uot; admits, mother Ditte Nielson (Nielson, D. 2002). In a society that believes "winning" is everything and losing indicates weakness and shame, children must be taught how to develop that competitive edge. Children must be taught to fight for what they desire. It's a trait that is used throughout life when seeking acceptance to colleges and universities, being hired above all other applicants for that cutting-edge job or even for acceptance into most social circles.
             The story still seems too unimaginable to be true. What started as a routine hockey practice in a sleepy little suburban Boston town ended in a powder keg of emotion that would forever change the way we view youth sporting events. In a burst of unfathomable rage, Thomas Junta confronted, attacked and beat to death Michael Costin over what witnesses say was – ironically enough – a disagreement on how rough practice had gone. When Junta's assault ended, Costin lay unconscious in a pool of blood as his children helplessly looked on. Two days later, Costin was pronounced dead (Pallerino, 2003).
             Darrell J. Burnett, a youth sports psychologist in California, says people blow off steam at youth sports contests because, well, they can. "If I'm angry at work, I know I can't haul off and hit somebody because I'll lose my job," Burnett says. "However, if I go to a youth sports game, what are they going to do to me?" (Grathoff, 2003).
             Children like to compete, but it's the fun of competing, the excitement of competition, not just the winning that's important to them. Research shows that children learn more effectively when they are having fun. When "60 Minutes" did a program about youth football they found that the
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