Kids Should Not Play Competitive Sports

Kids should not play competitive sports because they are stressful, expensive, and dangerous. The first reason that kids should not play competitive sports is that they are stressful. According to LiveStrong, “The mounting pressure to play well can increase stress and make children feel bad and lose confidence should they make mistakes or lose” (Huggins 2017). Kids want to be recognized and rewarded, so winning can cause them to experience lots of pressure. However, if they do not win, they might lose confidence and self-esteem, which adds on another con. Also, participating in a competitive sport also takes up time because of the intense training schedule that is involved. Because of that, kids may stress about schoolwork or other activities.

There are several costs such as medical and travel costs. From the New York Times, it states, “Parents of these children, from third through 12th grade, will pay about $800 each, not including airfare, hotel and other expenses” (Sullivan 2015). Even though $800 in general may not be too much, it is from third to 12th grade, and it does not include the travel cost such as the flight, hotel, and other uses. There are also a lot of medical costs. Kids are getting injured, and parents have to pay high bills for them on top of travel and the general enrollment pricing. Also, Detroit Free Press says, “The fees, gear and travel add up to about $10,000 a year” (“Competitive Youth Sports…” 2016). This means that in total, competitive sports can be expensive, and can take away the money that was intended to be saved up for college. Usually families might not consider the other costs involved with competitive sports besides just the uniforms and the coaches. They may forget about the other costs involved with playing competitive

People risk their lives on playing sports, and it is never worth it. Huffington Post states, “About 175,000 children are treated in emergency rooms nationwide each year for concussions because of sports-related activities, according to the CDC” (Costa 2015). This means that every year, kids have to go to the emergency room because of sports-related activities. Imagine how many kids have to go to the emergency room because of competitive sports. Too many kids are getting injured. Many kids are also suffering from other injuries that are involved with playing competitive sports. Also, according to Hopkins Medicine, “More than 775,000 children, ages 14 and younger, are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year” (Sports Injury Statistics n.d.). This is important to notice because many kids are treated in emergency rooms each year, and all because of injuries related to sports. They risk their lives to play, and several suffer from injuries. These injuries can not only cost a lot of money, but they can also cost a