The Chaotic World of Youth Sports — Vol 57

As a sports parent and coach, I know how complicated youth sports can be at times. So I’d like to share some helpful articles that shed light on the challenges we face… and some funny ones that might even give us an opportunity to laugh at ourselves. Please enjoy… and please click here to try our iSport360 app, which is the first-ever platform for coaches and parents to share objective player feedback.

How Parents Can Prepare Their Kids To  Perform Before A Game

There’s a sensational video campaign from Hockey Canada called “Relax, It’s Just a Game” which hysterically pokes fun at overbearing parents in youth sports. In one of my favorite parody videos, a dad is lining up an important golf putt in front of his friends while his overbearing son is peppering him with unsolicited advice on how to line the ball up, how to focus, how to stand. It’s hysterical and scary at the same time. Surely this is a message to parents who do the same thing to their young athletes. And to be fair, I’ve been that parent on occasion. But then I was reformed! Check it out…

Yes I Do Play My Favorites (And Six Things I Look For In An Athlete To Be On The Starting Roster)

At times I have been accused of playing my favorites. Let me be very clear: Yes, I do play my favorites. Here is the reality. I am a youth coach. Before you stop reading let me also say I believe it is very important everyone plays in youth sports. A benefit of coaching youth sports is there is less pressure to win, and as a coach I can focus on player development without worrying about getting fired. Ask the average youth athlete why they play sports and I bet they would say because it’s fun. Click here to read the full article.

Reflections After Attending The Way Of Champions Coaching Conference

This past weekend I made a last minute decision to head out to Boulder Colorado for the Way of Champions Conference, a conference for coaches (130 attendees), all about transformational coaching philosophies. Over the 2 days I laughed, cried, meditated, shared, hugged, self-reflected and dug deep into my why… as it was one of the most emotional, enlightening, inspiring and transformational experiences I have had in my coaching journey.

As I sit at 35,000 feet and reflect on my way home, the one word and theme I would use to characterize the essence of what this conference is about and the #1 element of what makes a good coach in general is: LOVE. Click here to read the full article.