Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose-it teaches you about life. – Billie Jean King
It’s a word that’s developed something of a bad reputation: “competition.” I remember when everything become a competition to me. First to score 3 goals, first to touch the tree, first to get to sleep or first to get upstairs. It kicked in around 4 to 6 years old. I want to be the fastest or I want to be the biggest or I want to have the most. I think it’s around that age when children start thinking about competition the way adults do: They want to win, every time.
Now I know there are many popular beliefs where young children are not encouraged to compete. One I recently read was from professional athlete and trainer Ben Askeren. Ben encourages 5-8 year olds not to compete. On the contrary, it is my belief that competition is not a bad thing. I encourage a balanced competitive experience so that children will learn to lose gracefully but also occasionally have the thrill of victory.
Balanced competition can be motivating and bring out challenges. Winning can give children a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Managing failure and learning from mistakes are vital skills in adulthood that we should to be taught as children. Failing will motivate children to become more skilled and more resilient. In competition children can learn to lose gracefully but also occasionally have the thrill of victory. Now balance is the key and winning should not become everything as some may lose confidence and motivation. Some might even have a tendency to be a sore loser so that’s why we need to model good sportsmanship. The ultimate aim for me is to be motivated to improve and develop personally.
“If every single player on our team knows, when the game’s over, that they played the best ballgame they are capable of, I can’t fault them.”
What are your thoughts?
Daniel Micevski