Mental Health Matters Mental health is an essential aspect of overall well-being, yet it's often overlooked in youth sports, which can lead to devastating consequences. This article is for Paid-members only
Cultivating Passionate Participants When I was younger, I couldn’t wait for the next season to start, and it didn’t matter for what sport. Baseball was my first choice, but basketball, football, soccer, and wrestling were all big in my house.
Cultivating Courage Growing up, I played just about every sport imaginable, and I’m glad I did. I loved baseball from the start and was lucky to play all through high school. Everything about the game fascinated me. This article is for Paid-members only
Sidelining Spectators On a recent drive to work, I decided to write a column about the importance of coaches and administrators knowing about heat illness and how to help prevent it in youth sports. Living in South Florida, I always found the subject intriguing. This article is for Members only
Golden Values One reason I love writing this column is it reminds me to step back, reminisce, and write about the youth sports experience. This article is for Paid-members only
A Baffling Bill This headline recently appeared in North Carolina: “NC senators propose eliminating participation trophies for youth sports.”
Seizing On Safety Recently, I came across a story that really hit home. The event happened on a local youth baseball field near our office. Most likely, however, it struck a chord because the story involved a 6-year-old boy playing baseball, and it brought me back to my baseball-coaching days. This article is for Paid-members only
Just Ask Our annual Youth Sports Congress hosts a national awards ceremony, during which I have the pleasure of interviewing our Coach and Parent of the Year winners. This article is for Paid-members only
Supporting Our Volunteers Clearly defined expectations can help recruit more youth coaches and staff Volunteer recruitment and retention have always been two of the most challenging responsibilities for This article is for Paid-members only
The Power of Fist Bumps Safe, supportive physical contact can create positive environments for youth athletes One of the benefits of writing a monthly column about important issues in youth This article is for Paid-members only
Protecting Value Every year, one of our staff’s best experiences involves reviewing the many applications for the Excellence in Youth Sports Award. This article is for Paid-members only