High School Sports - For Competition or Fun?

Many of those who study adolescent development and culture are becoming concerned about the state of childrens and youth sports. There are parents and coaches who seem to want to make up for their own (lack of?) glory days and overemphasize the competitive nature of sports. This isn't the case across the board, but there are plenty of examples available. Take as a case in point competitive t-ball. How on earth can you have competitive t-ball?? Apparently, there are enough examples that leagues have to designate themselves "non-competitive."

Today, I went to a high school cross-country ski meet. It was great to see a lot of students from the ministry that attend a variety of schools in one place, continuing friendships in the midst of competition (btw, way to go Becca, Becca, Wesley, Ben, Summer, Jackie, Hannah, JC and Sarah!). One student, who is very competitive, performed very well in spite of a waxing problem that kept her from kicking well - this problem was her primary focus, as she knew she could have done better. In general, one expects students to want to do well and to be upset when they don't do as well as they know they can.

But there are those (including this pastor) that fear that the fun of sports is being lost in the midst of the competition. I don't think this is the case for any of the students metioned above, but I know it isn't the case for one in particular. And it was such a surprise it really caught me off guard.

The race today was a 5k. It took most students about 15-20 minutes to complete. But one student and her friend took over 30 minutes to complete the race. Why? Because they were just out there to have fun. The smiles on their faces as they came around the last turn and raced each other to the finish line (the only racing either probably did the entire time) were priceless. That is why we have youth sports. That is why we want them involved in these things.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think competition is wrong. I just don't think that competition should replace the innocent fun of the whole thing.

*repost from my myspace blog, dated January 14, 2006