Competition in Sports
1
Competitiveness in Youth Sports
Traci Wright
Composition II
Catrina Carrington
November 3, 2009
2
Abstract
In today’s society, some might consider the word competitive a “dirty” word. While playing a sport is fun, and the intention may be to exercise, there is something to be said for actually competing against another team or player in order to win or be considered the best. This piece will discuss aggressive behavior and the role competition may have as a contributor to such, in regards to school and home life, arguments against competition including injuries, positives for competition and the skills it can teach both for the game itself and for life, notes on professional athletes along with competition at an Olympic level. Is there or can there be a balance between playing a sport for fun and playing a sport to be considered the best? There are many arguments for both – and I would defend the need for competition, but let’s take a look at both sides.
3 Did you know in 2000, there were over 52,000,000 kids enrolled in youth sports programs? If you have been in sports or have children in sports, you understand the concept of competition. One definition of competition is a rivalry between two or more people or groups for an object desired in common, usually resulting in a victor and a loser. While definitions are a good point of reference, it’s quite another to actually feel the anxiousness of wanting to win. There are negatives to competition, of which injuries and aggressive behavior are two such opinions. However the positives of building skills for the game and skills for life far outweigh the potential downfalls. Playing a sport is fun, however, there is something to be said for actually competing against another team or player in order to win or be considered the best. These days, many kids at or around age 10 seem to be pressured to choose one sport over others in order to focus their energy to succeed. At
Competitiveness in Youth Sports
Traci Wright
Composition II
Catrina Carrington
November 3, 2009
2
Abstract
In today’s society, some might consider the word competitive a “dirty” word. While playing a sport is fun, and the intention may be to exercise, there is something to be said for actually competing against another team or player in order to win or be considered the best. This piece will discuss aggressive behavior and the role competition may have as a contributor to such, in regards to school and home life, arguments against competition including injuries, positives for competition and the skills it can teach both for the game itself and for life, notes on professional athletes along with competition at an Olympic level. Is there or can there be a balance between playing a sport for fun and playing a sport to be considered the best? There are many arguments for both – and I would defend the need for competition, but let’s take a look at both sides.
3 Did you know in 2000, there were over 52,000,000 kids enrolled in youth sports programs? If you have been in sports or have children in sports, you understand the concept of competition. One definition of competition is a rivalry between two or more people or groups for an object desired in common, usually resulting in a victor and a loser. While definitions are a good point of reference, it’s quite another to actually feel the anxiousness of wanting to win. There are negatives to competition, of which injuries and aggressive behavior are two such opinions. However the positives of building skills for the game and skills for life far outweigh the potential downfalls. Playing a sport is fun, however, there is something to be said for actually competing against another team or player in order to win or be considered the best. These days, many kids at or around age 10 seem to be pressured to choose one sport over others in order to focus their energy to succeed. At
References: Competition. (n.d.) In Dictionary.com. Retrieved September 14, 2009, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/competition Dr. Sylvia Rimm PhD (2007). Teaching Healthy Competition. Retrieved September 14, 2009, from http://www.sylviarimm.com/article_healthcomp.html John Elway, (n.d.). The official website. Retrieved September 15, 2009 from http://www.johnelway.com/johnelwaybio.aspx Headstrom, R., & Gould, D. (2004, November). Institute for the Study of Youth Sports. Research in Youth Sports: Critical Issues Status Ramsey, G., & Rank, B. (1997 December). Parks & Recreation. Rethinking youth sports – cooperative games; includes related article on using the research - Research Update Online. Retrieved September 15, 2009, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1201240/Competition-dirty-word-schools-says-Dame- Kelly.html Seefeldt, V. (1993). Overview of Youth Sports Programs in the United States. Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development The Herb Brooks Foundation, (n.d.). Retrieved Oct 4, 2009 from http://www.herbbrooksfoundation.com/1980team.html Wolff, A. (2003, October 23). The American Athlete Age 10. Sports Illustrated, volume 99, issue 14. Retrieved Oct 4, 2009, from