SP Research Paper
SP Research Paper
Game Changers
Like many things in life, there is a more advanced path. Youth sports are no different.
Most sports, if not all, offer a more competitive form of play. This can come in many forms.
Travel teams, club teams, or select teams are just a few examples of all organizations that have
When you wake up on a weekend morning to take your little child to their soccer game,
what does that look like? Is it sipping warm coffee, chatting with other parents while your child
runs around on some freshly cut grass where the focus for the kids is having fun and socializing?
Or is it waking up early, driving maybe further than you normally would to take your child to a
soccer game? You still get to drink your coffee, talk to your parents, and yell at the officiating,
but the focus may be less on fun socialization while being active, and more on playing at higher
levels of competition.
For me, it was the latter. Playing almost every sport growing up I eventually decided to
specialize in soccer. While I did not fully specialize because I still participated in other youth
sports, I joined competitive soccer. My goal in competitive youth soccer was to get better and
progress for the future. I also really enjoyed soccer, like many kids, so there was not any
perspectives and different participation roles. For those participating in youth sports, their
objective can be many things. Players, parents, coaches, and referees all have their reasons for
participation, for the fun, the activity, to progress in their sports, or to offer support. Which leads
1
The effects of competition on youth sports can be a double-edged sword, as it may induce
positive and negative effects among participants. One effect competition has on youth sports is
an increase in burnout. Burnout happens when an athlete stops playing a sport that they
seemingly loved to play for a variety of reasons. One reason for dropping the sport due to
burnout is stress: “... a significant number are turned away by their experience in sport. Intense
training and pressure packed competitions, coupled with close adult supervision, can induce
considerable stress in young athletes (Rotella).” The constant stress involved with competing is
enough to cause a child to be discouraged from participating in this seemingly fun activity.
Another case of burnout is when youth specialize in a specific sport too early. To compare this to
food, it would be like eating a cheeseburger everyday for the rest of your life. Eventually eating
cheeseburgers would not be appealing. Specializing in a sport could have that same effect, “A
lack of enjoyment is a main reason for withdrawal in early stages of youth sport participation and
the structure of early specialized sport may be at odds with enhancing enjoyment necessary for
long-term involvement (Russell).” Furthermore, Russell's study shows the strong correlation of
withdrawal from youth sports due to a lack of enjoyment in the early stages of participation.
Russell suggests that the rigid structure of early specialized sports may clash with the cultivation
of enjoyment, a crucial factor for long-term engagement in sports. If a participant does not fall in
love with a sport out of enjoyment for the sport, the demands are enough to steer them away.
While competition can be enjoyed, it also elevates the risk of burnout, compromising the overall
Another way competition affects youth sports is the effect it has on character building.
Competitive environments within youth sports serve as grounds for building resilience and grit in
young athletes. English highlights in her article Rewarding Participation in Youth Sport: Beyond
2
Trophies for Winning that competitive youth sports provide invaluable opportunities for character
building, where the values of hard work and perseverance are established. She asserts that youth
sports serve as an essential teaching environment, where athletes learn the difficult truth that
even their best efforts may not always be enough. English emphasizes, "...youth athletics are a
valuable teaching ground for building character-a place for youngsters to learn the value of hard
work and often difficult truth that even their best efforts may not yield trophies or tangible
rewards.” In competitive sports participation trophies are not given out lightly and many teams
leave tournaments empty handed. These competitions in youth sports expose the children that
they need to be dedicated and hardworking to reach their goals and achievements. Similarly,
Russell's study references Ericsson et al. in that, “... expert performance was the product of
extensive deliberate practice rather than innate abilities.” The pursuit of excellence requires
athletes to have grit and determination vital for overcoming challenges. While specialization may
prioritize practice over enjoyment, it fosters resilience and determination essential for navigating
Competition within youth sports has the potential to reshape athletes' motivations,
sometimes shifting them from intrinsic to extrinsic factors. Intrinsic motivation is doing
something for the enjoyment of doing that action, while extrinsic motivation is participation in
an action for the reward (not the action); this can take a variety of forms. Russell's study
indicates that early specialization in a single sport may diminish intrinsic motivation, leading to a
greater focus on external rewards. Russell states, "... participation motivations may be
transformed from intrinsic into more extrinsic when youth specialize it was hypothesized that
young adults who specialized in one sport as youth would report lower intrinsic motivation and
higher extrinsic motivation for their youth sport participation." Additionally, Rotella’s model of
3
four components that may impact motivation are, stress, physiological responses, cognitive
appraisal and situation demands/ resources. Rotella states, “As shown in the model, each of the
four components can be affected by the personality and motivation of individual athletes.” The
model highlights the interplay between individual athletes' personalities and motivations,
showing how competitions may impact athletes' motivations and contribute to burnout. With
high level play it produces a high level of arousal or physiological responses for athletes due to
fast paced games and high expectations. High levels of arousal can increase stress created by
young athletes competing. Consequently, the competitive nature of youth sports may
inadvertently switch participants' motivations away from the sport and onto the rewards or
benefits. This is not just trophies, this can also be interpreted as seeking praise and mastering
skills.
development of children, both positively and negatively. McEwin and Dickinson caution against
common sports practices, such as player selection, which may adversely affect the psychological
well-being of young adolescents. They note that practices like “cutting” players from teams can
foster feelings of rejection and inadequacy among those excluded. “Cutting” players is common
in competitive programs for many reasons, reducing numbers or players not at a high enough
skill level are just a few. Similarly, English suggests an alternative perspective, advocating for a
shift in mindset where opponents are seen as companions rather than adversaries. She asserts,
"Instead of seeing opponents as enemies, at worst, or facilitators, at best, athletes can see others
as companions in the test and even as friends" (English). By building a place of growth and
sportsmanship, the competitive arena becomes a nurturing ground for social integration and
4
emotional practice. While competition shapes character and fortitude, it must be balanced with
Like everything else in life, sports cost money to participate. With competitive sports
there are more fees and costs for participants. Disparities in Youth Sports and Barriers to
According to a TD Ameritrade survey, 63% of parents will pay $1200 to $6000 per year
for sports participation, with nearly 1 in 5 paying more than $12,000 a year .
Furthermore, according to the Aspen Institute, whereas 43% of children in homes earning
more than $100,000 were able to play sports, only 22% of children in homes with
incomes less than $25,000 participated. This had led to increased inactivity levels
amongst those most at risk of developing long-term health conditions as adults. For
families who cannot afford the average $693 per sport per year to participate, limited
school-based options (particularly during COVID) has led to a lack of physical activity
With these rates, the likelihood that a low income family will be able to afford the high
competitive sport fees is very low. Competition will affect the participation of youth because of
the increased costs associated with all the travel, coaches, tournaments, gear and more expenses.
This effect competition has on youth sports makes participation lower for families with low
incomes. John Solomon found that participation rates are much lower: “Youth ages 6-18 from
low-income homes quit sports because of the financial costs at six times the rate of kids from
high-income homes, according to a national survey of parents by the Aspen Institute’s Project
Play initiative and Utah State University’s Families in Sport Lab.” Competition affects the
participation rate for children of low income families. There are however opportunities to make
5
sports more affordable. Scholarships awarded to outstanding individuals can offer some financial
relief. There are not enough scholarships out there for all athletes, this still leads to some athletes
With the increased intensity and hours spent practicing it is not unreasonable for
participants to be faced with an increase in likelihood of injuries. Some sports are more prone to
injuries than others. Not just contact sports puts participants at risk of physical injuries, overuse
experienced by runners and swimmers also impact their performance; “Many of those injuries
are ‘overuse’ injuries caused by factors such as overtraining. The injuries are the result of
repetitive microtrauma (repeated small injuries)(McEwin).” The excessive and intensive training
found in competitive sports at a basic level increases risk of injuries that regular youth sports still
face, but are not as common or severe. Nick Inserrra has been around competitive swimming
since his childhood. Inserra swam on a competitive club and highschool team before he became
involved in coaching both a recreational summer swim team and a competitive varsity level high
school team. When interviewed about how he sees injuries to his swimmers both at the
recreational and competitive levels Inserra said that, “... It all comes down to the hours and
intensity of practices. Some varsity teams are practicing upwards of 15 to 20 hours a week,
whereas some more lenient, recreational teams might only practice 10 hours (a week).” The
amount of time spent training leaves proneness to injuries higher than at a level where training is
less demanding. Inserra believes that with the proper strength conditioning and recovery methods
it is possible to maintain your physical health and meet the training demands of your competitive
sport.
It is said that to master something takes 10,000 hours or repetitions of practice. Sports are
6
sports at a young age. Serena Williams, twenty three time tennis Grand Slam winner, for
example, according to the National Women's History Museum, “...began intensive tennis training
with her father and older sister around the age of three…In 1995, at the age of 14, Williams
made her professional debut at a qualifying event in Quebec City (Brandman).” Williams, like
many other successful athletes, began their journey to become great athletes very young. Their
participation in competitions at a young age gave them a competitive advantage that other
aspiring athletes did not have. Making it to the professional level is very challenging, according
to the NCAA, “More than 480,000 compete as NCAA athletes, and just a select few within each
Competing in College Athletics).” This shows how competitive the professional level is. There is
such a small chance that participants will make it to a divisional sport and then progress further
there after. Needless to say, competition has the effect on youth sports giving participants a future
advantage. This advantage has made it possible for some athletes to make it into professional
The extensive research findings on the effects of competition in youth sports reveal a
multifaceted impact, presenting both positive and negative outcomes for participants. One
significant effect identified is the increase in burnout among young athletes. As highlighted by
Rotella, Hanson, and Coop, the intense pressure of competitions coupled with rigorous training
regimens can lead to considerable stress, ultimately resulting in athletes disengaging from sports
they once enjoyed. Additionally, Russell's study underscores the detrimental impact of early
specialization, where young athletes may lose interest in their sport due to a lack of enjoyment.
These findings emphasize the importance of balancing competition with the well-being of young
7
On the flip side, competition plays a crucial role in building more character development
and resilience among youth athletes. English emphasizes the valuable life lessons learned
through competitive sports, such as the importance of hard work and perseverance even in the
face of adversity. Similarly, Russell's reference to Ericsson et al. highlights how deliberate
practice and specialization instill grit and determination, vital for navigating challenges both in
sports and life. While competition may prioritize excellence over enjoyment, it develops
essential qualities that contribute to personal growth and development both in and out of the
sport.
Research findings on the effects of competition in youth sports provide valuable insights
into the complex dynamics at play. By recognizing the potential benefits and drawbacks of
competition, stakeholders can work towards creating environments that prioritize the holistic
development and well-being of young athletes. This topic matters not only for personal growth
but also for fostering a positive and sustainable sports culture that benefits individuals and
society as a whole.
8
Works Cited
Brandman, Mariana. "Serena Williams." National Women's History Museum, 2022. Date
English, Colleen. "Rewarding Participation in Youth Sport: Beyond Trophies for Winning.
(Premiando La Participación En El Deporte Para Jóvenes: Más Allá De Los Trofeos Por
Ganar)." Cultura, Ciencia Y Deporte, vol. 13, no. 38, 2018, pp. 109-18. Publicly
www.ncaa.org/sports/2015/3/2/estimated-probability-of-competing-in-college-athletics.as
Interscholastic Sports Programs." The Clearing House, vol. 69, no. 4, 1996, pp. 217-21.
Pandya, Nirav Kiritkumar. "Disparities in Youth Sports and Barriers to Participation." Current
doi:10.1007/s12178-021-09716-5
Rotella, Robert J., et al. "Burnout in Youth Sports." The Elementary School Journal, vol. 91, no.
Russell, William D. "The Relationship between Youth Sport Specialization, Reasons for
Journal of Sport Behavior, vol. 37, no. 3, 2014, pp. 286-305. eLibrary; ProQuest Central
Student,
9
www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/relationship-between-youth-sport-specialization/do
cview/1553181560/se-2?accountid=41498.
Solomon, Jon. "Survey: Low-Income Kids Are 6 Times More Likely to Quit Sports Due to
projectplay.org/news/low-income-kids-are-6-times-more-likely-to-quit-sports-due-to-cost
s.
10