Moms Speaking Up for Sports Safety Should Be Applauded, Not Dismissed

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 15:05. | comments

There is a battle brewing at Laguna Beach High School in California. It involves protecting the safety of kids during sports, so you know which side I fall on. This is no different than hundreds of stories from across the country that that I get sent each month, but this caught my attention because it talked about a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infection which is a potentially fatal bacterium that too few sports parents know much about. Artifiical turf end zone

High School and Youth Sports Reform

Submitted by Rick Collins on Fri, 11/19/2010 - 21:36. | comments

One question out there is whether we should maintain our present athletic budgets in public schools if the educational mission of the school is no longer being served by high school sports. If schools require athletic participation, it can be argued that the school's mission can best be fulfilled. However, how many public schools require this kind of participation? My observations of the youth sports landscape is that it is elite in nature so only a handful of kids are left after they have been weeded out by youth sports boards and coaches. By definition, the public high school athletic landscape is elite.

PLEASE - also encourage your child to participate in INDIVIDUAL sports - not just "team" sports! Here's why . .

Submitted by Greg K on Fri, 11/19/2010 - 19:25. | comments

Brooke de Lench

Thanksgiving Blessings: Foundation Gives Malawi Youth Chance To Play Sports, Get Education

Submitted by Brooke de Lench on Wed, 11/17/2010 - 18:37. | comments

Most American youth playing sports these days are lucky enough to play on well-maintained fields and with the best and latest sports gear. Children in the southeast African nation of Malawi, among the world's least developed and most densely populated countries, aren't so fortunate. Malawan children face many adversities, including poverty, disease, and low life expectancies. Opportunities to play sports, much less with the right equipment, are few and far between. Kalekeni Banda and children of Chituka, Malawi

Kalekeni Banda and children of Chituka, Malawi

Are high school sports worth the money?

Submitted by Rick Collins on Mon, 11/15/2010 - 19:19. | comments

Hal Tearse

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

Submitted by Hal Tearse on Sun, 11/14/2010 - 18:38. | comments

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.

Hal Tearse

Return to Play issues

Submitted by Hal Tearse on Sun, 11/14/2010 - 18:02. | comments

Concussions continue to be a big problem in contact sports including ice hockey. Our research data confirms that girls have a higher incidence of concussion than boys and like the medical experts say, we do not know why at this point. Youth hockey coaches need to continually remind players that head contact is off limits, referees need to enforce the rules and coaches.parents need to support the officials. There is a multi generational attitude that ignores the long term consequences of concussions, especially multiple injuries to a single player. We tell our players that the players on the other team are just kids like themselves and nobody wants to get hurt. Play hard, play fair, and go home.

Minimum Playing Time Rule: Enforce It Across the Board

Submitted by Greg Covi on Sat, 11/13/2010 - 04:26. | comments

I have done years of research in the field of youth sports. Probably as much as some researchers have. I have also coached football for many years with great success. What I mean by success is that I have winning teams with happy parents for what I accomplished with their kids and every kid gets to play the entire game.

The local youth rec. football league in our town has a minimum playing
time rule that each kid will play the whole game on either offense or
defense. It's a good rule and it works. I have yet to hear one kid or
parent ever complain about this rule.