I was hired by the NFL in 1995 to address the worrisome decline in youth football participation. The remarkable progress we made during that tenure involved setting up a series of programs that not only attracted more kids to play football, but, more importantly, made the game safer to play.
Beyond Winning
What Can I Do When Expectations Compromise Relationships?
Sports can be pivotal to developing strong parent-child relationships. But the onus is on the parent to evolve.
Too Much Pressure, Too Soon
What many coaches and, sadly, some parents don’t seem to get is that young kids are not readily able to distinguish between the failure to succeed and their own self-worth.
Can Competitive Sports Affect My Child’s Friendships?
I hear stories from other parents about my child struggling in his friendships. Does this have anything to do with the competitive sports he is playing?
Are Travel Teams Essential?
Should my nine-year-old play on an elite team? Many of her friends are doing this, but I worry that it will be too much stress and infringe too much on our family time.
When Should My Child Start Organized Sports?
My child is five years old. A lot of the parents around me are busy choosing a sport or sports for their child. But I’m not sure it’s the right time for him to start organized sports yet.
Create an Alternative Narrative: A Different Way to Score Your Child’s Game
We all have stories from our personal sports biographies, and that’s fine, but as parents our deep wish should be that our kids develop their own stories.
Does It Matter if I Don’t Have a Sports History?
I’m worried that my lack of experience and success in sports is going to bias my child’s sports experience. I don’t feel very confident about coaching or guiding him. What should I do?
Why Are We So Overprotective Today?
What we know about concussions and overuse injuries today has redefined the way we look at tenacity and toughness in youth sports.
Your Sports History Influences Your Child
In order to get to know your own sports biography and become aware of how it may be influencing your child’s sports experience, ask yourself these ten questions.