Effort, Growth, and fun
A parent/Coach perspective on kids & Competitions
Kids Competitions…Yay or Nay? There is a lot of debate out there about the role of competition in childhood development. Some studies highlight the many benefits, like helping kids grow stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally. However, when competition is poorly managed, it can have the opposite effect, potentially leading to issues with confidence, anxiety, or social adjustment later in life. It all comes down to how competition is introduced and supported. Coaches and parents play a huge role in shaping a child’s experience. Their words, actions, and attitudes can either build kids up or break them down. That is why the true focus of any youth competition should always be on effort, growth, and fun. When done right, competition can be one of the best tools for teaching life skills that last.
Competition Benefits
1. Builds Resilience
Win or lose, kids learn how to bounce back, try again, and keep going when things get tough. That kind of grit is essential for healthy development, and it carries over into school, friendships, and everyday life. While life challenges also build resilience, competition provides a safe and structured environment to practice those skills in real time.
2. Teaches Goal-Setting
Having something to train for gives kids a sense of purpose. They learn how to set goals, stay focused, and celebrate progress along the way. It is a lesson adults can relate to. When there is a clear target in sight, motivation and effort increase. Without that direction, it is easy to just go through the motions.
3. Boosts Confidence
Successfully completing a challenge, or even just showing up and trying, gives kids a major confidence boost. It reinforces the “I can do hard things” mindset. Putting yourself out there and trying something new can be scary, but learning to face that fear early on builds lasting resilience. If those skills are not nurtured in childhood, they become much harder to develop as we grow older and more set in our ways.
4. Develops Social Skills
Competing with and against others teaches teamwork, sportsmanship, communication, and how to both win and lose gracefully. Sure, gracefulness might still be a work in progress for many of us, but learning this skill early on is a major win for kids.
5. Increases Motivation
A little friendly competition can push kids to try harder, stay focused, and stay committed, especially when it is tied to fun and encouragement. Humans were not meant to do life alone. When we tackle hard things together, we are less likely to give up and more likely to see it through.
6. Helps With Emotional Regulation
Feeling nervous before a competition and learning how to manage it is a skill that will help kids long-term. They practice managing excitement, pressure, and disappointment in a supportive environment. Anxiety is becoming an increasing issue among young people in the United States. According to data from the National Survey of Children's Health, the prevalence of anxiety among children aged 3–17 years rose from 7.1% in 2016 to 9.2% in 2020. Developing coping mechanisms and resilience at a young age is crucial to address this growing concern
7. Highlights Individual Strengths
Not all kids shine in the same way. Competitions often reveal unique abilities, whether it is speed, coordination, focus, or just being a great teammate. While I may not believe in handing out trophies to everyone, I do believe that every child has a gift worth recognizing and celebrating.
8. Encourages a Growth Mindset
With the right coaching, competitions shift the focus from “winning” to “learning and improving,” which is gold for long-term personal development. As Samuel Smiles once said, “We learn wisdom from failure much more than from success.” There’s incredible value in losing, learning, and coming back stronger.
COMPETITION DOWNSIDES
1. Fear of Failure
Some kids may fear losing or making mistakes, especially when too much emphasis is placed on winning. This can lead to anxiety or hesitation to try new things. That is why it is essential to create an environment where kids feel supported, encouraged, and motivated to give their best effort, regardless of the outcome.
2. Low Self-Esteem
If a child constantly compares themselves to others or feels like they are “not good enough,” competition can chip away at their confidence. This is why it is so important to recognize and celebrate the strengths of all athletes. Not everyone is going to be the Most Valuable Player, but each kid brings something to the table.
3. Burnout
Too many competitions or overly intense pressure can lead to physical and emotional burnout, especially if kids feel they have to perform all the time. A kid still needs to be a kid. If the sport or competition stops being fun, it might be time for a change. After all, having fun is a core pillar of long-term success, in sports and in life.
4. Unhealthy Rivalries
When kids are not taught good sportsmanship, competition can create jealousy, resentment, or poor relationships with peers. Generally, these behaviors are modeled by adults who also have not developed healthy competitive habits themselves. Having positive role models, both on and off the field, is essential in helping kids learn how to compete with character and kindness.
5. Overemphasis on Outcome
Sometimes the pressure doesn’t come from the kids, it comes from parents. If adults are too focused on medals, the scoreboard or rankings, it can suck the joy right out of it. The motivation should always be aimed at the right target: effort, growth, and having fun otherwise kids may miss the real lessons that competition can teach.
Conclusion
Coaches and parents play a powerful role in preventing and overcoming the potential downsides of competition. The mindset for preparing for any competition has to be centered on the true target: effort, growth, and fun. If those are the goals, then the benefits of competition far outweigh the negatives.
CrossFit Kids & Junior Jam
DSSC CrossFit Kids is where functional fitness meets fun, and your kid gets to be a tiny superhero for the day. Studies show that physical activity boosts brain function, improves memory, and even helps with stress. The CrossFit Kids program is built to support kids' physical and cognitive development. Think of it as playtime with a purpose. Our mission is to make fitness fun. Kids will be more likely to make exercise a lifelong habit if they associate it with smiles, community, and success.
Junior Jam is a CrossFit Kids competition that celebrates movement, mindset, and community.
References
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CrossFit, Inc. (2016). CrossFit specialty course: Kids training guide (Version 3.1). CrossFit, Inc.
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Gao Z, Chen S, Sun H, Wen X, Xiang P. Physical Activity in Children's Health and Cognition. Biomed Res Int. 2018 Jun 25;2018:8542403. doi: 10.1155/2018/8542403. PMID: 30046612; PMCID: PMC6036844.
Ghandour, R. M., Sherman, L. J., Vladutiu, C. J., Ali, M. M., Lynch, S. E., Bitsko, R. H., & Blumberg, S. J. (2019). Prevalence and treatment of depression, anxiety, and conduct problems in US children. The Journal of Pediatrics, 206, 256–267.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.09.021
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Medina, J. (2008). Brain rules: 12 principles for surviving and thriving at work, home, and school. Pear Press.
Smiles, S. (1862). Self-Help; With Illustrations of Character and Conduct. John Murray.
Whitehead, M. (2001). The concept of physical literacy. European Journal of Physical Education, 6(2), 127–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/1740898010060205