According to our courts, participating in school athletics is a privilege. Then there's that special requirement that separates competitors. Competitive spirit is appraised everywhere in youth sports. Athletes don't decide whether to win or lose, they decide how important effort and dedication is to them. Student athletes are applauded for their desire to win.
Kids compete to win and in so doing build admirable traits.
One of the important lessons learned by young athletes is that success depends upon improving performance. Winning or losing may have little to do with the quality of personal performance. Winning is the result of a competition, that day, that opponent. I believe education athletics has at least five dots of truth that build competitive spirit. Some take longer to find their specialty.