Keeping+Score+in+Children's+Sports

Keep Score in Youth Sports By: Corey

3...2...1... ring! The buzzer sounds at a youth basketball game, and kids line up to shake hands. John looks up at the score, but what's this? The score is 0 to 0. Did anyone score? They all look sweaty. Well, sure they scored, but in this youth league they do not keep score in kids' sports. In a different league the buzzer just sounded too. yet this was a championship game, and the home team won 52 to 51. In this league they keep score.

To begin with, I believe that people should record the score in youth sports leagues. On the other hand, some people might exclaim that not keeping score is awesome because we are keeping kids from having to feel dreadful because they lost.

However, keeping score in kids sports teaches excellent sportsmanship now, and later in life. If kids win, they feel amazing about themselves, and they expect to be treated with respect by the losing team. When kids lose, they do not awful, but they have to understand that they have to give respect in return. This helps because, for example, if a kid did not receive a promotion at their job later in life, they will know how to handle the situation the right way. But also, if they win later in life, they will know not to rub it in to your opponent and not to be a show off.

In addition, If score is noted in kids sports, children will try harder. If the score is always 0 to 0, what is there to accomplish? It is not great to not keep score because kids will not perform to their full potential. They will see that no matter how much they try, the score will always be the same. If score is kept though, kids will see the scoreboard and will be determined, to beat the other team, so they will perform their best. As a result, kids skills will improve from putting forth all of this effort to win.

Furthermore, not recording score takes the enjoyment out of youth sports. How can kids like sports if they never win? What makes sports worth while is wining a game. There can never be exciting championship games to play in or watch either because they would not be able to pick two teams to play in it. They could not do this because normally, you would take the two teams with the best records but if everyone ties, then all the records are the same. A study found that 70% of children quit sports at age 13. Could this be because they do not keep score anymore? Thus my point that it is taking fun out of sports. Sports are fantastic for kids academically, socially, and physically. But if they stop, they will no longer receive these benefits. In the U.S. approximately 30 million kids play some type of sport. We want to keep this number rising but the right way.

Moreover, if you do not have score, kids will not attempt to play to their full potential. If you do keep score, and kids lose, they will try to make themselves better through practice, so they can win next time. Plus, why should kids try to do their best if the score will always stay tied? The scoreboard is what strives kids to be the best they can be, so they have a better chance to win. When kids get older and they do keep score, they will stop playing because they are not very talented. They will not be very skilled because they would have not tried to make changes to their game in league where no score was kept.

In conclusion, we should keep score in youth sports because it teaches good sportsmanship, it guarantees that sports will be fun and competitive, it makes kids want to step up their game, and kids will do as well as they are able when playing. So, call your local youth league, present this argument, and force youth sports to keep score! Write a letter, tell your friends, and kids sports will be entertaining and competitive! Now you know why you should have score in youth sports. Now it's your turn, so go take action!

Bibliography

Harris, Bill. "Kids Should Compete." //Sports Colums//. Sports Writers, 10 Apr. 2009. Web. 30 Mar. 2010. .

McEntire, Teresa. "10 Benefits of Playing Sports - Parents - Families.com." //Parents Blog - Families.com//. parenting advice, 30 Sept. 2006. Web. 30 Mar. 2010. <://parenting.families.com/blog/10-benefits-of-playing-sports>.

Paasschen, Mark. "Little Leagues should keep score."// KXII Homepage//. First 12 News, 13 Apr. 2008. Web. 30 Mar. 2010. .

Sandman, Michelle. "Sports Psychology: Keeping Youth Sports Fun." //SelfhelpMagazine | Your Trusted Source for Self-help and Psychology Since November 1, 1994//. Sports Psychology, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2010.  <http://www.selfhelpmagazine.co