One of your most essential goals as a sport parent in your children's lives as athletes is to have them gain ownership of their participation. They need to feel that their sport is their thing. But ownership isn’t just something that they can gain on their own. Rather, it is a gift you give them [...]
I was recently interviewed by John O'Sullivan, the founder of Changing the Game Project. about my new sport parenting book, Raising Your Athletes: Prepare Your Children for Victory in Sports and Life. The wide-ranging discussion explores many topics focused on helping parents be the best sport parents they can be. To listen to or download the [...]
I'm excited to announce the publication of my latest parenting book, Raising Young Athletes: Parenting Your Children to Victory in Sports and Life. Here's what the book is about: Sports are an amazing environment in which to raise children. The benefits they gain from athletic participation are many including physical (e.g., health, fitness, mastery), personal (e.g., passion, [...]
With the fall sports season underway, now is a great time for athletes to get their minds in great shape, coaches to sharpen their skills, and parents to be the best they can be as we all prepare for competitive that lies ahead. Good news; I can help! I’m pleased to announce the launch of [...]
I recently completed the online course and certification for SafeSport, a nonprofit whose mission is to end all forms of abuse in sport and ensure that all athletes safe and supported. I found the course to be of considerable value with the many hats I wear in sports: Highly educational as a parent and volunteer [...]
As I described in Part I, Part II, and Part III of this four-part series on Meeting the Challenges of Tryouts, my focus is on what athletes can do to make their tryout experiences as enjoyable and successful as possible. So far, I wrote about the psychological challenges for young athletes and how they can [...]
My two daughters are pretty serious athletes. They’ve been competing in one sport for seven years (along with several others less seriously), trained hard this summer, and are committed to being the best they can be in their sport. Because of this burgeoning involvement in their sport and my being a sport parenting expert of [...]
One of the questions I’m asked most frequently from athletes, coaches, and parents is: What does it take to be a successful athlete? For any athlete who wants to be their best, this is no easy question, yet one that is worth asking and worth even more to answer. First, let me address how I [...]
It's almost become a cliche. Parents yelling at their children at practice or during games. Parents heckling the opposing team. Parents berating coaches. Parents threatening referees. Parenting fighting each other in the stands. In just about any sport, at every level of youth sports, on any given day, and on fields, courts, courses, and rinks [...]
I have three favorite sayings when it comes to being the best athlete you can be. First, “If you want to perform like everyone else, be like everyone else.” In other words, if you want to be a decent athlete among many, do what they do. Second, an old Texas adage says, “If you all [...]
