It’s no secret that youth sports can require a huge investment—of time, money and emotions. Yet, parents too often find themselves blindsided once the season is in full swing: travel team costs, dues, equipment, safety gear and tournaments can quickly add up. In fact, a recent survey by TD Ameritrade found that 20 percent of parents whose […]
Health & Wellness
About Bullying: What Do I Do When My Kid’s Problem IS the Coach?
“What do you do when the coach allows bullying?” a distraught parent asked us recently. “What do you do when the bully is the coach’s favorite player?” This is an emotional and difficult situation for children and parents alike. It’s upsetting for any parent to discover that the positive aspects of their child’s sports participation […]
The Rise of Girl’s Sports: Leveling the Playing Field Leads To Long-Term Success
At just 15 years old, Coco Gauff became the youngest woman to win a Women’s Tennis Association title since 2004 (and the youngest American to do so in 28 years) when she won Austria’s Linz Open on October 13, 2019. While your average 10th grader might not have Coco’s talent, she may have the same […]
Hazing v.s. Team Building. Which High School Sports Report the Highest Incidents Of Hazing?
We’ve all seen the news stories about the aftermath of hazing incidents, when alcohol abuse, humiliation and violent harassment have been inflicted in the name of “team building”. These stories are just a small sampling of a problem that seems to be epidemic in athletics at all levels, from rural high school programs to elite colleges and universities to […]
Why Are So Many Teen Athletes Struggling With Depression?
We all value the positive effects that playing sports can have on our kids – improved social skills, higher self-esteem, better mental and physical health, for starters. However it’s not all fun and games. Toxic and/or too-intense sports experiences have also been found to contribute to depression and anxiety in young athletes. The teen years […]
PROJECT PLAY Summit Spotlights Urgency of Solving The Problems Plaguing Youth Sports
The Aspen Institute held its fifth annual Project Play Summit earlier this month in Detroit, Michigan. I was lucky to join more than 500 thought leaders in the worlds of sports and health for two days of thought-provoking panels and breakout sessions. Panelists addressed many of the key issues in youth sports while also offering […]