I want to clarify that I’m not against organized sports or martial arts for children; I am against the too-much-of-it, and far-too-young way we’ve embraced it. When I speak of the problems with early sport, I’m referring to children younger than ten or eleven years old who are playing formal team sports or engaged in martial arts and training more than twice a week. My concerns are compounded if the nature of the coaching is forceful or aggressive and if competition routs building friendships and fun.
