There's a vlog on DeafRead that talks about how a No Cut policy is a good thing.  If you haven't seen it yet, go.  Here's the link: http://www.ascdeaf.com/blog/  There's also some links to some written material as well.  Basically, they're saying that competition is bad, bad, bad and we need to protect the fragile minds of our deaf youth.

Our deaf youth already have enough challenges standing in the way of them and success.  They do NOT need to be mollycoddled into thinking that competition is bad just because, gosh darn it!, someone's feelings might be hurt.

Competition is part of human nature.  It's inbred.  It cannot be avoided.  Need someplace to live?  So do about seven billion other people on this planet.  There's competition right there.  Need something to eat?  In some countries, it's a daily struggle (also known as a COMPETITION) to find enough nourishment.  The world does not have unlimited resources.  People NEED to compete to get what they need.

I could argue that competition is what enables us to survive.  Take AIDS, for example.  Terrible, terrible disease.  Our scientists and doctors right now are in competition with AIDS because they want to beat it.  There have been many setbacks in finding a cure for AIDS, but that competitive spirit is what keeps our researchers going.  That is what led smallpox and polio to be eliminated.

Take competition away and what happens?  Our young people lose the opportunity to learn the value of resilience.  They do not develop the impetus to look within themselves and find what else they might be good at.  Yes, losing hurts.  However, it is also a chance to see how that disappointment can be changed into a victory.  Perhaps the kid will practice harder so next time, his slot will be more secure.  Competition, when managed correctly, leads to self-discovery.

I agree that there is an ugly side to competition.  We've all seen the out of control parent and the disrespect that players show each other.  But this is NOT a good enough reason to label all competition as bad.  It's actually a good opportunity to teach responsibility and civility.

There is some research that says that children do not handle winning and losing well before the age of nine.  OK, fine.  But that doesn't mean we can't introduce the CONCEPT of competition before then (i.e.  "You're playing and learning now but later on . . . ").

Kids aren't stupid.  They can turn on the TV and see the results of competition.  To deny that, to keep them in a bubble where everyone "is a winner!" is not only lamebrained, it's irresponsible.  I would also wager that it leads to the path of EXPECTING everything to be fair.  'Taint so.  

Kid gets cut from the baseball team?  Encourage him to look elsewhere.  That's the great thing about this country . . . you have the freedom to make CHOICES.  You're not limited to what's in front of you.