How to Keep Child Athletes Safer in Sports

Many people think that too many kids are getting hurt in competitive sports such as football, hockey, baseball, cheer leading, etc. From my point of view, I will say that kids do get hurt, it's part of the sport. Injuries are going happen but there are ways that kids can be more safe to prevent these injuries. There are things already promoting this such as age and weight limits. Can you imagine in a game, a 45 year old against a 10 year old? Odds are 45 year old is going to win. That's why we have these limits, to keep the competition at a certain level and keep these kids safe. Another example in wrestling, there are weight limits that kids have to be in in order to compete. Certain precautions can help keep these kids safe in competitive sports. Also, children need to have a healthy diet. They need to have that extra boost of energy to make them perform better. Their muscles need to be in top shape which is where vitamins kick in. They help a child's' muscles grow more efficient. Eating the correct amount of fats, proteins, etc. can help an athlete avoid injury and help them perform and their greatest level.


Bibliography

TeensHealth. "Child Athletes Need a Healthy Diet." At Issue: Child Athletes. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Alden High School. 9 June 2009 &contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010487208&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=nysl_we_aldenhs&version=1.0>.

Child Athletes: Pros and Cons

There has been many debates on how child athletes are being harmed by playing competitive sports. Yet, there have been others stating how sports can help young children. In a few articles, I found facts against child athletes, saying how it pushes them to the brink and works them too hard causing bone damage and other negative effects later in life. Also, saying how it hides other talents of the kids that can help them succeed. But on the other hand, it is said that sports can help children develop early skills, work on their relationship skills, develop positive attitudes, become physically fit and most important, to have fun. To compare the pros and cons, I'll state a couple of facts and statistics. For the pros, children can learn from playing sports. They learn how to accept winning and losing and that you have to work hard to achieve what you want. It doesn't come easy. There is a lot of hard work and dedication that needs to be put in. Kids become stronger and more physically fit because of sports. It gets them ready for life because not everything that you want can happen "just like that". Some things require you to try your hardest because some aspects of life including competing to be the best. In my opinion, I think that kids should be athletes because it gets them more fit for future life. Being an athlete myself I am against kids not being athletes because I have only gotten hurt a couple times in my 12 years of playing numerous sports. They kept me in shape and taught me about competition. Also, how to accept winning and losing in life.

Bibliography:

Deborah Mitchell. "Playing Sports Can Harm Children." At Issue: Child Athletes. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Alden High School. 5 June 2009

Robin Gerber. "Playing Sports Can Obscure Other Talents." At Issue: Child Athletes. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Alden High School. 5 June 2009

Jordan D. Metzl and Carol Shookhoff. "Playing Sports Benefits Children." At Issue: Child Athletes. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Alden High School. 5 June 2009