Youth sports have become a childhood rite, yet they have a high dropout rate. Given the fact that participation rates decline dramatically as children grow older, coupled with the growing concern about the detrimental effects of a sedentary lifestyle, it is important that a greater understanding of the motivational patterns of children in physical activity be established. This article focuses on some of the psychological, social, and physiological issues that affect children's sports experience from a developmental perspective. The article highlights recent developments in sports pediatric literature and makes recommendations to maximize the positive outcomes and minimize the negative ones.