Children in competition:

          I believe children should compete in competitive sports. Competitive sports enable children to further their communication and learning skills. Soccer for example, has to work together as a team and communicate as a unit to make a goal on the opposing team. The objective of the game is to win, but the underlying objective of the sport is to focus on putting your teammates before yourself. To defend them when they have possession of the ball, open up for a pass, and to be able to share the ball to get down the field at a quicker pace. The sport soccer does not teach children to yell at the referees if they get tackled or go and yell at the other team to “intimidate,” them. The sport itself allows children to stay active and meet a diverse group of people. Kids should participate in competitive sports when they want to be.  Kids are exposed to sports everywhere- in the front yard, at school, and at recreational parks. Children do not have to have a negative competitive demeanor. I believe it is the parents’ responsibility to enforce, and role model how to participate in our competitive society.

         When parents want to, “live,” through their children’s’ sports, competition becomes negative. Parents are the reason why kids turn aggressive in sports and have the mind-set of only winning. Some coaches are just as bad as parents and forget the fun in the sport and will not take a loss. Children absorb what they are exposed to, and parents and coaches are sending the wrong message to children when it comes to competition. If kids focus on their own personal outcome of any situation and are encouraged to continue to better themselves-not be better than others-competition would not be looked at so badly.