In reviewing the article “Children Need to Play, Not Compete,” Jessica Statsky Explains the Dangers of Children's Participation in Sports competitive from a very young age. She worries that sports “incentivize children to commit physical acts that are harmful to their growing bodies” (para. 3). She also says coaches and parents can push their child athletes further than they want. Statsky explains how life lessons can be learned and friendships made through sports, and that winning should not be the most important aspect of the game. Given the possible risks of lifelong injury, one should support Statsky in his assertion that children should learn to play the game, not compete. Adults and coaches can easily discourage young athletes from pursuing their careers by pushing them too hard, too soon. Statsky explains: “The spirit of play suddenly disappears and sport becomes work” (para. 5). Children want to go out and have fun, especially young children. They don't play to be the best on the field or court, but to learn the basics of the game and see their friends. Overbearing adults or coaches can discourage children and make them less interested in playing. “When overzealous parents and coaches impose adult standards on children's sports, the result can be activities that are neither satisfying nor beneficial for children,” says Statsky (paragraph 1). This explains how some parents and coaches attempt to live out their sporting dreams vicariously through their child athletes. Jessica Statsky also explains how keeping score at sporting events makes kids focus more on winning than anything else. Children are pushed to a limit where play is no longer limited to papers and games. Teamwork is learned by practicing daily with their team to achieve a common goal. Jessica Statsky makes some excellent points throughout her article “Children Should Play, Not Compete.” It shows the physical and psychological damage that organized sports can cause to growing children under the age of thirteen. She backs up her ideas with a lot of support and many reliable sources. It can be easy to agree with Jessica because she has taken a strong stance on her topic and because of the support she shows. One may also like how Statsky backed away from his topic in paragraph 9 to relate to the other side of the argument. Works Cited Statsky, Jessica. “Children need to play, not compete. » The Saint-Martin Writing Guide, 8th ed. Ed Rise B. Axelrod and Charles R Cooper. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2008. 276-79.