Abstract: Youth soccer has recently evolved into a highly competitive arena. More and more children are leaving recreational leagues to play in select, highly competitive leagues. While some sports are a valuable resource in which children can learn to socialize and self-motivate, children who begin at a young age, between the ages of ten and eleven, can suffer psychological and physical harm. A child's youth sports experience is directly influenced by the attitudes, sportsmanship, and behavior of his or her parents and coaches. Parents and coaches who pressure their children to be the best and not play their best are responsible for the high dropout rate of teenagers. By eliminating the "winning is everything" attitude, considering the effort made by individual players, and holding parents accountable for their actions, we can bring the game back to children. Youth soccer has evolved into a highly competitive arena. More and more children are leaving recreational leagues to play in select, highly competitive leagues. Selected leagues are made up of teams, for which players must try out or be selected to play. I had the unfortunate task of acting as an evaluator in such an audition. Fifty ten-year-olds went out for a three-day tryout in which forty-five of them were placed on three teams. Cuts were made on the field and for those kids who had made a team it was very emotional, but for the five kids who were cut it was absolutely heartbreaking. If the children had been older they might have been able to deal with the disappointment better, but for most of them it was their first real experience of public "failure". Select leagues have the potential to teach and promote important life skills such as hard work,...... middle of paper......rk, Michael A. "Winning. How Important Is It in Youth Sports?" Youth Sports Institute: Michigan State University. http://ed-web.educ.msu.edu/ysi/SpotlightF94/winning.html."Club moves to curb unruly sidelines." Play in November. 1999: 11. Engh, Fred. Because Johnny hates sports. New York: Avery Publishing Group, 1999.Ferguson, Andrew. "Inside the crazy culture of children." Now July 12th. 1999: 52-60. Kidman, Lynn, McKenzie, Alex and Brigid. “The Nature of Target Parents' Comments During Youth Sports Competitions.” Journal of Sport Behavior 98:1 (March 1999): 54-68.Leo, John. "We are all number 1." US News & World Report June 22. 1998, 23-24.Woog, Dan. "Why Kids Quit...and What Some Youth Soccer Organizations Are Doing About It." Football for parents Spring. 1999: 5-6.