53 relevant results for "sports parenting"
Looking beyond wins, rankings, facilities, and promises to find the right developmental environment.
Building productive relationships while knowing when and how to advocate for your child.
Helping athletes struggle, fail, compete, learn, and grow without rescuing them from every difficult experience.
Making informed decisions about private training, travel, showcases, camps, equipment, and escalating costs.
Helping athletes pursue goals without making achievement feel like the price of approval.
Todd Merkow sits down with Jonathan Carone — founder and host of Healthy Sports Parents, former youth and competitive athlete, youth sports coach, and sports parent. Jonathan describes himself as the epitome of a marginal athlete: good enough to make all-stars in rec league, never quite good enough to stick on a school team, and completely fine with that. He played rec basketball through eighth gr
Todd Merkow sits down with Jeff Proctor — longtime friend, Valiant Sports Society board member, director, producer, game show creator, and now documentary filmmaker — for a wide-ranging conversation about what it means to be a sports parent when you've lived the athlete's life yourself. Jeff grew up in Carmel, Indiana, the child of divorced parents, playing everything — church baseball, hockey, t
Todd Merkow sits down with Christian Lavers — founder and president of the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League), former Director of Coaching and Methodology at FC Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin finance and soccer alumnus, holder of both an MBA and a law degree, and father of four young children ages four through eight. The ECNL has grown from 40 clubs and roughly 2,000 players at its founding in
Callista Elmore knows what it feels like to love a sport enough to build your life around it. Growing up in Tucson, softball became more than something she played. It became part of who she was. That journey eventually took her to the University of Arizona, where she played catcher for legendary coach Mike Candrea and became a two-time NCAA Division I softball champion. But Callista's story isn'
Todd Merkow sits down with Crystalrae States — founder and owner of Boilermaker Softball Club in Pennsylvania, former Division II catcher and head coach, master's-level exercise and sport science professional, and mother of three young kids — for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually looks like to build a female-first youth sports organization from scratch, why development and winning
Encouragement can feel different to every child. What sounds supportive to a parent may feel like added pressure to an athlete. It helps to ask what support looks like from your child’s point of view. They may want a listener, a ride home without analysis, or simply someone in the stands. The relationship is the foundation. When a child knows they are supported, feedback can become easier to hear when they ask for it.
The sports culture at home is built in everyday moments: before practice, on the ride home, and when the game is not going the way anyone hoped. A healthy home culture leaves room for the athlete to be a whole person. It does not make love, attention, or belonging depend on performance. Parents can set a tone of curiosity and support while still helping their child learn from the experience.
Sports parents make decisions in a fast-moving environment, often with incomplete information and plenty of outside pressure. This question is an opportunity to return to the child at the center of the journey. What do they need? What do they want? What is helping them grow? A parent does not need to make every decision perfectly. They can slow down, get informed, and choose what fits their family.
Being valiant is not about having every answer. It is about choosing to be thoughtful, informed, and steady in a sports environment that can sometimes feel overwhelming. Parents have tremendous influence over a child’s experience. Their choices, questions, and everyday support can help create a healthier path. Playing fearless begins with a child who knows they are valued beyond the game.
UCLA women's basketball head coach Cori Close has watched talented players arrive at the college level completely burned out. In a conversation with USA TODAY, she shares what she wishes more youth sports parents understood — before it's too late.
July 2024
Research, policy, and practical tools focused on making sports more accessible, enjoyable, and developmentally appropriate for all kids.
Evidence-based resources for sports parents on safety, concussions, mental health, and creating healthier youth sports environments.
Training and resources for parents, coaches, and administrators to create a positive, character-building youth sports environment.
A national movement promoting the values of sport — respect, excellence, fun, and community — for athletes, coaches, and parents.
