What are the advantages and more importantly, disadvantages of competition (academic and sports).?
I wouldn’t be on your side. Competition brings out the best in both sides, and helps them grow more resistant to the pressure. As a tennis player, I know that goofing off and keeping my cool is a great way to not get overly concerned, since tennis is a huge mental game. EDIT I forgot to write the disadvantages. It could cause cheating as the other poster mentioned, and that wouldn’t be good. So it creates too much weight in losing that it can change a person. It can also cause stress.