Children

Just as important as concepts that are taught in school, competitive sports for young children fuel the fundamental objectives for psychological growth and development. Jessica Statsky's, "Children Need to Play, Not Compete," raises controversy about children ages six to twelve in sports. According to Statsky children these ages are too young to participate in contact sports such as Peewee Football or Little League baseball.

Although, Statsky presents a convincing argument in her essay, her argument is blemished because she does not fully support all of her claims and she fails to take into account the arguments that most parents would voice. Statsky's argument is well supported throughout her essay. She uses examples, quotations from several experts, and statistics from a number of credible sources.

Statsky's most prominent problem with her argument is that she neglects to fully address the questions and concerns that parents are sure to have after reading her argument. Parents that were former members of competitive sports in their childhoods and had a good experience, feel that their children should be involved so that they can obtain the same type of experience. Also, some parents look at organized sports as a way for their children to better develop social skills and learn how to cope with their fears earlier in life. Parents also think that by involving their children in organized sports it will help them to form closer relationships with kids their own age.

Statsky may touch on some psychological dangers, but she also fails to mention some of the benefits that sports play in children's lives. Psychological advantages, such as the leadership, should far out weigh the fear that a child might shy away from sports in the future. The ability to work as part of a cohesive group should be instilled in a child's mind at a young age. When the child grows into a young adult he knows that he is not alone in the world and can function effectively as a team member in the workplace. Winning feels good; winning fairly feels even better because you know you've earned it. This is a principle that if not learned early in life an individual will never have the drive to achieve success ethically.

Another major problem in Statsky's argument is that it is not complete because she fails mentions nothing about non-contact sports. Statsky mentions nothing about golf or tennis, which are both noncontact sports that are less likely to be physically and psychologically damaging for a child. Also if they are played in teams the same benefits can be found as in any other team sport.

Statsky argues that violence is not in the nature of a child that is under the age of fourteen. There can be many other factors that may inhibit violent behavior in children. Violent acts of children can spur from their home lives as well as the television they watch.

Another concern of parents is the quality of supervision in these organizations. Statsky gives an example of poor supervision when she describes a Little League coach burning the opposing team's jersey on the pitcher's mound as a means of "intimidation." In these situations it is left to the parents of the players to take action. Yet overzealous parents take the fun out of games and embarrass