Many parents and young people have been voicing growing concerns about the true nature of children’s competitive sports matches, but children directly involved agree that they have many benefits.
Those who oppose sports matches express anxiety over the potential negative impacts on a child’s self-esteem if they do not get chosen to play on a team or lose a match. Parents worry that coaching is too tough, too much pressure is put on the players, and that rivalry and hostility is being fostered.
However, former netball player Grace Wharton says “These matches taught me and my team how to persevere, and to lose well. It was always about having fun with friends.”
Other advocates of the matches argue that these competitions build social skills and teamwork as the players must cooperate and communicate well, and they teach children that participation and fun is the most important thing. Most teams welcome all children and build their self-esteem and confidence as they are praised for trying their best. Teachers say that the matches are an incentive to encourage children to put in lots of effort, and that their main focus is on keeping the children happy, active and receiving the health benefits that playing a sport entails.
Thus, parents do not need to worry if they ensure that their chosen team prioritises the children’s enjoyment, as many school teams do, as participants will not be put under stress and their self-esteem will not suffer. Instead, these matches will keep children exercising and teach them valuable skills for use later in life.
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