Show 25: Competition & Youth Sports

Just in time for March Madness, we take a look at how competition and sports play significant roles in the lives and development of kids and teens. We're talking about the positive effects of playing sports: fitness, learning to balance athletics and academics, and character and relationship-building. And we'll also explore the darker sides to competition like cheating, drug use or putting too much pressure on student-athletes. Also, what is the role of the sports parent?

IN-STUDIO GUESTS:  Joining KTD Host Shana Sheehy in the studio are two guests.

• Gary Matthews is the executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA).

• Michael Josephson is the founder of the Josephson Institute Center for Sports Ethics. He joined us by phone from California.

Did you know? Alaska's kids are successfully competing in many ways outside of sports, too. In fact the ASAA also oversees competitions in non-athletic activities such as art, music, drama, debate and language, in addition to the fourteen sports it sanctions.

FEATURED STORIES:

- Paralympic youth sports in Alaska - Kids in wheelchairs are competing in basketball, soccer, skiing and snowboarding through the Paralympic Sports Alaska program which is designed to let athletes with physical disabilities compete with one another while preparing for national, even international, competitions. KTD Contributor Jessica Cochran has the story.

- Competing with robots - The FIRST Lego League is an international competitive robotics program that is all about getting kids 9-16 excited about science, engineering and technology. FIRST stands for - For Inspiration & Recognition of Science and Technology. Listen to learn about how the FLL Alaska students are programming to win! KTD Host Shana Sheehy brings us the story.