“The Impact of Team Sports on Youth” In recent years there has been a lot of talk about competitiveness and sports in today's society. Now there are people who say that everyone is a winner and that there are no losers. While others believe that this competitiveness in sports is great for a child. Parents who don't believe sports are good for their children these days say there is too much pressure to do well, that their children could suffer an injury from overuse, the financial burden it places on them as family and that nowadays coaches do not promote fun as much (Merkel Table 3). On the other side of the argument, parents and experts argue that sports teaches children to exercise and eat well, reduces obesity rates, sports helps to have positive attitudes in adolescents as well as decreases rates of depression and suicide , and that sports improve overall academic success and goal setting. Sports among today's youth is a heated topic with arguments supporting both pros and cons, but it seems the pros outweigh the cons. A survey of 400 female business executives found that 94% played a sport, and 61% said it contributed to their career success. (EY Women Athletes Business Network/espnW, 2014) Much of this has to do with team sports teaching kids how to set goals and manage their time. When kids do school work in addition to practice and games, they have to learn to balance it all so they can keep playing and keep their grades. Goal setting is also very important when it comes to sports. When a child sets a goal and achieves it, he or she feels a great feeling of accomplishment. This also helps with self-confidence and self-esteem. Some other psychological benefits of sports are decreased suicidal thoughts, depression, and high risk