Argumentative Essay: Is Contact Sports Worth The Risk?

1066 Words5 Pages

Did you know that 54.1% of children aged 6-17 play on a sports team? Not only is it fun, but playing contact sports is an excellent way to exercise, meet new people, and develop physically and emotionally. But along with that is the high injury rate and sometimes toxic pressuring environment. Contact sports are sports where bodily contact is essential in the game. For some people, the injury risk is not worth it. But, team sports are a good way to stay healthy and promote long-term happiness. This raises the question: Are context sports worth the risk? Some people say contact sports are not worth the risk because the circumstances that surround sports can be intense, but in reality, sports bring new connections, reduces stress, increases confidence, and helps mental health. One reason that contact sports are worth the risk is …show more content…

Children tie their sports performance to their self-esteem according to “The Pros and Cons of Youth Sports Aren't Only Physical”, and this could be very bad. “Who your child is as a person shouldn’t be tied closely to the ability to hit home runs or score touchdowns. If it is, that’s a guaranteed set-up for feelings of failure and low self-esteem” (Lindholm par. 3). Children that may be linking their self-worth to sports can make them not like it and make it an unenjoyable experience for them. While low self-esteem is one problem with sports, “The Pros and Cons of Youth Sports Aren't Only Physical” explains that high self-esteem could be another issue. “There are too many instances of successful athletes who thought they were above the law or the norms of a school” (Lindholm par. 8). This can be very problematic because this can lead to bullying and children will think that they are on a plaque and everyone is below them. However, people argue the benefits outweigh these