Childhood competition is a unique context that can have significant impacts on children's development, either beneficial or detrimental, depending on how it is managed. While studies have examined technical and tactical behaviors in youth competitions, few have taken into account the perspectives of the children themselves who are participating. The aim of the study was to analyze children's perceptions of rule modifications proposed by their own coaches in youth competitions. A Likert questionnaire was administered, with a scale ranging from 1 to 5, consisting of 19 questions referring to different adapted rules in two specific competitions. A total of 33 athletes from three different teams participated in the study. The results were presented in terms of the percentage of agreement (values 4 and 5 on the scale) and disagreement (values 1, 2, and 3 on the scale) regarding the applied rules. The findings revealed that only 2 out of the 19 questions had balanced responses between positive and negative views. These questions were related to the rule of alternating penalty kicks and the rule of having only one game time, both tending to cause discomfort among the children. On the other hand, the majority of questions received predominantly positive responses, indicating agreement between the coaches' preferences and the children's desires. These results suggest that children may have a favorable view of most adapted rules in youth competitions, indicating harmony between the coaches' approaches and the needs and wishes of the children involved. However, the exceptions emphasize the importance of considering children's perspectives when developing rules and regulations for youth competitions to ensure a competitive environment that is suitable and healthy for their development.
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