IELTS Writing Task 2: Competitive sport for children

Sport plays an important part in most children's lives, but adults disagree about whether it should be competitive. Some see competition as valuable preparation for adult life, while others worry that it damages children's confidence. In my opinion, competitive sport is beneficial as long as the emphasis is on effort and enjoyment.

Those in favour of competition argue that it teaches lessons that cannot be learned in a classroom. Children discover that hard work and practice lead to improvement, and they learn to cope with disappointment when they lose. These are useful qualities, because adult life involves competing for university places and jobs. A race or a match also gives children a clear goal, which motivates many of them to be more active.

On the other hand, critics believe that competition does more harm than good at a young age. Children who are less athletic may be chosen last for teams or finish at the back of every race, and they can come to hate exercise as a result. When parents and coaches care too much about winning, even talented children feel under pressure. According to this view, activities in which everyone works together, such as building something as a group, teach more useful social skills.

I think this argument overlooks the fact that team sports require cooperation as well as competition. In a football team, players have to pass, support each other and accept different roles. The problem is not competition itself but the way adults manage it. If teachers praise effort, mix abilities fairly and give every child time on the field, sport can build confidence instead of destroying it.

In conclusion, although competition can discourage some children when it is handled badly, I believe competitive sport teaches both determination and teamwork. Schools should keep it, while making sure that taking part matters more than winning.