Argument Essay: Should Teens Play Contact Sports?

Argument Essay:Should Teens Play Contact Sports?

     Sports. Football, soccer, ice hockey; these are but a few of the more dangerous contact sports kids enjoy to play. Alas, every year, about 3,500,000 young children suffer from sports injuries and require medical treatment. The surprising thing is that almost half of the injuries are caused by overuse, and are mainly in kids from 13-15 years old. Those kids who play sports are not only at risk of being physically injured, but mentally and socially as well. This can cause stress and grief between adults they trust, friends, and themselves. Therefore, teens should not play contact sports; for their sakes, and for others'.

     Playing contact sports can seriously damage your body – sometimes for life. In "For Children in Sports, a Breaking Point", the author states that, “the sports surgeon Dr. James R. Andrews said that he now sees four times as many overuse injuries in youth sports as he did just five years ago and that more children today are having to undergo surgery for chronic sports injuries.” More and more kids are overusing their muscles by constantly playing a certain sport for too long a period of time. This eventually causes a lot of wear and tear which, if left unchecked and continued for too long, can cause permanent damage. Another point that shows this risk in sports is in the article “How Children and Teens Can Avoid Sports Injuries” by the Wall Street Journal, which informs us that “the greatest number of sports injuries in kids are in teens from 13-15 old.” Teens at that age are still growing and developing – their bodies are more vulnerable to hits, and they can't sustain as much damage to their internal organs like adults can. When teenage sports players take hits like a professional, experienced, adult player, it increases their chances of having a permanent injury while on the field. As for being on the field, playing sports can also damage you emotionally and mentally.

     Being a player on the field can be very stressful, which can sometimes lead to breakdowns and frustration. Negative feelings can come from everywhere; parents, siblings, coaches, teammates... this torrent is enough to unravel anyone. As the editor of “Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool”, Michelle New, states, “overzealous parents tend to overreact to mistakes, game losses, and skipped practices, which often causes kids to do the same.” A child's performance in the game may be important, but it may be affected by the attitude of the spectators, like coaches and parents. If you get your child into the habit of beating themselves up over a minor mistake, they won't be able to focus on the next game in fear of making an error while on the field. This could also pressurize them to be absolutely flawless in an adult's eyes when playing, as shown in “Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool”. “Kids try to satisfy the demands of a parent, coach, or other authority figure and end up feeling like winning is the only way yo gain the approval of the adults they respect.” This is absolutely true, and as the pressure builds up, it may go past the limit of the child's tolerance or capacity. They may experience burnout, depression, or may just break down or decide to quit playing sports. Stress, although helpful at times, is a dangerous thing to play with.

     Some people may say that stress is a good thing when it comes to sports. Sports can also benefit you physically, socially, and mentally. From the article “Healthy Competition Key in Youth Sports”, by Ramona Shelburne, “encouraging kids to stoke those competitive flames, Bryant said, is essential to making sports and physical activity part of their lives...”. Competitiveness helps kids learn how to be good sports and treat others well. Kids become healthy, and many are more satisfied with their lives. Playing sports also releases hormones that make you more relaxed and happy. But, as in "Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool", “stress is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it prepares the body to rise to a challenge with focus, strength, and heightened alertness. On the other hand, too much of it can exhaust a kid's energy and drive, leading to a sports burnout.” When that happens, kids will not be able to play their best on the field. All the pressure overwhelms them until it's too much to handle.

     Although occasional stress can be good sometimes, in many ways too much can bring you down, mentally, physically, and socially. Exercise is important, but there are many ways of exercising without putting your body and mind at harm. Contact sports are dangerous, and kids should cease playing for their safety and good health.

Bibliography

Brody, Jane E. "For Children in Sports, a Breaking Point." The New York Times. The New York Times, 24 May 2010. Web. 17 Jan. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/health/25brod.html?_r=0>.

"Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool." KidsHealth. Ed. Michelle New. The Nemours Foundation, 01 Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/sports_competition.html>.

"How Children and Teens Can Avoid Sports Injuries." How Children and Teens Can Avoid Sports Injuries. The Wall Street Journal, 19 Aug. 2014. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://www.wsj.com/video/how-children-and-teens-can-avoid-sports-injuries/D707BD91-FDC1-4885-8422-7E74A9E97BD4.html>.

|, Ramona Shelburne. "Kobe, Bill Clinton Talk Youth Sports." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 25 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10291171/kobe-bryant-says-healthy-competition-key-youth-sports.html>.