In nearly every culture in the world, sport plays some role in the lives of the people. In the developed world in particular, this form of exercise and entertainment has become an increasingly large part of life. Many participate in sport for the exercise, challenge, social aspects and more, while others prefer to be spectators for the entertainment value that it can provide. Children are no exception to this and nowadays it is not at all uncommon for youth sports to be taken quite seriously. As a result, there is debate regarding the value of sport classes for kids.
The development of such attributes as sportsmanship, teamwork, and social skills is an important part of sports participation that proponents of these classes often cite. There is little argument that this can be true if the classes are conducted in a proper manner. There is also not much debate that such skills are valuable not only during childhood but all throughout life in many aspects.
On the other side of this argument is the concern about the effect of competition on developing youth. Some may be prone to being excessively competitive, which can be a hindrance socially and beyond. Others may have issues with lowered self-esteem if they are not as successful, which can have a wide range of negative effects on children as well as adults.
Many children these days are under an inordinate amount of stress, which is obviously not a healthy thing. Sport classes are often seen as a healthy outlet for the problems that plague us, partly because of the physical activity that they provide and partly from the social aspect.
On the other hand, rather than helping a child to deal with the stress that they are facing in other aspects of life, the competition that comes with these classes can compound what stress is already there. It is not at all uncommon for both coaches and parents to place a lot of pressure upon their kids. Peers can be another source of this as can the child himself or herself.
The simple existence of an opportunity to get some regular physical activity is a strong argument in favor of sport classes. Many kids have come to lead very sedentary lives and need to learn the importance of exercise and to develop healthy habits that they can carry with them through the rest of their lives.
With this added activity comes a greater chance of suffering an injury. Major injuries can have long-lasting physical and mental effects and even minor ones can cause significant problems. The risk level naturally depends upon the type of sport that is being played, but every one comes with some sort of risk involved.
It is clear that there are both benefits and drawbacks to
sport classes for kids. There is little to no black and white in this debate and, because everyone is different, it is up to each child and his or her parents to decide what is best for him or her. This will depend upon the personality and needs of the child as well as the benefits and risks involved.
