Competition is positioned at two ends of the spectrum: at one, competition is just for fun and is all about taking part, the latter – you win at all costs.

Teaching the qualities of competition to young children can at times be difficult because they may have already adopted one of these two characteristics and therefore it is important for us as coaches and parents to find the balance and guide and teach them all of the immense elements that competition offers.

Winning presents a mixture of emotions; pride, happiness, success and a sense of feeling proud. Yes, we play because we want to win however winning gracefully is the key which is highly respected amongst our peers as opposed to those individuals and teams winning at all costs.

Competing holds great importance as it provides motivation to achieve a goal; demonstrates determination and perseverance and teaches those to understand that hard work and commitment leads to a greater chance of success. It is also important to teach children that taking part, trying your best and enjoying each moment is also crucial which creates good memories and positive experiences. It also enhances social skills and develops relationships but can at the same time hinder them.

Some children are more competitive than others which is a natural trait and one we should never tamper with but we must make sure that we include and cater for everybody during competition, manage expectations as well as manage the outcome either way. Losing overall teaches us much more than winning but provides children with how to think critically and develop their skills to continue to compete in the future.

Therefore, moving forwards we should always encourage competition and guide and teach a healthy approach where children can take ownership and understand that participating is fun but that they can also create goals for self and team improvement to gain success through competing.