The Competitive Edge - Kids In Competition

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today." -Stacia Tauscherf

I had a great question this month from one of our readers regarding his child's involvement in competitive cutting. This reader wants to know whether encouraging his young daughter's participation in a competitive sport at an early age will have a positive developmental impact or whether it may have negative consequences. The short answer to this question is Ð potentially both, depending on the child's level of development and the competitive environment.

As the youth divisions in our equine sports continue to expand and flourish, this particular question becomes increasingly important. Are we helping or hurting our children by exposing them to the pressures of competition at such an early age? While working with coaches, trainers, athletes and their families, I have heard strong arguments for both sides, so this month, I want to explore each angle to enable you, as the parent or trainer, to make an informed decision regarding kids in competition.

Kids in sports
A couple of key points that we want to keep in mind are: first, kids are kids. They are not just little adults and are different from us physically, cognitively and emotionally on a developmental level. Consequently, we need to be aware of and consider what is developmentally appropriate for each individual. Second, it is important to remember that positive and negative attitudes and experiences are not taught by the sport itself but rather through the deliverance of the sport by influential adults and peers. How are we portraying competition to our children?

Due to the complexity of this topic, I will cover these issues in two parts. This month, I will discuss how our attitudes and behaviors can mean the difference between our children experiencing competition as either a negative or positive addition to their lives. Further, I will offer suggestions on how to create a positive competitive environment for your child to promote enthusiastic participation and optimal development.

Later on, I will discuss in detail two developmental stages for children. With this information, I hope you will be able to make informed decisions with realistic expectations for your children depending on their stage of development and age-appropriate abilities.

Between the 1930s and the 1950s, there was a strong movement influenced by the "experts" to reduce or eliminate competitive sports in elementary and junior high schools (Wiggins, 1987, cited in S. Murphy, Sport Psychology Interventions, 1995, Page 39). School administrators and physical educators felt that competition during these age groups could be potentially harmful for the child's psychological development. Instead, they recommended participation in noncompetitive physical activity for positive benefits. The community, however, did not agree, and consequently, numerous community-based sporting organizations were formed and flourished such as the YMCA, Little League Baseball, Biddy Basketball and 4H groups. The debate continues today on the potential harm or benefits of children in competition. (Murphy, 1995).

Potential
So let's talk about some of these positive and negative impacts. There is no doubt that a child has the opportunity to gain a number of positive benefits from participating in any physical activity such as: health and fitness, hand-eye coordination, self-expression, increased stamina, flexibility, speed, strength and agility. However, participation in competitive sports offers the unique potential to develop a number of other vital life skills such as: problem-solving skills, cooperation skills, team cohesion, increased confidence and self-esteem, perseverance, accountability, anger management and stress management skills.

The key word here is "potential." Each competitive situation has the potential... read the rest of the article in QHN. Click here.