Children Organized Sports

In “Children Need to Play, Not Compete,” Jessica Statsky argues that younger children should not be involved in overly competitive sports. Statsky wrote that organized competitive sports were to the disadvantage of children both physically and psychologically. In youth athletics, some parents and coaches put their own dreams in front of their children 's’ well-being by stressing winning. Statsky concludes “all organized sports activities” to be remade as a more enjoyable game regardless of each athlete’s ability and athleticism. The author states many issues that kids have when they are forced to play a sport just to win or that they don’t enjoy. Some kids just don 't enjoy sports, but their parents force it on them. Certain organized sports programs promote winning over physical skills and self-esteem. Statsky brings up valid points that early childhood shouldn’t involve intense physical competition, which is associated with the risk of injury to the body and mind.

The number one leading benefit of playing a sport is the physical benefits.At all ages, physical activity is important for your health. As you get older your metabolism decreases and to maintain a healthy body exercising is critical. Even though having physical activity at any age is important, putting your child into a sport while they are young is more profitable. Starting sports at a young age will improve a child’s physical development, endurance, and aid in weight control. As a child grows up, it is important for them to have the proper physical growth because by strengthening your body before it has fully developed allows it to grow healthy and properly. According to Health Fitness Revolution, “Top 10 Health

Each year in the United States, more than 36 million school-aged children participate in an “organized sport” (“Youth Sports Statistics”). Especially over the past few years, many studies have proved or disproved the idea that sports are beneficial for young kids. Those studies have found that youth sports have both positive and negative effects on young children, and research shows parents and coaches have the greatest effect on a child’s experience.

Many youth sports are part of community organized after-school programs. There are many different types of these programs such as T-Ball, Little League Baseball, Pop Warner Football, soccer, martial arts, cheerleading, and so forth. “There are over 40 million youth participating in organized sports, and both girls and boys have a dazzling array of choices and can play a sport year round” (Le Menestrel and Perkins 13). Communities use youth sport as an outlet to encourage social activity, a healthy lifestyle, and skill development for that particular sport. For example, “Participation in organized sports can provide opportunities for youth to learn more about specific skills and exercises associated with a particular sport” (Perkins and Noam 76). These programs offer opportunities to boost skills and connect positively with others. Without these activities, parents will have to find another developmental setting that may not give similar or beneficial outcomes as those of organized youth sport. Studies found that, “Sports

The choice to engage in athletics is influenced by many different factors. It is well accepted that parents, siblings, peers, teachers, and coaches all play a role in influencing the start, continuation, and discontinuation during adolescent (Fredricks & Eccles, 2004). The influences of these individuals can range from simple encouraging and continued participation by taking children to sporting events to teaching values and norms associated with sport participation and physical activity (Fredricks & Eccles, 2004). Mothers and fathers are also the ones that generally seek out opportunities, provide equipment and financial support. Researchers consistently identify parents as the initiating sport socialization agents for children (Brustad & Partridge, 2001). As children continue their participation in sports, parents serve as models for observational learning, provide experiences, encourage participation in a variety of ways, and help to interpret experiences for their children

There has been a lot of debate over the past years involving youth sports, whether you should let your child play or not. Tee ball, soccer, football, volleyball, basketball are among the sports parents contemplate to sign their child up for. Some of that debate as well is what is the perfect age they should start playing sports. However, if your child is under 10 years old you should not put your child in youth sports because; there is a lot of bad coaches, parents interfering with the coaches and officials during games, and coaches only want to win on game day.

Most children’s sports leagues begin with children around the age of 5 because that is the age where most children are able to understand the concepts and rules of sports. This is also when children are most influenced by the world around them. When children are signed up for sports it is usually for reasons such as getting them involved in an activity,

More than 2.6 million youth athletes 19 and younger go to the ER for sports and recreation-related injuries each year, according for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to Hilary Friedman, more kids of all ages are involved competitively in sports today more than ever. Hilary Friedman also says that a child's parent or guardian play a major role in their child's athletic activity. Dr. Jordan Metzl and other sports medicine and youth athletics experts are very concerned about the pressures but on some of these young athletes to be great. Young children should not be put through intense training until old enough or be pushed too hard by their parent to be the greatest at a sport,

When considering enjoyment, known factors that affect the participation for youth sport participants are motivational climate and coaching behaviors. . The very first coach that a child encounter plays a very important role in the child’s sports life. In fact, the first coach a child encounters can be the determinant if the child will return to participating in the sport or not. Coaches need to motivate the children to play and continue athletic involvement. However, there are numerous external factors that are involved in the child’s sports life such as: peers, academics, parents, anxiety, and of course the relationship between the coach and the athlete.

Children assume right away that they have responsibilities when they first hear about or participate in a sports program. However, these children also have rights when they compete. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education’s Youth Sports Task Force, developed a “Bill of Rights” for all these young athletes. They believe that these rights provide a great foundation for building children into adults the right way. These rights include: 1. Right to participate in sports. 2. Right to participate at a level commensurate with each child’s maturity and ability. 3. Right to have qualified adult leadership. 4. Right to play as a child and not as an adult. 5. Right to share in the leadership and decision-making of sport participation. 6. Right to participate in safe and healthy environments. 7.

Although people find many positives about playing organized sports, many people found negatives in the sports. One is the fact of it being too competitive. Once a child gets the idea of winning in their heads, or the idea that they might be better than an opposing player people get worried that it will go too much to their heads. Just like the positives with the social skills, it can also create negatives in social skills. “Such as if a child thinks they are better than another player it can result in people not liking that player because they

One of the main cause of parents pushing their kids in sports is that , they become burnt out. When a kid is pushed in sports at a young age he/she gets tired of it and don’t want to compete in that sport anymore. Studies show The negative connotation may cause the child to miss out on the many positive attributes associated with healthy sports participation. Being pushed to participate also can prevent the child from learning to manage his life and naturally develop interests. These factors can damage the child's overall wellness and productivity while stunting creativity.” So one of the effects in pushing a child to hard is the child will begin resenting the sport.

Kids these days are involved in numerous sports. Therefore, lots of time is spent practicing. A number of people believe children are too focused on sports and not focused enough on anything else. Young athletes are pushing themselves to become superior everyday; they are spending a large amount of time on the court, the field, or the track. Every year, there are younger children getting involved with sports. Certain people find that it is too much for such young kids. Therefore the criticism towards intensely focused athletes can be overcome by understanding its benefits for personal growth and preparation for future goals.

Exercise and physical sport are fundamental to the early development of children and youth. There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that shows the positive effects of sport and exercise on physical health. While physical education provides a good basis for healthy exercise habits, sports further this knowledge and push the child to exercise even more. “Exercise in general controls weight by burning calories, improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system, placing a lower strain on the heart, and increases an athlete 's energy level while improving the quality of sleep” (Center for Disease…, 3) Organized sports and exercise in general can have a tremendous impact on children. Children who participate in sports are taught at

Espn survey asked about the positive effects of playing sports has on their children and the results were, physical health 88%, giving children something to do 83%, teaching discipline and dedication 81%, teaching how to get along with others 78%.(“Bruce Kelly”) These are mind blowing percentages that show that sports are helping kids in so many categories. Based on these numbers, the message is obviously getting across that organized sports are keeping kids out of trouble and teaching them everyday lessons. Therefore, teenagers and adults that participate in organized youth sports as children benefit from them because it encourages a healthy lifestyle, better communication skills, and future occupational skills.