many others who may be on the verge of developing the necessary strength and ability, are screened out and discouraged from trying out again.” Everyone, including children, fears failure, and even those who can perform better can stay away as they lack confidence.
Thirdly, according to statistics, competitive sporting requires extra hours of training, and consistent practice increases the chances of injury and burnout. Research conducted indicates that overuse injuries constitute up to 50% of the reported injuries. At times, when the competitive games become intense, players tend to disregard rules increasing the chances of fights, which could lead to torn ligaments, muscle aches, and other significant injuries. The reality is, most of the competitive teams are not interested in developing physical skills in a child but having players who can bring victory to the team.
Conclusion.
Apart from hazards and anxieties, competitive sports pose psychological problems to children. Martin Rablovsky, who is now a retired sports editor, says that only very few children would be seen smiling when playing. Besides, the intensity of training and regular exercise makes sporting to look like more of a professional job. For children games, winning should not be deemed appropriate but should be regarded as a moment where kids can sharpen their abilities and develop interpersonal skills.