Should Elementary School Children Part In Inter-School Sports Competition?

Over the years, the growth and changes in children 's sports have reflected the popularity of professional sports in our society. Sports games and sports news are available to the public twenty-four hours a day on television and the Internet even the radio. Due in part to this, schools and other organizations have changed American athletics from more of a fun playtime to intense competition. The effect of competition in youth sports on children has been the subject of much criticism and praise by physicians, psychologists and parents for years. Many people feel competition can be very beneficial and are strong supporters of competition amongst young children. These people claim that competitive sports aid in the development of social skills,
B. (2008, May). Children: How they grow, elementary school children ages 9-12. Retrieved from http://www.classbrain.com/artread/publish/article_35.shtmlFrankl, D. (2003). Should elementary school children take part in inter-school sports competition? . The New P.E and Sports Dimension. Retrieved from http://www.sports-media.org/sportapolisnewsletter16.htmJohnson, C. E. (1993). Children and competition. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, HE404. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

I chose this article because it simply explains and breaks down the advantages and disadvantages of competition in children under its own heading with easy to read bullets. It uses plain English and organizes the information into logical sections. This reference is useful for understanding the effects of competition because it explains both the positive and negative effects and because it answers many important questions like when competition becomes appropriate and ways to help children succeed. It also explains the developmental stages at several age groups, which can help promote understanding of the
(1987, September). The Case against competition. Working Mother Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.alfiekohn.org/parenting/tcac.htmThis article goes into great detail about the negative effects of competition on children, explaining each point in several paragraphs, which is why I chose this reference. It explains the reasoning behind Kohn 's arguments that competition is detrimental to children. This article is useful to the understanding of the effects of competition because Kohn is an expert in his field and provides great examples of real situations where competition has proved to be negative, as well as providing tips for reducing rivalry and avoiding the negative outcomes of competition.

Mincemoyer, C. (1994,). Cooperation, competition, and kids. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, 2, Retrieved from SPORTDiscus Database.

I chose this article because it delves into the negative effects of competition on children 's self-esteem, something I find very important to this topic, and it cites many substantial primary sources within itself. It is a valuable resource because it describes competition throughout childhood and discusses a lot of relevant topics, from burn out rates to why competition doesn 't work with younger children. Many other studies are cited and support the conclusion that competition has a negative effect on self-esteem.

****Seefeldt, V. (1980, February). Physical and psychological effects of athletic competition on children and youth.