Posted on 04/22/2014 4:04:05 AM PDT by lbryce
Research by the MCC and the Chance to Shine cricketing charity suggests that large numbers of schoolchildren no longer care if the competitive element is taken out of sport Most children would not be bothered if the competitive element was taken out of school sport, according to research by the MCC. Most children would not be bothered if the competitive element was taken out of school sport, according to research by the MCC. Photo: Alamy Graeme Paton
Britain risks losing its competitive edge because a generation of children is no longer interested in winning on the sporting field, according to research.
Figures show the majority of children are not bothered if the competitive element is removed from football, cricket, rugby and hockey fixtures, saying playing for fun or being with friends is more important.
>> School sport: no winners, no losers, no fun
It emerged that mothers and fathers place a considerably greater focus on winning or losing, with some even admitting they would not watch their children play sport if there was no final result.
The disclosure, in a study by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and cricketing charity Chance to Shine, will fuel concerns that a "prizes for all" culture in schools over the last few decades has eroded children's competitive spirit.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
One can claim anything they wish but it doesn't make it true.....
“The kids I coached wanted to win every time..”
I agree. I’ve been to all sorts of athletic competitions.. high school football, ES girls basketball and now gymnastics for the youngest. ALL the kids want to outshine the others. All of them bring their game faces. Oh.. and some of the events that don’t keep a score.. believe me, there are a lot of parents that know the score at the end of the game. You simply can’t take away the competitive spirit in people.. you can write an article stating it but it is there. IMHO.
That may be true in the UK, but I don’t see it here in the US. I’ve been assistant coaching baseball in the 6-8 age range and soccer in the 8-10 age range, and while in rec leagues at these ages we explicitly don’t keep scores or stats, trust me, the kids either know or constantly ask what the score is.
“No one cares about anything except advancing themselves and sex, oh and did I mention sex?”
You’re right on both counts.
Advancing oneself via honest hard work and creativity is admirable, but advancing oneself by being unprincipled and a ‘player’ seems to be the order of the day. Personally, when I see people go to church, and then screw people over at work while rationalizing that it’s OK because “this is business” it makes my stomach turn.
Obviously this doesn’t apply to the bosses at Manchester United.
Yes, to the point that high schoolers are obtaining and taking drugs meant to treat attention deficit disorder because they think it might give them an edge. A group of high schoolers in our town had an anabolic steroid ring for performance enhancement. Ambition is great, winning at any cost is a character flaw with very significant implications.
I'm all for good clean competition, in any arena, but I also think we need to emphasize the old adage, ‘do your best, try your hardest, be honest, try to win, and give your all, but if you don't win you can hold your head up for giving it your best shot and playing fairly’ (irrespective of the context).
Watching sports that you don't play, maybe. Actively engaging in sports - not so much.
If there’s no competitive element, then it’s not a sport. Also, IMHO, if there’s a subjective element to deciding the winner or loser, it’s not really a sport either, but that’s another topic entirely.
John Lennon’s “Imagine”
competition is punished.
being a candy a**ed dumb a** scared of winning is rewarded.
this is why Oprafication is evil incarnate.
My 8 & 9 year old boys basketball team went undefeated this year because all 9 of my players had the will to win. They won games by 20 points and a few by only one or two points. The kids played hard for each other and the team. I couldn’t be more proud of them.
Well...DUH!
FMCDH(BITS)
Possibly the worst song I've ever heard.
FMCDH(BITS)
The "nobody wins, everybody gets a medal" crowd has not taught their children how to handle it when they don't win.
I believe that's where kids feel they need to enhance their performances and the "win at any cost" attitudes.
“The “nobody wins, everybody gets a medal” crowd has not taught their children how to handle it when they don’t win.”
That’s an interesting perspective that I hadn’t considered. Thanks!
Personally, I’ve come to the place in my life where I’ve realized without question that no matter what we do, we will always just be able (if we are lucky and blessed) to add just a little bit to the world. I work with lots of people whose egos drive them beyond this belief, but they are truly destined to disappointment.
I’ve also dealt with jealousy from people who I never thought would be that way. It’s all very strange.
I had a patient who was at the top of the world (well-compenstated and highly successful CEO of his own company). One day, after I hadn’t seen him in awhile, he came in looking very thin and very frail. He had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. You just never know, so you do your best, you accept competition and do it with grace and honesty, and you accept that your chips are dealt by a power beyond yourself.
I think it’s all about context. We played lots of different sports and semi-sports in PE and recess when I was a kid and 10 minutes later nobody could remember who won because it didn’t matter. In PE who cares about the score, it’s just PE, you’re out there for 45 minutes win lose or draw. Same with pickup games at recess or whatever, they’re about finding a fun way to kill some time. If it’s some sort of organized league type thing that’s totally different, that’s kids choosing to get into a competition.
FMCDH(BITS)
Brave Sierra. To quote a college baseball coach, “the person who says, it is not whether you win or lose it is how you play the game bulls__t, lost the game.”
No problems with the competitive spirit in the state known for "Remember the Alamo!"
My 12 YO son hates to lose, but he's usually a good sport about it. I'm trying to channel that spirit, because it will serve him well in life.
His goal is to matriculate at UT-Austin, a worthy goal when you consider that he'll have to finish in the top 8% of his class to qualify.
His other goals include Eagle Scout, and playing linebacker or cornerback in HS.
I asked the kids in my 6th grade class (Sunday School) if they hear what parents say/yell from the stands during their games. One young lady summed it up, regarding any negativity: "Of course I hear it. It just makes me more focused to prove them wrong."
Texas will continue to lead the way in the 21st century.
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