Example #1: First Draft:

Competitive Sports for Kids

A very big topic right now is whether competitive sports are good or bad for kids. In my
opinion kids should play competitive sports. I think this because kids can get better social and
management skills. Competitive sports also lower/control bad behavior.
One of the reasons that I mentioned is that kids get better social and management skills. I
think this because kids will have to plan their day out including their sport. Kids who play sports
also get better at social skills because of how much they communicate while playing the sport.
Kirk Mango of Chicago Now said, “I started playing sports at a very young age and was very shy
but when I started playing sports I was a very talkative” (Mango). This shows that competitive
sports can help with Management and Social Skills. So far this is why I support competitive
sports.
Another reason that competitive sports are good is because it lowers the percentage of
bad behavior. It lowers kids behaviors because of the consequences you can get on the team.
Sarah Davis, from Livestrong, said,“According to the President's Council on Physical Fitness
and Sports, youth sports can help deter negative behavior, such as joining a gang” (Davis). This
shows how kids that play competitive sports don’t get in trouble/get in trouble very little.
According to an article titled, “Facts: Sports Activity and Children,” studies show kids that are
physically active as children grow up to have a better life. Factors that play into this are that they
are 15% more likely to go to college, up to 40% higher test scores, and have lower health costs.
(Project Play). This shows that the average sports player has a better life when they are grown
up.
In conclusion I think sports are good for kids but I know that there are many arguments
against. But with the arguments that I have mad I think that kids should play competitive sports.
Considering that kids can get better management skills and have better character I think it is a
positive and not a negative.

Works Cited
Davis, Sarah. "What Are the Benefits of Competitive Sports for Youth?" Live Strong, Leaf Group
Ltd, www.livestrong.com/article/134568-what-are-benefits-competitive-sports-youth/.

“Kids Sports Facts.” The Aspen Institute Project Play, www.aspenprojectplay.org/the-facts.

“Sports: The Benefits of Competitive Athletic Sports Participation in Today's Sports Climate.”
ChicagoNow Is Full of Win, www.chicagonow.com/the-athletes-sports-experience-making-a-
difference/2012/10/sports-the-benefits-of-competitive-athletic-sports-participation-in-todays-
sports-climate/.

(Example #1) Elevator Pitch:

In the argument of if kids should play competitive sports my opinion is that they should
play competitive sports. Kids that play competitive sports grow up to be better off in life.
Something that supports this reason is that kids that play sports get into less trouble. Kids will
learn the consequences of getting in trouble on their team and they will stop getting in trouble/get
in a lot less trouble. According to an article titled, “Facts: Sports Activity and Children,” studies
show kids that are physically active as children grow up to have a better life. Factors that play
into this are that they are 15% more likely to go to college, up to 40% higher test scores, and
have lower health costs (Project Play). Kids in competitive sports will also grow up to have
better social and management skills. They will get better management skills because of practices
and games, when they have a practice at 6 they have to make sure that they know when to eat
and plan their day. They will also have better social skills because when you are playing on a
team you have to call plays and talk to your teammates which can make you less shy and have
better social skills. On the negative side people are saying that it puts more pressure on the kid. I
think that it puts less pressure because kids that are physically active tend to have less stress than
kids that aren’t active. People are saying that playing school sports is a lot of pressure because of
grades. Keeping your grades good is something you should do anyways. Plus there are
competitive teams that aren’t school sports that you don't have to have good grades for. Playing
on competitive sports teams in my opinion teaches you skills that you will need as an adult. They
teach you to have good teamwork which is very useful when you are older, they teach you to
have good character which is also very useful when you are older.