Argumentative Essay On Competitive Sports

Millions of children all over the world are involved in competitive sports. This has resulted in many enthusiastically argued debates. Some claim that competitive sports teach children many important life lessons. Others may argue that sports can lead to not only physical damage, but also emotional damage. The reality of the situation is that competitive sports are inappropriate and unsuitable for children of adolescence or younger. First and foremost, sports can be physically and mentally damaging to students. In the text “Listening to Wisdom From a 10 Year Old Son About His Head Injury” by Adam Buckley Cohen, it states, “He’d read Troy Aikman’s account of being unable to remember a Super Bowl victory. He knew that Steve Young had retired
because of concussions. And he recognized that if he kept taking hits year after year, he could suffer the same fate - or worse” (Cohen paragraph 8).
This piece of text evidence shows us that competitive sports inevitably lead to damage. For example, because of concussions and severe head injuries, a famous football player has been unable to remember a largely significant event such as winning the Superbowl - I mean, something like that is kind of hard to forget. Competitive sports can also be emotionally damaging to students. (competitive sports: are they a good or bad thing) In an article by Sports Performance Consultant Dr. Alan Goldberg, he claims, “Coaches and parents, who have lost their perspective of the game and don’t really understand the true purpose of youth sports, end up turning the game and competition into a pressure-filled nightmare for kids” (Goldberg paragraph 7). Kids crack under pressure and there is no avoiding that issue. A parent or coach does not have the right to push a child to their breaking point - in many ways that can be considered emotional abuse. In another article called “Why I Don’t Want My Kids to Play Team Sports” by Jeff Pearlman, it states, “ Then, without fail, my brother walked to the bench, sat down and remained there—completely ignored—for three quarters. Immediately before the final period
began, the coach would point to David and begrudgingly insert him at right fullback for the requisite minimum amount all kids must play. He made it painfully clear to the others that my brother was the weakest of weak links; that he was useless as a soccer player” (Pearlman paragraph 4). This piece of evidence demonstrates to us that playing competitive sports may eventually lead to self-doubt and a low sense of self-esteem for the child. Apart from undergoing physical and possibly mental damage, for many instances, playing competitive sports as a child promotes adult values and interests, not the child’s.
Part of the reason many parents may push their children so hard on sports is because they, the parents, use their children as a way to fulfill dreams they couldn’t fulfill as children. An article by DailMail.com states, “pushy parents who go to great lengths to make their children succeed are attempting to make up for their own failed dreams, researchers have confirmed” (DailMail paragraph 2). It also states, in another article, that “‘the child's achievements may come to function as a surrogate for parents' own unfulfilled ambitions,’ said study researcher Eddie Brummelman, a doctoral psychology student at Utrecht University in the Netherlands” (Pappas paragraph 3). An article by Everyday Health claims that “psychologists have long suspected that some parents try to fulfill their unfulfilled achievements through their kids, and now a study confirms it” (Everyday Health paragraph 1). These multiple pieces of evidence can lead us to the conclusion that millions of parents are chasing lost dreams through their children. Just because an adult worked hard for something that never happened does not automatically give that person the right to push their child to do something that is
undesired. My third reason is, playing competitive sports during youth can cost a ton. “For the 45 million children ages 6 through 16 currently participating in youth sports, many parents are having to reach deep into their pockets to cover the rising costs of equipment and sports-related activities” (Visual News paragraph 1). “In the United States, parents spend $671 on average per year to cover the costs of uniforms and the hefty fees charged for registration, lessons and coaching, and at least 1 in 5 ends up spending over $1,000 per child, every year. ” (Visual News paragraph 2). These pieces of evidence demonstrate that sport cost a lot and that coaches should not take these things for granted. Just because a child plays well during youth does not necessarily guarantee that he or she will get a college scholarship. Sports cost a fortune and that is yet another reason why sports are bad. In short, competitive sports are not good. Parents and coaches should understand that, if a child does not seek enjoyment out of the chosen sport, then you should lay back or simply quit. Leaving a responsibility like this in the hands of a parent or coach that has lost the perspective of what’s really important can shred a child’s dream, kill their self esteem, and leave them emotionally wounded.