Issues & Advice

Make sure that the administrators, coaches and parents know that youth sports is first and foremost “about the kids.” My son’s club soccer team, defending state champion at age 11-12, had an undefeated season the following year until it lost in the finals. As we were walking over to receive the second-place medals, the father of one […]

Over this period, I celebrated communication with coaches I idolized, cried over some seemingly dashed dreams and worked to find my way through this uncharted and never-ending territory. Much like the celebrated, daring explorers of the past, I embarked on a treacherous journey, one that was certain to be filled with obstacles, potential heartache and a […]

Knowing you’ve tried your hardest – whether you win or lose – may not take away the sting of a loss, but it’ll leave you with a personal satisfaction that you did all you could. Rules set the structure for every sport or activity. The unwritten rules of youth sports are just as important for […]

When we try to control their swimming experience, such as pushing for our kids to be in the next higher level group before they’re ready, our kids will lose interest or rebel. When our kids are young, we make all the decisions for them. We choose their clothes, schools, activities, friends, food and bedtimes. But […]

Allow your child to initiate the games you play together, whether it’s crawling like a cat or kicking a soccer ball. The benefits of family time are pretty clear. Strong family bonds are essential for kids’ social and emotional development and for everyone’s well-being — adults and children. But especially as kids grow, it’s harder and […]

Whether you’re in season or in the offseason, it’s in the player’s best interest to work regularly on learning whatever it is she’s trying to learn. Sometimes getting a player to understand the value of practice can be difficult. Those who aren’t the most dedicated to fastpitch softball can find a hundred excuses not to […]

The major thing that calculating your efficiency does is allow you to determine which plays are effective and which are not. This can vary from formation to formation and even from side to side. How effective is your play calling? This is something that every coach needs to look at when the season wraps up. […]

“It’s taught me to sit still and pay attention because I need to make sure I’m getting on the ice when I need to and getting off; it’s really helped with that,” A Yukon teen is beating the odds in more than one way. The 18-year-old with Autism is excelling in online school and on […]