Includes bibliographical references (p. 112-118) and index.

Playing sports benefits children / Jordan D. Metzl and Carol Shookhoff -- Playing sports can harm children / Deborah Mitchell -- Girls benefit from playing sports / Julie Clancy Grady -- Girl athletes may be risking their health / Kristin Cobb interviewed by Mick Grant -- Athletics in schools helps prevent childhood obesity / The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools -- Playing football can encourage obesity / Todd Dvorak -- Child athletes need a healthy diet / TeensHealth -- Working out builds self-esteem in children / Jake Steinfeld -- Academics should not be neglected in favor of sports / Eddie Griffin -- Athletic participation builds confidence in disabled children / Kyle Maynard -- Childhood sports are too expensive / Dennis Fermoyle -- Schools worry about child athletes using steroids / G.W. Nevius -- Parents should try to make sports fun for their kids / Joel Fish with Susan Magee -- Playing sports can obscure other talents / Robin Gerber -- Child athletes should keep winning in perspective / Arthur Riegel.