The following appeared in a letter to the editor of the Parkville Daily newspaper.
“Throughout the country last year, as more and more children below the age of nine participated in youth-league sports, over 40,000 of these young players suffered injuries. When interviewed for a recent study, youth-league soccer players in several major cities also reported psychological pressure exerted by coaches and parents to win games. Furthermore, education experts say that long practice sessions for these sports take away time that could be used for academic activities. Since the disadvantages outweigh any advantages, we in Parkville should discontinue organized athletic competition for children under nine.”
Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions and what the implications are for the argument if the assumptions prove unwarranted.
In this age of technology, many elementary and middle-school aged children are involved in a variety of youth-league sports. Certainly, the advantages inherent in sports cannot be denied. However, as noted by the author of the letter, there are significant drawbacks to these sports that cannot be ignored. Along with these drawbacks, there are further implications that must be addressed if society wishes to continue youth-league sports.
First, the letter is citing a study that found a significant increase in the number of injuries of children under nine participating in youth-league sports. At first glance, this statement seems almost reasonable. After all, most injuries are a result of improper training and technique, and it is difficult to keep track of injuries in youth sports. While this is true, there are numerous secondary reasons why youth-league sports are so dangerous. Young children are still developing physically, and their bodies are not as strong as those of adults. Furthermore, as the letter suggests, many of the injuries that youth-league athletes suffer are eye injuries. As a group, children are less physically mature than adults, and this makes them more likely to suffer injuries when their eyes are exposed to large amounts of sunlight or when they collide with other athletes.
Additionally, youth-league sports put players at a significant disadvantage. While adult athletes have spent years perfecting their techniques and honing their skills, most youth-league athletes do not have the same experience. As they progress through the leagues, they are subjected to increasingly strenuous physical challenges, such as longer practices and games. This is fine as these games are intended only to give children experience, but once they are too old for these leagues, they are subjected to much harsher competitions. During high school, many young people participate in varsity sports, which entail intense practices and rivalries. The physical and psychological stress that these sports cause can have long-term detrimental effects on young people. A study conducted by Dr. Lawrence Armstrong found that high school athletes suffer an elevated rate of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Many athletes, most notably those in football, also suffer irreparable damage to their eyes resulting from repeated blows. These problems were exacerbated by the prevalence of concussions in high school sports, and the effects of these concussions have been widely studied.
Two of the main reasons given for discontinuing youth-league sports are that these practices take away time that could be spent doing academic work and that a longer practice schedule could discourage children academically. It is true that these sports could interfere with children’s academic work, but it is difficult to argue that they are the main cause of this. Most children participate in sports because their parents want them to; children generally do not want to spend time practicing or competing if they do not enjoy it. Furthermore, most youth-league sports, even those that involve travel, are conducted during after-school hours, so there is little chance that a child will be unable to complete his or her homework. Finally, even if a child does not like his or her sport, many leagues offer multiple sports that a child could participate in. Therefore, even if a child has to sit out a season, he or she will be able to participate in other sports.
Furthermore, while a longer practice schedule could be detrimental to a child’s academic performance, there is evidence that it is actually beneficial for children. In the aforementioned study, youth-league athletes reported both physical and mental pressure. These pressures emanate from the coaches, parents, and other players, so the athletes are pushed to their physical and mental limits. Nevertheless, athletes must push themselves to develop their skills. Since youth-league athletes are so young, they have not yet developed the mental fortitude and physical strength necessary to achieve greatness. Some sports, such as basketball and soccer, require athletes to exert mental energy, such as making quick decisions, and this can distract them from their studies. Ultimately, it will be up to coaches and parents to ensure that their athletes do not overextend themselves academically.
If society wishes to continue youth-league sports, then it is imperative to make youth-league sports as safe as possible. Lawmakers and coaches must develop effective concussion protocols, and coaches must be trained to recognize when an athlete is suffering from a concussion. Furthermore, parents must be taught to recognize signs of concussion in their children, and they must encourage their children to take time off from their sports if they are exhibiting signs of a concussion. Otherwise, youth-league sports could have serious long-term consequences for young athletes.