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"In a society where obesity has become a major health issue the physical fitness advantages simply cannot be denied" (Mango 12).

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"A big difference today is that kids involved in sports play harder and younger than ever, says Steve Marshall, an assistant professor of epidemiology and orthopedics at the Injury Prevention Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And with dreams of college scholarships and multi-million dollar professional contracts, the competition can get out of hand, he says" (Stenson 5).

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"When Faigenbaum asks kids who've quit why they're no longer interested in sports, their typical response: "It's not fun anymore." They wanted to have a good time, make friends and learn something new, he says. But make the game all about hard-core training and the final score, and many kids will sideline themselves" (Stenson 5).

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"Not only are these youngsters at risk for emotional burnout, they may also develop injuries that plague them for a lifetime. Some will turn to steroids or other performance-enhancing substances to try to gain an edge. And some may give up on sports -– and exercise -- altogether" (Stenson 4).

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"Then, without fail, my brother walked to the bench, sat down and remained there—completely ignored—for three quarters. Immediately before the final period began, the coach would point to David and begrudgingly insert him at right fullback for the requisite minimum amount all kids must play. He made it painfully clear to the others that my brother was the weakest of weak links; that he was useless as a soccer player" (Pearlman 9).

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"The hope is that through making the "right" choices the athlete develops a solid code of ethical standards they learn to follow, thus, supporting and developing strong character and integrity within. In other words, the building (or diminishing) of these two important characteristics comes from the choices one makes" (Mango 14).

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"According to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, youth sports can help deter negative behavior, such as joining a gang, because competitive sports provide an outlet for expression, friendship and controlled aggression. Teens who have positive influences and friends feel less of a need to participate in risky behaviors." (Davis 17)

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"[A] competitive athlete will learn more from their failures then they do from their successes, at least if they push forward using the positive coping skills that should come out of this process... [S]uccess only tells one where they are currently at, failure tells them what next lies in their path toward athletic excellence" (Mango 14).

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"In the United States, parents spend $671 on average per year to cover the costs of uniforms and the hefty fees charged for registration, lessons and coaching, and at least 1 in 5 ends up spending over $1,000 per child, every year" (Huffington 21)

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"When a child wins a game with his team, he feels accomplished and recognized. Even when he doesn't win, he can learn a valuable lesson: that you can't win every time. Losing with his team can also increase self-esteem, as he learns to hold his head high and feel proud for trying his best." (Davis 17)

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"Participating in sports teaches children and teenagers how to compete in the real world. As they grow older they'll face competition in school, in the workforce and other areas of life. But these competitions don't have to be negative or unhealthy. Playing sports can help kids understand how competition works in a friendly environment, and that if you try your hardest, you have a better chance to succeed." (Davis 17)

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"[Perseverance] not only occurs on the competitive field of play but in the practice gym as well. When this happens, their level of perseverance and determination will be tested. The hope here is that they become stronger within over time" (Mango 13).

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"There’s ample evidence that sports participation can have important benefits for kids, including improved physical health and emotional well-being" (Stenson 5).

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“Kids sports have become much more competitive,” says Dr. Jordan Metzl, medical director of the Sports Medicine Institute for Young Athletes at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City." (Stenson 4)

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“He shouldn’t play until he feels 100 percent better,” Will said. “Because even though football is all he does, he still needs his brain.” (Cohen 2)

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"It is the mental and conceptual area that many use to support the importance of participation in competitive sports, something I wholeheartedly agree with. It is also this same area that some point to when behavior exhibited by some athletes does not seem to support what we believe they should be learning" (Mango 12).

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"If all adolescents played on at least two sports teams per year — in other words, one team per season — obesity rates would plunge 26 percent and the prevalence of overweight adolescents would fall by 11 percent" (O'Connor 18).

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"My son Will, his 10-year-old eyes filling with tears, was trying to decide whether to play quarterback in his peewee game against Roosevelt Elementary. Ten days earlier, he'd taken a helmet-to-helmet hit during practice and possibly, although we really don't know, sustained a concussion" (Cohen 2).