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As the parent of two teenagers who have played multiple sports over the years, I've seen the good, the bad, the ugly and the absolutely brutal. The negative buzz around youth sports -- concussions, overuse injuries, out of control parents, costly travel teams, bullying coaches and more -- have parents wondering if it's worth it to let their kids continue playing. Have we reached a point where the negatives outweigh the positives in youth sports? I certainly hear this question often from my podcast guests and listeners.

For me, the answer is a resounding 'NO.' When I think about the value of sports and why my kids continue to play, it's because sports teach kids lessons critical to becoming successful adults. Through sports, kids learn how to work in teams, how to be coachable, how to take risks, how to challenge themselves to be better, and how to behave when they lose -- and when they win.

Whether kids play soccer, baseball, lacrosse, football, or cheer, they learn they are part of a team where one person depends on another. When my son pitches in baseball, he's not the only one who needs to play well; he depends on his defense to make the plays in the field. When my daughter plays tennis, she depends on her partner to cut off the ball at the net and win the point, and the tennis team depends on each person in order to win the overall match. Similarly, whether we work in a global corporation or as an individual contributor with a roster of clients, we all have to work together in some sort of team. There's simply no substitute to teach kids how to be a team player.

Sports also teach children to trust and respect the decisions of someone who understands how the entire team -- not just a single individual -- needs to work in order to succeed, whether the big picture is obvious or not. Five more wind sprints? Sacrifice bunt instead of swinging for the fences? Hit to the opponent's backhand? Sit this game out? It's all about a player's trust in and respect for the coach. Tone down that recommendation for the new corporate reorganization? Work with a difficult colleague? Take on that boring new client? It's all about respecting the decisions of your manager.

Sadly, though, youth sports have suffered from the "winning isn't everything; it's the only thing" attitude. They have become too much of a reflection of professional sports. The recent situation with Jackie Robinson West Little League is only the latest example of this phenomenon. Winning is a happy result, but the lessons from losing are even more important. Of course players should care about winning and train to be winners, but even the best hitter in baseball is only going to get on base less than half the time, and the best venture capitalist will pick one winner out of a pack of contenders.

When my daughter loses a tennis match, her coach inevitably reminds her that "you learn more from losing than from winning." That can be hard to stomach when you've lost a match you could -- and should -- have won, but he's right. Losing makes you focus on improving your skills and your strategy, and sometimes it means taking more risks. I think the parallels with adulthood are straightforward. Maybe we didn't get that sweet new job. Perhaps we miscalculated how much to bid for our dream house. We're going to learn from our mistakes and not repeat them.

Even more important than learning from mistakes is learning how to lose with grace. It's the cardinal rule of sportsmanship. Youth sports are a training ground for kids to learn to be accountable for their actions and 'own' the loss. Don't blame your partner. Don't blame the ref, ump, or line judge. Don't blame the keeper for letting in the winning goal or the center fielder for misplaying the ball. Applaud the opponent, shake hands and vow to do better next time. Nothing makes me happier than watching a post game handshake and hearing a heartfelt "Good game!" or "Nice play!"

As adults, we need to accept defeat gracefully as well. Maybe you made a good sales pitch for your product but your competitor made a better one. Or your colleague got the promotion over you. Whether we think these are right or fair or not, we need to accept them with grace. And by the way, winning with grace is just as important. The only thing worse than a sore loser is a gloating winner.

I believe that participating in youth sports is much more than building a sound body or winning a scholarship to college. Sports are the best way to shape and build more resilient, self motivated and happier children -- and help them become more resilient, self motivated and happy adults. Want to raise a winner? Raise an athlete.

This blog post is part of a series curated by the editors of HuffPost's The Tackle on the importance of youth sports. To see all the other posts in the series, click here.

Join the conversation on Twitter and tell us why you feel sports are important for youth with #TheTackle.

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As the parent of two teenagers who have played multiple sports over the years, I've seen the good, the bad, the ugly and the absolutely brutal. The negative buzz around youth sports -- concussions, overuse injuries, out­ of ­control parents, costly travel teams, bullying coaches and more -- have parents wondering if it's worth it to let their kids continue playing.

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Competitive sports are a big part of people's lives as they can watch them on TV, play them themselves, or play them through video games.

Although people love competitive sports and race to sign themselves or their kids up to play them, some worry that they are not good for people to participate in.

There are lots of pros and cons associated with competitive sports as they can be very beneficial to people, but not to others.

Although sports are good to play to keep fit and healthy, are competitive sports good for kids to get involved in?

This article will explain more about whether competitive sports are a good or bad thing so that you can determine whether or not you think they are beneficial for people.

You can find out more about playing competitive sports below.

What Are Competitive Sports?

Competitive sports are where an individual or a team competes against another during a tournament or for a one-off game.

Lots of popular sports are competitive sports, like football, hockey, basketball, baseball, and tennis, and they are very popular for people to learn.

Competitive sports are popular to learn as people love the sport and it keeps them fit, healthy, and in good shape, but some people disagree with the idea of competitive sports.

They involve a lot of competition, which some people do not find healthy, but others enjoy the atmosphere that it creates.

Are Competitive Sports A Good Or Bad Thing?

Below you will be able to find the pros and cons associated with competitive sports so that you can see whether or not you think that they are a good idea.

You can find out more below to make your decision about competitive sports.

Finding a sport that you are passionate about and that you can play with others who share the same passion is exciting and fun for people.

Playing sports with your friends can help you bond as you will all have the same interest, which strengthens your friendships with others.

The thrill of participating in your favorite sport is fun, and people look forward to it.

Improve Teamwork Skills

When you are participating in a team sport, your teamwork skills are improved as you are working with other people to achieve the same goal.

You can all share your ideas on how to improve your team to help you win, which means that you all need to listen to each other and contribute to the team.

You have individual roles, but you all need to learn to work together.

When you are part of a team, you are incredibly valued as they need to you play well.

Being a part of a team allows you to all experience the same things, so you all understand how the other team members feel in various situations.

Being there for each other is important, and you are all able to understand each other's feelings during and after games.

Improves Social Skills

Having good social skills is important for young people as they are finding like-minded people to bond with, and playing a team sport can help this.

You can meet lots of new people through playing competitive sports that you might not have met otherwise, such as people from other states, cities, or countries.

Sports Decrease Stress

If you have a lot of stress in your life, you may find that playing competitive sports helps to take your mind off it and focus on the game.

You are focusing on working together with your team to perform well in the game, which allows you to have fun and feel happier.

Playing competitive sports helps you to feel more relaxed, resulting in less stress.

When you are playing competitive sports for fun, they are very beneficial, but deciding to try to make a career out of playing a sport can increase the amount of pressure on you.

Players can begin to feel very pressurized to succeed, which can affect their mental health.

Tryouts can make players feel anxious, and they can feel even more pressured if they do not go well.

The risk of serious injuries is increased from playing competitive sports as some of them can be permanent and prevent you from playing again.

Other injuries can prevent you from playing for a while, which can affect your skills if you are unable to play.

Some injuries can even be life-threatening and incredibly dangerous.

When you play competitive sports, your body can become extremely exhausted, especially if you are overplaying them.

Your body and your mind can become very tired from playing competitive sports, which can result in over-exhaustion.

This can lead you to have problems when you are sleeping, affecting your daily life.

Deciding to play a competitive sport can take up a lot of time as you need to dedicate time to training sessions.

This can either be after school or work and can also require dedication on the weekends.

It is important to recognize that you will be spending a lot of time playing it, especially if you are part of a team.

When students play competitive sports, it can take a lot of time away from their studies, which could see their school or college work to suffer.

It can distract people from important things that could impact their future, which many parents dislike and find too risky.

Finding a good balance is important when you or your kids decide to take up a sport.

To conclude, there are many pros and cons to playing competitive sports. If you or your kids want to start playing, you need to weigh up the pros and cons to see what would be more beneficial for them.

There are lots of benefits to playing competitive sports that are very important for kids to experience, but they can also be dangerous and distracting for kids.

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Are Competitive Sports A Good Or Bad Thing? - One Million Skates

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Competitive sports are a big part of people's lives as they can watch them on TV, play them themselves, or play them through video games. Although people love competitive sports and race to sign themselves or their kids up to play them, some worry that they are not good for people to participate in.

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In the words of US Olympic Committee member Anita DeFrantz, "Sport is a birthright." From combatting the growing obesity epidemic to promoting camaraderie and confidence, sport plays a pivotal role in helping kids become healthy on all levels -physical, social, emotional, and cognitive.

Unfortunately, the number of kids participating in sports is decreasing. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the number of kids that played a team sport on a regular basis decreased from 44.5 percent in 2008 to 40 percent in 2013. To reverse this continuing trend and to make youth sport a national imperative, Project Play at the Aspen Institute aims to make sport more accessible and engaging to all youth across the country. Below is an infographic overview of how we can change the current state of sports.

The Current Sports Problem

In the time period from 2008 to 2013, sports participation and fitness have significantly dropped. Nearly 3 million fewer children have played basketball, soccer, track and field, baseball, football, and softball, and less than 1 in 3 children between the ages of 6-12 participated in a high-calorie-burning sport or fitness activity three times a week, according to SFIA data.

Household income is one major indicator of sports participation. In urban or poorer areas, schools often provide fewer sports options and opportunities for their students than suburban or more affluent areas. Additionally, youth from homes in the lowest income bracket ($25,000 or less) are at least half as likely to participate in sports such as football, lacrosse, and swimming than youth from wealthier households ($100,000 or greater). Simply put, families that can afford more can allow their kids to play more.

With the decrease in sports participation, the current public health status of the US is likely to become more precarious. Lack of activity is closely linked to obesity, and today obesity is one of the biggest problems plaguing the US. Currently, the US is the country with the highest number of obese youth among 15 of its peer countries. For children ages 5 to 17, nearly 40 percent of girls and 35 percent of boys are obese.

Sports participation will certainly combat the growing obesity epidemic, but youth sports also provide a number of other important benefits. In a study done by University of Illinois researcher Dr. Chuck Hillman, physical activity was shown to activate the brain: After children went on a 20-minute walk, MRI scans of their brains showed the highest amount of neuro-electric activity (shown in red below).

Research has also shown that sports provide compounding benefits for active children. When children enter sports at an early age, they experience many lifelong benefits: they are one-tenth as likely to become obese, 15 percent more likely to go to college, and they are more likely to be productive adults than children who do not play sports.

Solutions to Building Athletes for Life

To increase sports participation, Project Play outlines eight strategies so that children from all backgrounds are able and eager to get into the game. Read the report to learn more about these possible solutions.

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7 Charts that Show the State of Youth Sports in the US and Why it Matters - The Aspen Institute

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In the words of US Olympic Committee member Anita DeFrantz, "Sport is a birthright." From combatting the growing obesity epidemic to promoting camaraderie and confidence, sport plays a pivotal role in helping kids become healthy on all levels -physical, social, emotional, and cognitive. Unfortunately, the number of kids participating in sports is decreasing.

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Pros and Cons of Competition in High School

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Pros and Cons of Competition in High School

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Teenagers today experience a myriad of benefits from competing in sports in public schools, from developing camaraderie and team building to honing physical and personal skills. Athletes discover the challenges of both winning and defeat as well.

With the many benefits, however, teens competing in high school sporting events must simultaneously balance athleticism with the potential dangers, such as an overly intense focus on the goal of winning. This goal can become a catalyst leading to destructive behaviors to an athlete's overall physical health and well-being.

While sports are certainly an integral component of the public high school experience, teens and parents must foster positive athletic experiences by maintaining awareness of all positive and dangerous behaviors and making informed decisions when their children are involved in athletic competition.

Team Building and Public School Athletic Benefits
Personal Development
Whether teens compete in team sports or engage in more individualized activities, all high school sports are fundamentally designed to help teens develop stronger personal and interpersonal skills and talents. Athletics offers teens a physical outlet to exert their troubles, anger, and emotions.. As hormones alter teens' moods and thoughts, competition fosters an opportunity for teens to interact with fellow peers, coaches, and mentors, while helping them understand their own abilities and talents.

When children and teens participate in group competitions and activities, they learn skills that apply to opportunities both on and off the playing field. Through competition, teens establish a solid work ethic that values practice and rewards determination. teenagers enhance skills in self-reliance and team interaction, and develop new structures of self- motivation , discipline, and personal responsibility.

Researchers at the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University report, "Kids who participate in organized sports do better in school, have better interpersonal skills, are more team oriented, and are generally healthier." More specifically, Metzl and Shookhoff (2003) further assert that sports help teens develop an array of personal skills, including resilience, attitude control, time management, and long term thinking abilities.

The Kansas State High School Athletic Association has created the following video highlighting the numerous benefits of participation in athletics:
Physical Fitness
While teens competing in sports are certainly exposed to opportunities to enhance their personal and social development, athletes competing in public school sports also expand their physical abilities and fitness levels. Today's teens are exposed to an array of entertainment avenues that may foster laziness, such as television, video games, and other media devices, but the traditional experience of sports, exercise, and kinesthetic activities help boost teens' minds and bodies. Involvement in sporting activities keeps children moving and engaged physically, vital for their overall health and well-being.

During these formative high school years, teenagers' bodies grow and change constantly, and participation in sports can help teens learn how to maneuver and adjust to their changing body and physical abilities. In addition, a teen's hormones and chemical makeup are constantly in flux. Involvement in sports can actually help the body produce more positive chemicals, such as endorphins and adrenaline, which creates more stable moods, positive feelings of happiness, and decreased feelings of depression or sadness.
Collegiate Preparation
While teens adopt an array of new and enhanced skills through participation in athletics, teens even more notably become more rounded college applicants (Metzl & Shookhoff, 2003). When applying to colleges , regardless of the collegiate location or status, most schools will review an applicant's full four-year transcript, which includes grades, course load intensity, test scores, and extracurricular activities.

By participating in sports and other extracurricular and organizations, an applicant demonstrates the ability to manage academics with additional responsibilities, an important quality in a successful student. This balance illustrates student's self-discipline, social involvement, and general well-roundedness. Furthermore, scholarship opportunities may be available for students who display noteworthy abilities and athletic skills.
By ms4denmark [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons Balancing the Pros and Cons of Competition Potential Dangers of Competition and Sports
While any physical activity and sport can provide teens with incredible benefits and opportunities, parents and teenage athletes must also be aware of the potential downfalls of competition and athleticism. As teens engage in competitive events and team sports, their exposure to peer-pressure and anxiety may increase with the need to win.

Furthermore, athletes can experience extreme physical pressures when too much is demanded from them, resulting in injuries from overuse or other physical ailments. As revealed in the article, "High School Wrestler Learned Training Dangers First Hand," common wrestling practices can lead to dangerous physical consequences. Wrestlers are often forced to either gain or lose weight in order to compete in their desired weight class, which leads to restrictive dieting often involving severe caloric deprivation. This practice is paired with excessive cardio exercise that quickly, and dangerously, burns off body fat and weight. While these practices are often considered to be a more drastic example of the dangers of athletics, any teen who feels suppressed by the pressures of competition may choose to engage in harmful practices in order to win and encounter athletic success.
By English: Lance Cpl. Andrew D. Thorburn [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Midwest Orthopaedics discusses the physical detriments many athletes face due to injury from overuse and the pressures they place on themselves.

Additionally, the physiology of athletes can also be altered as a result of extreme physical exertion. According to Metzl & Shookhoff (2003), "Physical exertion can raise the level of pheromones and endorphins, brain chemicals that cause exhilaration. Exercise can also elevate the serum testosterone level, which makes the heart beat faster." While exercise and competition can enhance the mood-boosting chemicals that help increase a teen's feelings of happiness and success, both spectators and athletes can also feel the adverse effects of sadness or depression when a team has a losing season.
How to Guide Teens to Safely Compete
While teens may be subjected to some potential dangers from athletics, parents can help promote a safe competitive drive by limiting the focus on winning and encouraging their child. Metzl & Shookhoff (2003) assert that if parents and teens "remain uninfected by the toxins of winning at all costs and instead focus on effort and fair play, youth sports can be beautiful, exciting, and fun. They can provide kids with an extraordinary opportunity to express their talents and their character, to run around screaming and laughing with joy." To achieve this, parents and coaches should strive to keep the long-term perspective of sports and competition at the forefront, while teaching teenagers how to do the same.

In regards to addressing the physical dangers of sports, parents can avoid many of the dietary and exercise issues by enforcing specific rules during the sports season. For example, during wrestling season, parents can set a "dinner rule," requiring teens to eat dinner with the family to ensure their child has a balanced diet. Additionally, it is important for parents to talk with their children about any concerns they may have and counsel their children through open doors of communication.

Teens may find it very difficult to strike a balance with the many obligations of both academia and athleticism during a sports season, so it is important for parents to help teens handle the stress and frustrations that may occur. Teens' grades may drop or their social interaction with friends may decrease, and if this occurs, parents can always take advantage of the insight and experience of a teen's coach if they need assistance. For example, if the teen refuses to share thoughts or issues or continues to decline in school or behavior, parents can ask an experienced coach to monitor or speak with the teen. Oftentimes, if the concern is valid and realized, coaches will force teens to sit out during games or competitions until health, attitude, and safety is improved and ensured.
Final Thoughts
By having an awareness of the benefits and challenges of involvement in high school athletics, parents and teenagers can make informed choices that lead to success in high school and beyond. Physical activity is vital for robust health and overall well-being, but it is important for athletes and parents alike to reach a balance between physical limitations and the need to compete to win. If a mindful approach is taken to participation in athletics, teenagers will be nurtured to become their physical and mental best.

Questions? Contact us on Twitter. @publicschoolreview

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Pros and Cons of Sports Competition at the High School Level - PublicSchoolReview.com

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What are the benefits and dangers of competitive pressure on high school athletes ? Some answers here.

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For the first time since 1986, the U.S. men's national soccer team will not play in the World Cup.

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Ann Gregory, an African-American champion golfer who broke through the sport's color barriers.

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In the 15-century Netherlands, people used ice skates to get around; today, people are winning Olympic medals for their ice skating.

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Newsela | Opinion: With e-sports on the rise, "real" sports need to up their game

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Folks who run traditional sports could learn something from the e-sports and video game people.