03/12/2026
If you’re a coach of youth athletics, and your main focus is how many wins/losses you’re racking up, this one is for you 👎
Do: Involve a child in as many sports as possible. Explore options and find their “thing.” Find their love of the game. If someone suggests early specialization or playing all year round on their travel team, run away!
No single sport should be a year-round activity for kids. The developmental implications are too great. Allowing kids to move through space in multiple directions, develop hand eye coordination, hand foot coordination, reaction time, strength, endurance, power, and participate in individual and team sports, the list continues.
Kids should grow up learning, respecting and valuing their Coaches. Not fearing them. A Coach responding to bad behavior, poor scholastic performance and/or inappropriate actions, yes! Discipline is key; it can create an environment of respect and those conditions are stated clearly on day 1. For someone to bench your 12 year old from playing in the tournament next weekend because you went away to Disney as a family over April vacation... STOP!
Don’t Let any Coach or coaching system bully you into signing up for their team or organization. The youth sports industry has become so out of control that it is no longer about the sports or player development itself. And yes, private equity has entered the space and begun purchasing club teams. So... are you really signing them up for an “Olympic Development Team”? Probably not.