"Children Need to Play, Not Compete", by Jessica Statsky

This essay was written to voice the author's concern that children's sports have become too competitive. Jessica Statsky uses compelling evidence to prove that children's sports have become more about winning and less about kids just having fun.

The author points out that children between the ages of six and twelve are physically unprepared for the stressors of contact and non-contact sports. "A twelve year old trying to throw a curve ball, for example, may put abnormal strain on a developing arm and shoulder muscles sometimes resulting in lifelong injuries" (21-23). Contact sports are the most dangerous, causing numerous concussions, facial and neck injuries, broken bones, the list of potential injuries is endless. Some children are so afraid of getting hurt that they even fake injuries so they can stay home or sit out of the game.

Psychologically these sports can also be damaging to our youth. Starting from Kindergarten on children are advanced based on their abilities. The better you are the more you get to play. More value is placed on "Winning" than just having fun. Granted, if we were dealing with adults this would seem logical, but to a five year old who just wants to "have fun", this rejection could have an everlasting, negative effect on their self-esteem. Why can't I play? Oh, because I'm not good enough. These kids are too young and impressionable to be subjected to such a competitive atmosphere.

The author neglected to mention that there are all too many parents' who even "force" their children to play these sports. Perhaps they are living vicariously through their children. Maybe they truly believe that competitive sports will somehow make their child more likely to succeed in life. I personally, have witnessed a child scream, cry and beg his Father to let him skip his football game that particular day, I also watched helplessly as that same Father physically forced his son into the car and take him to that game he so clearly did not want to play.

Jessica Statsky has argued this issue effectively. She used many supporting quotes and resources which help to prove her point that children really do need to play. Save the competition for us adults. After all, you only get one childhood.