Summary
In “Children Need to Play, Not Compete”, Jessica Statsky argues that competitive sports are not suitable for young children- between six and twelve years of age; instead, they should be encouraged to engage in sports that are cooperative and fun for them. First, Statsky explains that competitive games have the potential to cause physical harm to young children. For instance, she exemplifies how competitive sports expose children to injuries due to the tough physical tactics associated with them. As a result, Statsky demonstrates how children end up developing a fear for injury and thus, may not enjoy the games as they should or may choose to restrain from them completely. Second, Statsky explains that competitive sports can cause children psychological harm. She asserts that the overly competitive nature of the games negates the quality of the sporting experience. “Their goals should be having fun, learning, and being with friends”, Statsky states (252). She provides examples of how like the case is for adults, failure to win during the game or to qualify for the team selections can cause depression among the children. As a result, Statsky concludes that children’s sports should focus less on overly competitive games and more on building cooperation and sportsmanship.
Response
I strongly agree with Jessica Statsky’s article “Children Need to Play, Not Compete.” My father was a high school sports coach and as a child who began actively engaging in competitive sports very young, I attest to the negative effects of these type of sports for children. I feel that Statsky adequately defends her suggestion that overly-competitive games should be eliminated from child sports programs.
First, allow me to discuss my childhood experience in competitive sports to demonstrate why I agree with Statsky about its potential to negate the quality of the gaming experience. Physically, I was like my father- quite fit and fast. As a child to a coach, it went without saying that I would join one of the local league teams competitively. I started to play football and I did score some goals. However, I remember that I was always very nervous about it as I never wanted to ever let my father down through losing. It was no longer about learning the game and expressing myself through it, but rather about the “you better win” feeling.
Statsky rightly backs her thesis using appropriate examples and statistics. For example, while demonstrating how children may suffer physical injuries from competitive sports, she gives an example of how arm and shoulder muscles undergo strain in softball and these may develop into life-long injuries. Further, she uses numerical statistics to build the logic of her argument for the potential psychological harm that these games bring. Statsky explains that only 10-20% of children continue to engage in competitive sports after they turn 16 to demonstrate the highly selective nature of the games.
A significant strength that Statsky demonstrates in her writing is her acknowledgement of competing views which builds her credibility as a speaker about the subject. For instance, she acknowledges the inevitability of winning and losing, however, she refutes this claim by demonstrating that it only makes sense from an adult perspective. Additionally, she incorporates the arguments by an opposing team – the Little League Online which advocates for competitive sports but refutes the claim using the opinions of experts such as Leonard Koppett, a renowned American sportswriter. By acknowledging the views of naysayers, she appears objective and fair in her opinions.
As a child who engaged in competitive sports when still young, I agree with Statsky’s concerns about their negative effects on a child’s physical and psychological health. Additionally, she applies two key techniques that persuade the reader to agree with her argument. First, she justifies the logic of her arguments using appropriate and relevant statistics and examples. Second, she appears credible in her arguments through the acknowledgement of conflicting arguments and the use of authoritative sources to support her ideas. For these strengths in her article, I agree with her that child sports programs should eliminate overly competitive games and replace them with more collaborative and constructive games.