Aug

Competitive team sports: healthy or exclusive?

Ian K

Asia, competitive, competitive sport, health, individual, individual sport, junior olympics, olympics, singapore, team sport, youth sport

With the Junior Olympics underway in Singapore, the world’s most talented sporting teens are cutting their teeth in the world of competitive sport. But is it good to push so far, so young?

Where extreme sports demand individual performances, many team sports pit youngsters against each other in a physical battle – and it’s this that puts many children off sport – sometimes for life.

There is a move back toward including competitive sports as a compulsory part of school curriculum. I say ‘back’, that’s because in some countries competitive sports have been frowned upon, as they exclude people who are less physically competitive.

Children are competitive, but physical strength should not be what determines a child’s interest in sport.

We should note that team sports and individual sports are very different in this debate; by forcing contact team sports onto young people you quickly alienate lots of people, while encouraging individual sports can really help build individuals’ confidence.

Let’s also remember: some youngsters just don’t want to take part. Now, if this is because they feel intimidated by others, something needs to be done. The aim in school sports is surely not to produce the fastest, the fittest and the best athletes, but to keep kids healthy and active.

From this happy pool of footballers, and rugby and hockey players (all still default team sports) the most talented youths will always emerge. But equally important, is finding sports for everyone – something track and field does very well.

Now, with the increasing interest in extreme sports and adventure sports we have a chance. With the stereotype that has haunted mountain biking, skateboarding and parkour fading, more children can get into sport if these disciplines are respected.

At no point would we ever discourage team sports. In fact, we welcome moves to get children involved in sports of all sorts. It’s just that there is more to sport than strength and teamwork.

It’s true there’s no ‘I’ in team, so let’s make sure all those I’s out there get a chance to fulfil their potential, too!