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6 of 13

by Hilaire Playa

Competition. It's a great impetus that drives many people to do better. For athletes it can be the difference between good and great. As with many things, too much can be bad thing. Here in America we want more of everything and we want it now. Why wait for our children to start high school or even junior high for them to compete? Start them in elementary school. No. Better yet, start them as preschoolers. They'll be better, have an advantage over other kids. Right? Unlikely. Pushing them harder is more likely to burn them out sooner than give them any advantage.
Soccer may still be the step-child sport in America, but it is the most watched sport world-wide. Perhaps because it is still a "new" sport here, people think that it may be easier to break into. Then again, perhaps it's as simple as the fact that any little kid can kick a ball. Tennis, basketball, even football, all require a certain amount of skill, and while actual soccer requires an extreme amount of skill, what most kids play simply is little more than kicking a ball back and forth.
Children live to please their parents, and most love games, so at first they may dive into kiddie soccer with ease. The thing is, kids develop at different rates, and even a small advantage, such as longer legs or better balance, will make a child seem marvelously gifted in comparison to his or her team mates. Parents are suddenly certain that they have the world's next greatest athlete and push them to work harder, be tougher. Some manage to live up to expectations or try, while others do an about face and refuse to play at all. Shouldn't sports be more about having fun, developing self-esteem, and learning good sportsmanship?
There's nothing wrong with little kids playing, but they should develop a love of the game and understanding of the rules before we toss them into the cut-throat world of competitive sports.

Learn more about this author, Hilaire Playa.

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