THE government's proposals to allow children to opt out of team games or collective activities, such as football, cricket, rugby, may in the long-term prove disastrous.

Playing a team game can form character and forge reliance on one another to help achieve success.

Giving children the option of sliding off to take up alternative sports, may lead to a lot of happy, but ordinary players.

I realise that these sports may not please all the children, but I think most kids will find their true ability in the more minor sports as they progress. Talent in any field will show through.

Pupils in future will not need to suffer the heartbreak of defeat, but they'll just take up another sport and possibly sink into mediocrity.

We need input from the schools to bolster our national games. Allowing kids to duck out when the going gets tough can only lead to more foreign players being imported from abroad.

K SOWERBUTTS (Mr), Southwood Drive, Baxenden.

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