Basics

Dad: You Love Hockey More than I Do! Don't Ruin It For Me!

The district playoffs are starting soon and for most teams the final periods are about to be played. The headline comments above were actually said by a son to his father/coach. It is interesting that a fifteen year old player is able to succinctly articulate his feelings and his anguish. In twelve words he expressed what so many have written in these pages and in youth sports publications for years.

Helping Your Child Have A Successful Sports Tryout

With the competition for rosters spots on fall sports teams more ferocious than ever.  Tryouts pose a particular challenge to young athletes still playing sports this summer.  MomsTeam Founder and Publisher Brooke de Lench offers some tips for parents on how they can help their child perform at their best during tryouts.

Dirt, Drama and Distance

It is late on Wednesday night, well, actually it is very early Thursday morning and in light of recent actions, I just can't sleep.  My mind keeps ruminating over the past weekend and our recent trip to the San Diego area for Nicholas' final BMX National event until the Grands.  It was an emotional weekend, as it is his last race as a 7-year-old and also because it was a very difficult weekend for him emotionally and mentally.

Should I Be Ashamed For Feeling This Way About My Daughter's Sport Team?

If anyone who comes on this site has read anything I’ve written you should pretty much be aware that I’m on a one man crusade to stop coaches from abusing some kids through the practicing of benching, or essentially giving a player on the team either no, or very, very little, meaningful playing time.

Advice to Coaches: Involve Players In Planning Practices

If you are a coach, try beginning practice by telling players the entire practice plan. You probably have it written down already.  Just hand it out. It is the responsibility of a good coach to know the skills his players need to develop. In that plan include a time period where the players decide what is best for the team or them personally, based on the last game. If players have a hard time speaking with coaches, they should write down the skills that are important for them to learn.

Helping Student Athletes Perform At Their Best: A Game Plan for Sports Moms

Today's sports moms do much more than juggle schedules and drive athletes to and from games. Moms are committed to going the extra mile to ensure that their kids are well-rested, well-nourished, well-hydrated and mentally prepared to perform at their best, both in the classroom and on the playing field.  To help your kids achieve peak performance, here's a ten-point "game plan" to address time, nutrition and performance concerns.

Fun Is Still Number One Reason Kids Play Sports

Youth sports may have become more and more about competition and winning, but kids are, in a word, still kids: the number one reason they play sports is still to have fun, and, even at the high school level, most would still rather get playing time on a losing team than sit on the bench of a winner.

FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™: Great Teaching Opportunity for Parents

The FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ not only provides a chance to watch with your children the best female players in the world's most popular sport competing on the biggest stage of all, but it is provides a wonderful teaching opportunity as well: to teach children about national pride, sportsmanship, teamwork, and world geography.

Desire To Excel in Sports Needs To Be Child's, Not Parent's

When is the desire to excel a child's and when is it the parents'?  When does a parent cross the line from supportive to pushy? Sports parents should always remember to think about their motives for encouraging their child to play a certain sport or to attain a specific goal.

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