Are youth sports too intense? Competition only makes children bound to be winners. With so many kids participating it was bound to become something of discussing. In fact, sports promote more of a healthy lifestyle. With the intensity increasing, childrens time is decreasing. Do you know children or teenagers who are on sports teams so competitive that they spend several days a week nearly every week of the year playing? Sports are supposed to be fun. Some people argue that youth sports teach young athletes the value of teamwork and leadership. Children Need to Play, Not Compete, by Jessica Statsky is a thoughtful insight on the competitive sports for children. Kids have come to practice Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday, and Friday to get better, while their academics are suffering. This book not only takes a look into youth sports today it will expose a lot of the negativity surrounding it. In the United States, about 20 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, more than 3.5 million children ages 14 and younger get hurt annually playing sports or participating in recreational activities (Lucile Parkland Childrens Hospital). And parents pushing competitive athletes to excel is not unusual. Competing in these sports causes the children to be vulnerable to many risks and many other negative impacts. Parents and the kids know the risks they are taking when they step on the field. Its not good for kids to be treated in such manor. The author quotes from an authentic source that Kids under the age of fourteen are not by nature physical. (Tutko) This means that the games for children need to focus more on their pleasure and enjoyment rather than on the competition. Their interests and needs can evolve as they grow. Others burn out from all the pressure. Some may be crossing the boundaries of what sports are all about. (204 words), In Children Need to Play, Not Compete, Jessica Statsky tries to demonstrate the negative effect of organized sports on the physical and psychological health of growing child. Also found in that article is, the teamwork in sports offer a way for kids to compete for something together. Claims that youth sports are too intense are completely false, as many of the social benefits and life skills that adolescents benefit from come from the intensity of their sport. (204 words). hiring mothers to play a major role in your program, How to Build a Website for a Youth Sports Program, The Best Tools for Nonprofit Youth Sports Organizations, A Complete Youth Sports Registration Form Template, How to Build an Online Store for Your Sports Team, How to Create a Youth Sports Sponsorship Package, How to Find Companies That Sponsor Youth Sports. The author quotes from an authentic source that Kids under the age of fourteen are not by nature physical. (Tutko) This means that the games for children need to focus more on their pleasure and enjoyment rather than on the competition. In this day and age with professional athletes being at the top of the social spectrum, youth sports have gotten very popular. They may quit due to being burnt outor have to quit because of a serious injury. The overall (i.e., practice and competition) injury rate in all sports combined was 2.44 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures (Table). 3 October 2017 Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. Competitive sports can also help keep kids active and healthy as they grow, along with decreasing other distractions that may lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. She claims that the games are not festive but they end up in the wrong development of a childs brain. Although many believe youth sports programs, In his new book Until it Hurts: Americas Obsession with Youth Sports and How it Harms Our Kids, author Mark Hyman shows how parents have turned youth sports into a high stakes game of poker at the expense of their children. Youth Sports Are Not Becoming Too Intense Essay Being a professional athlete is one of the most commonly heard dreams of a young boy or girl who currently elementary school. Do parents seem welcomingor do they incessantly brag about their star athlete? Competitive nature can assist the children in their life later on, but the focus should be on better mental and physical health. The adult standards that are unfit for the children, need to be eradicated from children sports as they are inappropriate for their better physical growth. There are many people out there starting to take this very serious. Most people against say that sports make kids get severely injured, which is true, but only if the kid is unprotected and not in a safe environment, which is not the case with sports these days. Competition can help kids improve learning and reach greater levels of excellence than they would be able to without the ongoing challenge. The child told the coach that his tummy hurts in order to not play, but the coach did not accept his statement, so the little boy made himself vomit right onto the ground. Parents and coaches may be a key factor as to why youth sports are becoming an issue. Youth sports is young teenagers or younger kids that play sports for a youth. One piece of evidence, 68 percent of moms polled say their childrens involvement in youth sports causes stress in for them. In the past 30 years, the direction of sports within the youth has drastically changed. Its good to view the dilemma from both sides. The advice arrives amid growing concern about a rise in athletic injuries among children engaging in tough training exercises. Should there be limits to how much time young people devote to a single sport? Children have strived for years to make their parents, teachers and coaches proud of them. Youth sports are meant to be a way for kids to be active, learn basic skills, and have fun. Raising children has never been easy, but it is especially difficult in youth sports today. I had an experience while playing indoor soccer where the competitive aspect of the game made it less fun to play. 96 percent of players were multi-sport athletes. However, there are numerous external factors that are involved in the childs sports life such as: peers, academics, parents, anxiety, and of course the relationship between the coach and the athlete. However, the share of children from age 6 to 12 who regularly participated in an organized team sport declined to 37 percent in 2017 from 45 percent in 2008, and approximately one in six engaged . Sports keep the youth in todays society physically and socially active which can help prepare them for their future greatly. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Furthermore, parents will also push their child into sports frequently for their own enjoyment as well as pushing them into sports to keep them in shape. Kids today need to move more, and being on a team or involved in a sport is a great way to stay healthy. Mrs. Windish Youth sports are beneficial to young athletes, as they have many benefits in all aspects of life. With kids starting at such a young age playing such intense sports it is increasing the amount of injuries that occur at younger ages. Kids that all around struggle with what could become a mental or physical disabilities. How much stress, if any, do your athletic pursuits place on your body, mind, academics and social life? More severe injuries occur during individual sports and recreational activities (Sports Injury Statistics). In these games, a child may crash into one another accidently that creates a fear of getting hurt. These sports programs are causing mental and physical damage for these developing kids and the intensity of parents and coached have made it even more overwhelming. Even though it wasnt the most enjoyable, t taught me how to stay focuseand just move through it. When it stops being fun and has the potential to hurt your child, its time to shift gears and reevaluate. Dont let trophies or championships sway you. They have been more involved and effect the childs performance. But, time after time we hear adults complain about their childs insane soccer schedule, or how they have to spend their whole weekend traveling for games. Youth sports are an exceptional way to keep kids focused on academics and out of trouble. while opponents say they are dangerous because there are over millions of kids who get hurt by play contact youth sports. Most sports have situations that put athletes in tight spots. Youth Sports Are Too Intense 1555 Words | 7 Pages. (Word count: 196). Youth sports can seem like a full-time job for many kids. Parents pay for their kids to join top travel teams and hire personal coaches. Youth sports are a fun way for kids under 18 to participate in sports and have fun doing what they love. Do you play sports? Despite what many experts would like you to believe, both of these statements are completely true. Youth sports are needed in todays society, instilling age-old values many children miss out on. What might be the benefits of playing two or more sports rather than just one during the year? They may opt to take part in elite or travel sports to connect with athletes of the same caliber. The rest of the children who are part of these games are in a constant pressure from their parents and coaches that cause the stress and anxiety. Youth Sports Are Too Intense "In the United States, about 20 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, more than 3.5 million children ages 14 and younger get hurt annually playing sports or participating in recreational activities" (Lucile Parkland Children's Hospital). This is mainly due to the many negative impacts that young athletes face when partaking in these sports. But on the other half states that it can be dangerous and can cause future physical damage. Baby Bliss: Does Having a Baby Make Parents Happy? (Sports Can Cause Students Stress, I9 SPORTS ASSOCIATION, 2013) This clearly shows that because sports cause pressure, kids are stressing. | Only 1 out of every 1,300 high school athletes make it to the pros. One of the reasons for this is that sport specialization is up to a record high 25 percent(Sirs). On many occasions, parents become more competitive than their child, who is actually playing. Between the years of 2008 and 2013, the total number of children participating in competitive sports has dropped by approximately 2.6 million. Just about every day after school, Rogan practices at the gym near his home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. When I tried wrestling for the first time, competing on the mat all by myself was very anxious and daunting. The coaches and parents have high hopes for their children that result in the pressure building. Has your son claimed an injury but the doctor found nothing wrong? The intensity of sports can make or break a person. Note: Figures are estimates for basketball and football only. The expectation for teens to compete on high-level teams and commit to one sport year-round is on the rise. Competing in these sports causes the children to be vulnerable to many risks and many other negative impacts. Youth Sports Have Become Too Intense Over the past decade, youth sports have increasingly become more intense. In your opinion, do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, or vice versa? Student athletes are not getting the opportunity to play multiple sports during the year, because they are expected to spelize in one sport and focus on it year round, leaving no opportunity to play other sports or do other activities. In the U.S., about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, and more than 3.5 million injuries each year claims Stanford Childrens Health. Parents and coaches pushing their kids isnt a bad thing, but make sure it is encouraging and not demoralizing (Stenson). In fact, sports promote more of a healthy lifestyle. Are Youth Sports Becoming too Intense? Claiming that organized sports are not satisfying nor beneficial for young children, Statsky expresses her concerns over a few issues. Competition only makes children bound to be winners. Health, Age, Contact, parents, are some of the many reasons contact sports can be very dangerous for the youth. Children should become more mature before risking injuries like that. The number of kids involved in an organized sport is not what is so groundbreaking. Kids under 10 need to stop playing contact sports because 45% of kids under 10 getting hurt are from contact sports and 5% of the time its ending that kids chances to play sports in the feature, Not to mention contact sports can also make kids go to their fullest and being burned out and although contact provide some kids will useful tools in life most of the time there is more negative than positive. These sports should enhance the sportsman spirit in children and must be beneficial for their mental and physical health. Youth sports is a hot topic in todays world. Among all injuries, the most. You dont want to cling to a sport that isnt a good fitespecially if theres major expense involved. Coaches need to motivate the children to play and continue athletic involvement. Furthermore, he states that each player has a place on the team, this provides each player with self-affirmation. Another issue is injuries in youth sports. Many argue that the competition of organized sports places way too much pressure on the shoulders of young athletes, and can be mentally and physically harmful to developing athletes. Kids have come to practice Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday, and Friday to get better, while their academics are suffering. . TM & 2023 Scholastic Inc. All Rights Reserved. In the U.S., about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, and more than 3.5 million injuries each year claims Stanford Childrens Health. Instead of being a source of healthy growth, these competitive sports have started becoming the source of depression for children when they dont fulfil the expectations of their parents. For some kids, playing a sport is an opportunity for fresh air and exercise. age when she began playing tennis, $92.5 million* I believe that kids should be allowed to play competitive sports due to the health benefits, the lessons that they can teach, and as a result of the advanced equipment and rules that are focused on making sports safe, as well as the fact that sports can keep kids out of trouble. They say its also a great way to bond with teammates and meet kids from other states. This changes the purpose of sports from teaching tolerance, teamwork and sportsmanship to merely winning by all means. The sports injuries include long term health issues such as chronic encephalopathy, ALS, Alzheimers disease, and dementia; it also can be a reason for domestic violence, and on some occasions, unnecessary death. I know one day if I keep practicing, says Rogan, I can make it to the NBA.. At what age do you think intense, single-sport specialization is appropriate? How can these accidents be controlled and prevented is the question asked by many? Most dont cover the full cost of tuition. Parents Should Limit Sports Participation for Children, Trainers Say. Children are playing just to win and the real spirit of the game fades out. (204 words), In the article named Benefits of Teamwork In Sports. the author, Wade Harle showed how learning to cooperate with others towards a certain goal in youth sports is what builds character, friendship and important life skills for players and also coaches. The turf is lit up by the blazing sun. For example, in one recent Super Bowl,96 percent of players were multi-sport athletes. They point out that top athletes like Serena Williams began serious training at a young age. In Children Need to Play, Not Compete, Jessica Statsky tries to demonstrate the negative effect of organized sports on the physical and psychological health of growing child. Uncovering the Reasons Kids Drop Out of Youth Sports, How to Increase Youth Sports Participation in Your Community, Youth Sports Parenting - 7 Ways to Support Young Athletes, How to Motivate a Youth Sports Team - 4 Tips to Drive Your Players, How Sports Team Management Software Helps Youth Sports, more than 3.5 million children under the age of 14 experience a sports-related injury each year, Single-sport athletes are 73 to 90 percent more likely to be injured, only 2% of high school athletes earn scholarships, f motivating them to work hard and be dedicated, 5 Things Young Athletes Can Learn from Pro Athletes, an outlet that lets them grow at an accelerated pace. But they can be the best fit for skilled athletes who need more challenges. By learning how to think, Around 45 million children aged 6-18 play organized sports in the United States; each dedicating their time to becoming the best in their league. The writer further explains that the idea of winning sometimes causes severe injuries that may prevail for a lifetime. Among all injuries, the most Although it is important to know that winning isnt everything in sports, some competition can be great for people. Youth sports are being questioned by the public as being too intense. Youth Sports Are Too Intense 1555 Words | 7 Pages "In the United States, about 20 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, more than 3.5 million children ages 14 and younger get hurt annually playing sports or participating in recreational activities" (Lucile Parkland Children's Hospital). In addition, school sports keep kids off of the streets and lower the athlete's chance of committing a crime. Students 13 and older are invited to comment. Only you can decide on the right level of intensity is for your children and your league. On weekends, he sometimes travels hours to compete in tournaments and plays as many as five games. Competition only makes children bound to be winners. While there may be some negatives to competitive sports, thats just life, and to add on to that; there are plenty of benefits which are sure to override to medias facts. Youth sports is well know if you got a younger kid or teenager that like sports or trying to be in good shape it is god for them to play sports at a younger age. Most people against say that sports make kids get severely injured, which is true, but only if the kid is unprotected and not in a safe environment, which is not the case with sports these days. Parents need to evaluate how far they are willing to go for youth athletics and when they will have taken their obsession too. These sports programs are causing mental and physical damage for these developing kids and the intensity of parents and coached have made it even more overwhelming. Despite what many experts would like you to believe, both of these statements are completely true. The author is also of the view that the high hopes of parents and coaches need to be lowered as well. This is mainly due to the many negative impacts that young athletes face when partaking in these sports. Children and their parents are sacraficing much of their time and money with youth sports. Rogan is one of countless young athletes across the U.S. who dream of one day going pro. Although, high school football has been a traditional sport in all states, but many are wondering if football is truly worth the risk. Hymans explores the history of youth sports in our country and how it has evolved from a fun past time to much more intense sport with heavy participation of parents. Nothing is more important than your athletes safety, well-being, and growth. As parents, we should all be aware of the psychological risks that come with sport participation while reinforcing the positives. Although playing the sport can injure the child, so can the practices. Not all youth sports are doing that these days, though. Despite this reality, some parents and coaches fill athletes heads with visions of an unattainable future, instead of motivating them to work hard and be dedicated. To hurt your child, so can the practices despite what many experts would like you to,... Kids improve learning and reach greater levels of excellence than they would be able to without the challenge. In their life later on, but make sure it is increasing the amount of injuries that may for! Cause future physical damage winning by all means active, learn basic,. A bad thing, but make sure it is increasing the amount of injuries that at! Kids have come to practice Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and fun. A child may crash into one another accidently that creates a fear of getting hurt with could! They step on the competition sports offer a way for kids to active. 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