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Benefits of Youth Sports

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How many kids play on average

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At the launch of Project Play in 2013, the United States government produced limited data on sport participation and physical activity rates among youth. That's changed, with the help of advocatesin our network. Today, the National Survey of Children's Health offers robust annual data that can be sorted in more than two dozen ways, including age, race/ethnicity, gender, household income, family structure, state or region, and even current insurance status.

The most recent year in which data is available is 2019. That year, 56.1% of youth ages 6-17 say they "participated on a sports team" or "took sports lessons afterschool or on weekends." So, that basically means organized sports. (In 2019, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services also set a long-term objective: 63.3% of students playing by 2030). The recent National Survey of Children's Health suggests that only 34% of youth from low-income families participate in organized sports. That's half the rate of youth from high-income homes.

For historic and sport-specific trends, a key source of data on participation rates is produced by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, a Project Play partner that provides custom data to the Aspen Institute. Another valuable source of information is the series of national surveys of sports parents commissioned by the Institute through the Utah State University Families in Sport Laband Louisiana Tech University Minds in Motion Lab, tracking participation patterns and attitudes since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Below are charts from Project Play's State of Play 2022 report, published in November 2022. The report includes includes data and trends related to participation, physical and mental health, coaching, and costs to play. For the Institute's analysis of each of these charts, please read the full report.

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Youth Sports Facts: Participation Rates - Project Play

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Project Play collects and distributes national participation rates for kids in youth sports each year.

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Must be careful injuries occur

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The Most Surprising Youth Sports Injury Statistics And Trends in 2024 • Gitnux

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Youth sports injuries are a growing concern in the United States. According to statistics from various sources, nearly 45% of all sports-related injuries in

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preparation is key

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Follow these best practices to reduce the risk of injury

Youth sports can be an excellent way for children to learn about teamwork, remain in optimal health and foster strong, long-lasting relationships with their peers. More competitive team sports, such as football and basketball, can also inspire a healthy dose of competition in young children and even encourage them to be leaders one day.

Before entering your child in athletics, it's always wise to make sure you follow certain safety best practices to prevent injury. Consult the following guide before enrolling your child in an athletic activity.

Talk to Your Child About Safety

Some children might not be aware of the signs and symptoms associated with specific injuries. For example, studies have shown that children often don't report symptoms of a concussion because they don't know what they feel like, according to the Sports Concussion Institute.

Teach your children not only about the signs and symptoms of more serious injuries, like a concussion, but also let them know the importance of speaking up about these symptoms. Because children might be nervous about appearing weak or will want to continue playing, they might not tell their parents or coach about symptoms they're experiencing.

Purchase the Appropriate Protective Equipment

One way to ensure children enter athletics safely is by making sure they have the appropriate equipment, and that what they will be using-from wrist pads and elbow pads to helmets and mouthguards-meets the highest safety standards.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends not only making sure the equipment is in good condition, but also that it fits appropriately and is worn correctly by children at all times. Poorly fitting equipment can increase the likelihood of injury.

Keep Your Children Active During the Off-Season

According to the University of Michigan, one cause of injuries in youth sports can be not enough pre-season conditioning. You can lower risk of injury by keeping your children active during the off-season.

Get a Physical

According to the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS), getting a routine physical is one of the most important steps you can take to prepare your child for his or her first game. Though it's likely your child will be perfectly healthy and ready to hit the field, it's always wise to rule out any underlying conditions that could increase the risk for an injury. (Many youth sports programs conducted through schools will require a physical before children can enter play.)

Watch for Signs of a Concussion

In addition to teaching your children about the symptoms of more serious injuries like concussions, you as a parent should know these signs so you can be on the lookout for them. Confusion, clumsiness and memory loss are early observable signs of a concussion.

Create an Action Plan

Work with your child's coach to have an action plan in place if your child is injured. The NCYS notes that most programs will have an emergency plan in place that has already been reviewed by an athletic trainer or emergency medical service. But it can't hurt to make sure the plan in place meets top safety standards.

By following the above steps, you can rest assured your child will be as safe as possible before his or her first game.

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How to Prepare Your Children for Athletics | concussion.org

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Before entering your child in athletics, it's always wise to make sure you follow certain safety best practices to prevent injury.

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Program that helps kids get into sports

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From the National Youth Sports Strategy Bright Spots, a series that highlights how successful programs are boosting youth sports participation across the Nation.
As the largest provider of youth sports programs in the United States, the YMCA uses its national reach to advance positive youth development through sports. It aims to make sports accessible to all by offering a wide variety of sports in after-school programs and camps.

The YMCA of the USA serves as the national resource office for more than 800 independent YMCA member organizations. Katie Adamson, Vice President, Health Partnerships and Policy, YMCA of the USA, says the organization's federated model enables local Ys to be flexible. "YMCA of the USA supports the nationwide network of Ys to help them be most effective, and local Ys tailor their programs to community needs and resources."

While local programming may vary, all YMCA programs aim to deliver on the key principles of YMCA Youth Sports:

Everyone plays

Safety first

Character development

Positive competition

Family involvement

Sport for all

Sport for fun

Strategies: Meet All Youth Where They Are
The YMCA already reaches many rural and underserved communities; in fact, about 80 percent of American households live within 10 miles of a Y. But Adamson says they are always looking for creative ways to reach youth in the other 20 percent. "We can't expect kids without resources to come to us," Adamson says. "We have to go to them."

One solution is the "Y without walls." Matt Thompson, District Vice President, Gateway Region YMCA, explains that Ys partner with local organizations to deliver programs beyond YMCA buildings - anywhere from school gyms to hotel pools. "Even if all you have is some green space," Thompson says, "we can start youth sports programming."

Thompson says most Ys avoid pay-to-play and intensive-travel team models that place an undue burden on families. Ys provide financial assistance for youth who need it, and most stick to one practice and one game per week. "We don't promote specialization," he says, "and we don't make families overextend themselves to participate."

The YMCA also makes sure to include youth with disabilities. More than 25 percent of Ys collaborate with the Special Olympics on adaptive sports offerings, and a pilot program is adapting the YMCA's Safety Around Water classes to better serve youth with autism and cerebral palsy.

Thompson says the YMCA's inclusion efforts go beyond programming. "We don't just offer adaptive sports - we're building specialized sports facilities for diverse abilities." For example, the YMCA of Greater Houston partnered with the not-for-profit Miracle League to build 2 adaptive sports complexes where youth with disabilities can safely play baseball and other sports.

Impact: Sports and Support for Millions of Youth
Nationwide, 2,700 YMCAs work with 600,000 volunteers in 10,000 communities. The YMCA's size and reach make it the largest provider of youth sports, summer camps, and after-school programs in the United States. Each year the YMCA engages 9 million youth across all programming, including over 1 million youth in youth sports programs.

In addition to engaging youth in sports, YMCA coaches and staff impact youth development by serving as role models. "Having a positive relationship with an adult is a critical factor in the health and well-being of every child," Adamson says.

Lesson Learned: Focus on Positive Youth Development
Thompson says the YMCA has found success by promoting a positive, holistic model of youth sports. "We're talking about kids here," he says. "So more than competition, it's about fun, learning, and developing social skills."

Adamson agrees. "That's where we center all our work: on helping kids increase their confidence, build strong relationships, and create that sense of belonging. It's about feeling part of something bigger than yourself."

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The YMCA: Engaging Youth Across the Nation

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Who plays sports more boys or girls

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Young people reap numerous benefits from participating in sports, including improved health and self-esteem, and when girls don't play, they miss out. Research shows that girls are less likely to participate in sports than boys, and, if they do play, they are more likely to drop out.

But girls may need these benefits most. Girls often lack confidence - especially in their teen years. Two-thirds of Australian teenage girls said playing sports makes them feel more confident. However, half quit sports by the age of 17, according to Suncorp's 2019 Australian Youth and Confidence Research.

So why are girls turning away from sports?

Research suggests the reasons include a lack of fun, cost barriers and cultural messages that tell girls in subtle and not-so-subtle ways that sports are for boys.

In the U.S., about 4.5 million boys and 3.4 million girls participated in high school sports in 2018-19, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations' High School Athletics Participation Survey. Overall sports participation declined for the first time in 30 years.

For kids ages 6-12, the Aspen Institute's State of Play report found 39% of boys played a sport on a regular basis in 2018, while 31% of girls did. The report is part of the institute's Project Play initiative.

During the 2015-16 school year, 52% of boys participated in high school sports, and 44% of girls did, even though schools offered similar opportunities, the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) reported in its July 2019 report The State of High School Sports in America.

Studies in other countries have found similar results. In Australia, 69% of boys between the ages of 11 and 17 play sports, while 55% of girls do, according to the 2019 Australian Youth and Confidence Research . It found that w hile only 30% of boys ages 15-17 decreased their participation in the past year, 46% of girls did.

In Canada, girls' and women's participation in sport has continued to decline for 20 years, and i f a girl has not played sports by the time she turns 10, there is only a 10% chance that she will be physically active as an adult, according to the 2016 report Women in Sport: Fuelling a Lifetime of Participation.

Sport England's 2018 Active Lives Children and Young People Survey looked at children ages 5-16 and found boys are more likely than girls to be active every day: 20% for boys compared to 14 % for girls.

Also, WSF and Project Play each concluded girls of color play sports less than white girls.

"Unfortunately, too many teens, primarily teen girls of color, still don't have equal access to sports," WSF's 2018 Teen Sport in America: Why Participation Matters report concluded. "And with an increase in teens between eighth and 12th grades dropping out of sports, this means that teen girls - a group that is already 15 percent less likely to participate in sports than their male counterparts - are disproportionately missing out on experiencing the full academic, educational and health benefits of sports."

So why do girls play sports less?

Cultural messages

Girls may think sports are for boys. Yes, this is still a problem, said Marjorie Snyder, WSF's senior director of research and programs .

"It's not just an individual action or behavior that affects the girl," Snyder said. "She gets an entire set of messages, and then she puts the story together herself. She may not see women playing sports on TV, or coaching, very often.

Maybe a girl "walks into the gym and she sees all the posters on the wall - and they're all of boys and men playing sports, and none of girls and women playing sports. So she's getting this set of messages that devalue her experience in sport."

Countering those messages takes work, Snyder said. Coaches may convey these messages unintentionally, so WSF is "trying to make sure that coaches understand that although boys and girls are not different species, girls do come to sport with a different set of cultural experiences than boys do," she said.

Vera Lopez, an Arizona State University professor of justice and social inquiry, and a Global Sport Institute seed-grant recipient, published a study in 2018 on the experiences in sports of 78 Latina girls ages 12 to 15. The girls surveyed often felt self-conscious and insecure, and they were afraid to make mistakes, because they would get teased.

"In (physical education) settings, they feel self-conscious about their bodies, but also self-conscious about their ability to know the sports," especially if they didn't play them when they were younger, Lopez said. "That contributes to them not feeling confident in those spaces."

Lopez added Latina girls are "more likely to attend segregated, low-income schools, so they're already in this context where there's limited funding and limited opportunities. But even within that context, they are receiving messages that sports is not a place that they belong."

Lopez said these messages come from institutional, instructional and interpersonal relationships, including their schools, coaches, teachers and peers. For example, she said "a lot of them may feel like they are taught differently - the coaches may handle them with kid gloves. That was something that came up a lot - that girls aren't as physically tough as boys, and they're too emotional or too sensitive."

The Women's Sports Foundation's April 2019 report Coaching Through a Gender Lens: Maximizing Girls' Play and Potential stated: "Both boys and girls perceive boys as having superior sports skills and associate being an athlete with being a boy. Communities, schools, and parents devote more resources and invest more in supporting boys' participation."

Family expectations may be another barrier for girls. Snyder said some girls reach a certain age and then must shoulder greater family responsibilities.

"They're the ones who have to stay home and take care of their younger siblings or to cook, so they're being asked to leave sport for family responsibilities," she said.

Safety and security issues figure in as well.

"The tip of the iceberg is the safety issues we've seen around sexual abuse, sexual harassment and sexual violence, particularly with the gymnasts," said Snyder, who added that safety issues also include having safe transportation to and from practice and games.

"Parents may not feel comfortable letting their daughters travel independently to their sports experiences," she said.

Not fun anymore

Project Play's National Youth Sport Survey found the average child quits sports by the time he or she turns 11, most often because it isn't fun anymore.

Why isn't it fun? Part of the reason may be that kids and adults have different priorities.

"What we have found is that the No. 1 reason they want to play is to be with their friends and have fun. Winning ranks much lower. For adults, winning ranks very high," said Jon Solomon, editorial director at Project Play. "What happens then is you end up treating kids as mini-adults and pushing them to do things they're just not capable physically, emotionally or mentally yet to do.

"No one really asks the kids for their own input and what they want their experience to be. It sounds simple, but a lot of adults don't really do that."

Project Play has launched a campaign called " Don't Retire, Kid" to keep kids from dropping out of sports, and it contains guidance on how to ask kids what they want.

Accessibility

Between the 1999-2000 and 2015-16 school years, the number of public high schools reporting they did not offer interscholastic sports increased from 11% to 24%, according to the State of High School Sports report. Snyder noted that charter schools often don't offer any sports.

Whether in public or private schools or in club sports programs, the pay-to-play model sometimes excludes kids. The State of Play report found U.S. families spend an average of $693 per child per year to play one sport. The most expensive sport was ice hockey ($2,583), and the least expensive was track and field ($191). Kids from lower-income households are less likely to participate. Only 22% of kids from households with an income below $25,000 per year played sports on a regular basis, while 43% of kids from families with incomes of $100,000 or more did.

Regardless of income level, all these studies show kids benefit in many ways when they participate in sports.

"The evidence we've seen supports the idea that for kids who play sports in high school, it's incredibly valuable - it's integral to their high school experience," Snyder said. "They come to school more often, they get better grades, they participate in other extracurricular activities - there's just a lot of positive that comes from participating in high school sports."

Variety

Project Play supports "sport sampling," rather than specializing in a single sport.

"There's research out there that shows that specializing at too young an age in one sport can increase the risk of overuse injuries and also burnout," Solomon said.

The Teen Sport report showed boys are much more likely to play multiple sports than girls, according to Snyder.

"The benefits that accrue to you are greater when you play two or more sports," she said. "So girls are being shortchanged, not just in participation opportunities, but also in terms of the benefits that they can get from that sports opportunity."

Snyder said girls are participating in a wider variety of sports, including some nontraditional sports for girls, pointing to the growing popularity of girls flag football in Florida as an example. Also, the High School Athletics Participation Survey found girls' participation in wrestling increased 27% last year, to 21,735 participants nationally.

Girls who opt for nontraditional sports such as skateboarding and rock climbing may account for some of the measured decline in participation because most research doesn't include these sports, Snyder said .

"But we know from our own research that boys participate in these other activities at higher rates than girls do," she added.

Snyder said there's a gender gap in both school sports and private sports, such as club teams.

Potential solutions

Female coaches are considered key to girls' participation and retention, but only 27% of youth sports head coaches are female, the State of Play report says .

"We know how important it is for girls to see women as coaches, role models and mentors, because they have experiences similar to theirs, having gone through sports like they have," Solomon said.

Girls can more easily identify with female coaches, who can fight negative cultural messages and show girls that they belong in sports, the Women's Sports Foundation's Gender Lens report concluded. But recruiting female coaches is difficult.

"People have to intentionally recruit females to be coaches," Solomon said. "In some walks of life in our society, there's still this idea that the dad is the coach and the mom is the team mom, who organizes the drinks and the snacks. No, moms can absolutely coach."

College and even high school athletes can coach as well, Solomon said, "but you have to go out there and ask them. Sometimes people won't volunteer unless they're asked."

The girls surveyed in the Gender Lens report "cited supportive coaching practices that reward effort or trying a new skill over winning, encourage learning from mistakes while staying positive, and promote integrity and honesty."

More broadly, the Teen Sport report advises: "Identify ways to adjust the culture, composition, and operations of sports to make them more accepting of girls," including bringing in more diverse coaches and "removing rituals and behaviors that consciously or unconsciously exclude girls, such as hazing."

Through programs such as Sports 4 Life, which is aimed at African-American and Hispanic girls, WSF is "trying to build environments for girls that will help them not only in sport but also in life," Snyder said. She added that several other organizations are doing similar work, and these programs are growing.

"Historically, when we look at girls of color in sports, we tend to blame families and cultures," Lopez said. But her current research looks at the role of schools "in reinforcing gender stereotypes about who should play sports - and who should play what type of sports."

Solomon said Project Play wants to educate the public, particularly parents, about the benefits of sports and about ways to encourage kids to participate.

"Parents are the ones who ultimately are putting kids in sports, making decisions, and sometimes putting pressure on kids as well," Solomon said. "So the idea is to help empower and educate parents, so they have resources."

One such resource is the Healthy Sport Index, an online tool that helps assess the relative benefits and risks of the 10 most popular high school sports. It looks at the level of physical activity, safety and psychosocial benefits (emotional, social and mental well-being) each sport offers.

A moment of change?

Because the 2019 Women's World Cup focused substantial attention on women playing sports, it may help change the narrative.

The State of Play report noted young boys are starting to wear USA women's soccer jerseys - and those jerseys are now made in sizes for men and boys - signaling a shift in attitudes.

But was the World Cup enough to make girls feel like they belong in sports?

"This is a time of opportunity for a lot of folks who are invested in women's sports," Snyder said. "It's an opportunity for the media to think more carefully about how it presents women's sports - and the wide variety of stories of girls and women in sport."

She added the World Cup may only be a moment in time, "but it does have the potential to jump-start good things in women's sports."

The stakes are high. If girls eschew sports, they lose the advantages their peers gain from sports.

"There are just tremendous health benefits," Snyder said, from reducing levels of obesity and chronic diseases to eliminating risk behaviors such as smoking. "Kids who play sports, particularly girls, have higher self-esteem and greater self-confidence, and there are academic benefits. Kids who play sports stay in school, they have higher aspirations for college, and they get better grades in high school. There's an overwhelming case to be made for why kids should play sports."
Allison Torres Burtka is a freelance writer and editor based in metro Detroit. You can read more of her work here.

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Girls play sports less than boys, miss out on crucial benefits

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Sports has a multitude of benefits. Since girls are playing sports less than boys they are missing out on those benefits.

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reasons to participate

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As parents, we always look for what's best for our children. You want to prepare them to be successful in life, and you know that academic endeavors alone won't cut it anymore.

High school athletics offers plenty of physical, physiological, and social benefits that can help shape young adults as professionals. Participating in high school athletics is one of the best ways for teens to learn essential values such as teamwork and collaboration.

To help you encourage your child to participate in high school athletics, let's review how a robust athletic program like Paraclete's promotes academic, personal, and spiritual growth.

3 Reasons to Participate in High School Athletics

Athletics are a critical part of an all-encompassing education. Extracurricular activities, including athletics, provide students with a fun and engaging way to explore budding passions in an accepting environment with like-minded peers.

From college readiness to health and wellness, here are three reasons your child should participate in high school athletics.

1. Accelerates College Readiness

Whether one participates in a team sport like Football or an individual sport like Golf, an elite athletic program fosters the development of integral problem-solving, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills that will help students in college and throughout their personal lives.

Student-athletes develop leadership skills as they grow to understand that other people depend on them. They learn self-discipline as they grow to understand their choices have consequences. Ask any varsity athlete, and they'll tell you the consequences of missing a practice or showing up late. This lesson in accountability is invaluable and will help your child succeed later in life as they enter the job force.

2. Enhances Academic Performance

Student-athletes develop intrinsic motivation and strong work ethics that enhance academic performance in the classroom. Research indicates that students who participate in athletics receive higher grades, better test scores, and higher educational achievements.

Through athletic participation, student athletes learn the importance of preparation and practice. Unwavering dedication to their craft is the difference between home runs and base hits, starting on the field or coming in off the bench. Student-athletes often see their efforts translate into better athletic performance. And this relationship between performance and practice transfers into the classroom. From their experience as student-athletes, your child will approach tests the same way they approach an important playoff game: with focus, preparation, and practice.

3. Improves Health and Wellness

As unhealthy nutrition and exercise habits fuel the obesity epidemic in the United States, it's essential for your child to adopt an active mindset that prioritizes rigorous physical activity. Participation in athletics helps creates a strong foundation for fitness habits that last beyond graduation. When active lifestyle values are emphasized at an early age, students will likely continue to exercise and adopt healthy habits as they grow.

High school athletics provide students with regular exercise, which lowers blood pressure, stress levels and increases self-esteem. Physically active children have a reduced risk of cancer, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.

> Learn six tips to help your child get more involved in extracurricular activities.

Ready to Enroll Your Child in High School Athletics?

The benefits above illustrate why it's essential to participate in high school athletics as a student and why it's critical to invest in athletics as a parent or community member. As parents, it's essential to include your child in the decision process when it comes to choosing an athletic program. Monitor your child to ensure the athletic experience remains positive and beneficial.

Keep in mind, Paraclete is currently raising funds for our new 30-acre on-site athletic complex and will reach its funding goal with the continued support of our community. Investing in your child's high school athletics now will ensure they have a space to create memories and develop crucial self-discipline, empathy, and leadership skills they will need to succeed in college and beyond.

Get in touch for more information about our new on-site athletic complex or to enroll your child in PHS athletic programs

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The Importance of High School Athletics: 3 Reasons to Participate - Paraclete High School

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Learn how participating in high school athletics accelerates college readiness, enhances academic performance and improves health and wellness.

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 An article highlighting innovative technologies shaping high school sports, from wearables to virtual reality training

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 An article highlighting innovative technologies shaping high school sports, from wearables to virtual reality training

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Revolutionizing training

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Technology in the sports industry is changing rapidly.

In the past decade, developments in the sports industry have rolled out season after season, changing the topography of athletics as we know it.

These innovations not only affect sports fans but also rule enforcers, professional athletes, coaches, and other supporting athletic staff members.

The release of new technology is game-changing, from scorekeeping developments, data analytics, and television tech to sports medicine and injury prevention, it's safe to say that sports technology is here to stay.

This article will break down some of the recent technological shifts in the sports industry, giving you the inside scoop on all things innovative.

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What is sports technology?

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Sports technology refers to technologies that are developed to optimize human interaction and athletic performance within the world of sports.

This could be anything from technical attempts to improve athlete training and performance to systems that help referees make more precise calls out on the field.

Ultimately, technological advancements in sports are meant to push the sports tech industry further into optimization.

Some of the more common sports technology products include wearable technology, data tracking and data collection, sports injury prevention, event scheduling, goal-line technology, and virtual reality.

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How is sports tech changing the industry?

‍Sports technology has drastically advanced the sports entertainment industry over the past decade and only has an upward trajectory from here.

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1. Sports tech enhances the viewing experience

‍Development in televised sports has enhanced the experience for sports fans, giving viewers real-time on-screen data analytics, referee calls, replays, and sports commentary, no matter if fans are sitting in the front row or their couch.

You no longer have to be physically present at a sporting event to feel like you're on the sidelines.

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2. Sports tech helps prevent and diagnose injuries

‍Advancements in sports injury diagnostics have allowed medical professionals in the sports industry to evaluate athletes quicker to get them back on the field as soon as possible.

Better yet, this new technology has allowed trainers and coaches to prevent injuries from happening in the first place!

These new gadgets have supported and advanced research that has helped trainers develop preventative care for their athletes.

From heart rate monitors to training plans and recovery systems, athlete health has improved, leading to fewer injuries.

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3. Sports tech keeps games fair

‍Various diagnostic and analytic data-gathering devices have been created to help with sideline decision-making, from referee tools to playback technology.

Emerging camera technology and video tracking enable referees to make more precise calls.

This makes gameplay more fair and equitable, removing human error from the equation.

Some sports technology has become widely available and is not solely reserved for elite athletes.

Let's take a closer look at some of the specific ways that sports technology has changed the industry on the field, court, and track.

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How has wearable sports tech impacted athletes?

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Wearable technology is sports tech that can be worn on the wrist, ankle, or other parts of the body to measure performance.

We'll cover a few wearable sports tech options below.

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1. Fitness watches track performance

‍The most common type of wearable technology is the fitness watch.

Professional athletes and amateurs alike use fitness watches to track measurable statistics such as their heart rate, calories burned, step count, running distances, and pace.

Fitness watches are great for beginners and elite athletes to track their progress and meet their fitness goals.

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2. Heart rate monitors track heart responses

‍Heart rate monitors are another type of wearable technology that tracks the heart rate of an athlete (and pulmonary activity).

This data can be helpful in researching an athlete's target heart rate during exercise, fitness level, and heart health.

Heart rate monitors can also be used to detect cardiovascular irregularities and prevent overtraining.

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3. Sports helmets are used for communication and protection

‍Helmets are also considered wearables and are useful in goalie positions or sports like American football.

Helmets often have built-in headsets and/or video capabilities that allow communication between athletes and their support team for more fluid performance and execution.

Over the decades, helmet technology and other football equipments has also developed to make the gear more protective in order to prevent injuries such as concussions.

Read More: Football Schedule Generator. We show you step-by-step how to use a schedule generator for football!‍

How are data tracking and collection tech used in sports?

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There are dozens of ways that researchers in exercise science can collect data about athletic performance and an athlete's health.

The primary way that this type of data is collected is through sensors.

Sensors are worn by athletes or embedded in their clothing or shoes.

Sports-specific sensors are made for personalized data analytics and insights for optimal athletic performance.

Let's look at a few types of data-tracking tools used in exercise science research.

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1. GPS sensors track movement

‍Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors can track location, speed, and other movement-based metrics for outdoor activities like running or cycling.

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2. VBT sensors track performance

‍Velocity Based Training (VBT) sensors can be used to track the performance of weight lifters.

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3. Sleep tracking devices monitor sleep quality

‍Sleep tracking apps and devices monitor sleep and can help athletes reach sleep goals for athletic performance and recovery.

There are even different sensors that can help sports medicine professionals aid athletes in preventing injuries.

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How has technology advanced sports injury prevention?

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Injury prevention has been a driving force behind the development of new sports technologies.

Sports injuries can be devastating for an athlete and can even end their career.

Prevention is key to keeping teams healthy and performing at the highest level.

Let's look at some of the latest advancements in sports medicine.

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1. Mouthguards monitor impacts

‍High-tech mouthguards have been created with built-in sensors that can notify an athlete of when it may be time to take a breather.

Mouth guards light up after a head impact, glowing red for devastating blows or blue for medium-degree impacts.

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2. Helmets prevent head injuries

‍High-tech helmets are outfitted with features such as shock absorption to protect an athlete's head during impact.

These are created to resemble airbags in a car and release air to reduce the whiplash effect that an athlete may experience in the event of head trauma.

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3. Diagnostic programs help identify high-risk players

‍Some diagnostic programs are in the works to help athletes prevent injuries through the use of biometric data.

This can help single out athletes that may be at a higher risk of injury than others on a team.

Using high-definition cameras and computer generation, players and coaches can view analyzed data to make changes and prevent injuries before they even occur.

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Online event scheduling simplifies gamedays and events

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Schedule generators are another example of sports technology that has changed how teams, sports organizations, and athletes plan and attend athletic events.

One example of this is the Diamond Scheduler program.

This application makes planning a league's complex season much easier, reducing the possibility of improper scheduling or redundant schedule constraints and conflicts.

Having a season laid out properly makes life simpler and more organized for coaches, players, and fans alike.

Event scheduling technology negates the need for mass emails with schedule corrections or hours at the drawing board.

Whether you are the coach for a volunteer softball team or the team manager for a professional league, software like Diamond Scheduler can take on the heavy lifting of managing events.

‍

What is GLT (Goal Line Technology) and how has it changed sports?

‍Sensors and digital monitoring software can be used at the goal line to determine whether or not goals are valid.

Sometimes, the naked eye can't distinguish between a ball fully crossing a goal line or not.

This could be a game-winning or game-losing call, which is a lot of pressure for a referee to shoulder on their own.

This electronic aid can step in and determine, for example, whether the football fully crossed the goal line or not.

Most goal line technology either uses strategically-placed cameras or magnetic fields to track the ball and determine its movements in relation to the goal line.

Visual indicator technology, such as GLT, removes the potential for human error.

Goal line technology has contributed to more accurate games and less wiggle room for cheating.

‍

How has virtual reality shaped the world of sports tech?

‍A mixture of virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality systems help to prepare players for real game-time scenarios.

Virtual reality environments are closely monitored and realistic, allowing players to compete at their normal performance level with less chance of injuries.

Virtual reality has already been implemented in the training of top athletes.

For example, virtual reality is used as a tool for golfers to perfect their swing and for goalies to develop their reaction speed and cultivate their decision-making skills.

VR has even been involved in concussion protocols, reducing the likelihood of head impacts taking place in training sessions.

Virtual reality cannot replace training entirely, but it does provide a safe option for athletes to practice proper techniques.

Watch the video below to see how virtual reality is used in baseball training:

‍

‍

What is VAR (Video Assistant Referee) and how is it used in sports?

‍VAR debuted during the FIFA World Cup in 2018, and the industry has changed ever since.

First impacting game calling in the World Cup arena, VAR has since been adopted by other leagues, including the Premier League, as a tool to promote fairness and discourage cheating.

This system is equipped with high-quality camera technology, making refereeing more precise and less affected by flawed elements like human error.

With video replay systems in conjunction with the VAR setup, a team of referees in an on-site control room can evaluate each play and correct any missed calls.

Technology like this makes games fairer and equitable for both teams involved.

‍

How does cognitive training technology benefit athletes?

‍Being a top athlete is not only a measure of physical toughness but of mental toughness.

In recent years, there has been a shift in the world of sports that has given more attention and care to other elements of an athlete beyond how fast they can run or how much weight they can lift.

Cognitive exercises combine technological advances with simple phenomena like hand-eye coordination and reaction times.

This bridge between mental and physical performance is a big deal for athletes and is a surefire way to help athletes reach their highest potential.

‍

How does instant replay impact games?

‍Instant replays have changed the way sports are watched and refereed.

Sports officials can use instant replay to evaluate calls made during a game and even slow the video down for closer examination.

This technology has helped officials make more informed decisions and created all kinds of uproars between fans, coaches, and referees.

‍

How has digital fan engagement changed sports?

‍Sports organizations have developed ways to make sports more engaging for fans who can't attend games in person.

From loyalty programs to high-tech rewards, fan engagement is meant to help fans feel more involved.

Outside of the arena, community-building forums, fantasy leagues, and fan clubs give viewers easy access to news about their favorite teams.

At its roots, waving a foam finger or a sports jersey was the extent to which fans could show diehard support for a team.

Now, fan engagement has never been more involved and connected than with these digital tools.

‍

What are hawk-eye sensors and how do they affect gameplay?

‍Hawk-eye sensors have made gameplay and evaluation of match outcomes more informed through ball tracking and statistical diagnostics.

This tool uses varying visual sensors to analyze the trajectory of a ball and display its most-likely path during a game.

Hawk-eye sensors are often used in sports like cricket, tennis, badminton, and volleyball.

An example of hawk-eye technology in action is determining whether or not a bat smashed a cricket ball before it was caught.

Another application of this would be tracking the trajectory of where a soccer ball would have landed if it didn't hit a player's foot.

‍

Conclusion

‍Sports technology has exponentially expanded the sports business and made resources more easily accessible to fans, coaches, athletes, and sports medicine teams alike.

Things can only go up from here, and we are excited to see how new innovations continue to grow, improve athletic performance, and decrease career-ending injuries.
Thalia Oosthuizen has been writing in a professional capacity for over a decade. Her love for sports has led her down the path of sports writing, where her passion and skills combine. Thalia is a runner, cyclist, and swimmer, and enjoys playing tennis and hockey. Her favorite sports teams include Chelsea F.C. and the Georgian Lions Rugby Club.

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Sports Technology That's Revolutionizing Sports in 2023

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Technology has completely changed the way the world works, including the sports industry. Learn how sports technology is revolutionizing your favorite sports!

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 resources and training to coaches and  parents

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 resources and training to coaches and  parents

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Allowing parents to become more involved

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Positive Coaching Alliance – PCA – Youth Sports Training

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Positive Coaching Alliance is a national nonprofit organization that provides online tools, courses and workshops to assist in giving youth athletes a positive, character building youth sports experience.

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promoting youth football and cheerleading programs

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offering leagues, tournaments, and coaching resources

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National Federation of State High School Associations 

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National Federation of State High School Associations 

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providing rules and guidelines for various high school sports.

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 Directory of state high school athletic associations across the United States.

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 Directory of state high school athletic associations across the United States.

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I won a wrestling tournament in this league

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Massachusetts Vocational Athletic Directors Association (MVADA) (MA)

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Directory | Massachusetts Vocational Athletic Directors Association (MVADA) (MA)

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Section of USA Today dedicated to high school sports news, rankings, and analysis.

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Section of USA Today dedicated to high school sports news, rankings, and analysis.

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Good way to stay updated

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Blog post offering creative fundraising ideas for high school sports teams

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Blog post offering creative fundraising ideas for high school sports teams

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Good ideas on ways to raise money

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High school sports teams with good funding can make a big difference to student-athletes. It can give them the equipment, training, and support needed to excel at their favorite sport.

This article explores 18 proven ways to fund your high school sports club. That way, you can thrive in both local and national competitions.

Best high school sports fundraising ideas

One of the most effective ways to fundraise for your high school teams is by partnering with local businesses. By offering youth sports sponsorship packages, you can provide businesses with valuable promotional opportunities in exchange for their financial support.

2. Host entertaining fundraising events

Organizing exciting and engaging events is a great way to meet your fundraising goals. These events not only generate funds, but also promote team spirit and community involvement.

Here are some fundraising campaign ideas:

3. Try crowdfunding platforms

Fundraising platforms, like GoFundMe and Kickstarter, are efficient for getting money for your sports program. These platforms allow you to share your team's story and goals with a wider audience, increasing the likelihood of receiving donations from supporters both near and far.

Here's how to run a successful fundraiser:

4. Sell merch online

Selling team merchandise online can be an easy fundraising idea. You can sell high-quality items adorned with your team's logo or colors to generate income and promote team pride.

5. Seek grants and foundations for financial support

High school sports teams can get a lot of support from grants and foundations. Research and apply for these opportunities so your team can get funds that aren't available through traditional fundraising.

You can browse sites like Grant Watch to find grants and nonprofit foundations focusing on sports, youth development, or education.

Once you find a suitable grant:

6. Organize a sports clinic or camp

Another good sports team fundraising idea is hosting sports clinics or camps. This can attract aspiring athletes, parents, and community members eager to support local talent.

To organize a sports camp:

7. Launch a team calendar fundraiser

Creating and selling a custom team calendar can be a fun and engaging way to raise funds for your high school sports team. The calendar can feature team photos, game schedules, and special events, generating interest and support from fans.

Collaborate with a local photographer or talented students to capture high-quality images. Then, design an appealing calendar layout using software like Canva. Market the calendars to friends and family members through various channels like Facebook and email.

8. Offer personalized fan experiences

Providing unique fan experiences can help your high school sports team generate revenue while fostering a sense of community. By offering one-of-a-kind opportunities, you can create memorable moments for supporters while enhancing their connection to the team.

9. Coordinate a team-themed art show

Showcasing team-inspired art created by local artists, students, and fans is another unique youth sports fundraising opportunity.

This event can celebrate your community's creativity and spirit while generating funds through ticket sales and artwork auctions. You can host it at your school or find an off-site venue.

10. Organize a walk-a-thon fundraiser

Walk-a-thons are a great way to boost your high school's sports team's funding while promoting fitness. Team members can raise significant funds by collecting pledges based on how far they walk.

Setting up a walk-a-thon is also simple:

11. Set up concession stands at sporting events

One of the best sports fundraising ideas is setting up a concession stand at your events. It offers a steady stream of income and lets you cater to fans' cravings during game day. Who doesn't want a nice hot chocolate during a winter game!?

Here's how to set up a concession stand:

12. Host a team car wash fundraiser

Car washes are a tried and true fundraising idea for sports teams. You only need a parking lot, soap, water, and buckets to get up and running. You can also make a good profit by charging $25 per car.

Photo by Isaac Taylor for Pexels

13. Plan a field day for the local community

A field day is dedicated to athletic contests and sporting events. You can set up various games and activities for all ages at your school, then charge an entrance fee. Sell snacks, drinks, jerseys, and merch. This will help you raise good money and connect with the local community in person.

14. Collaborate with local food trucks for fundraising events

Food trucks can provide delicious dining options while earning a percentage of sales at your team's games or other events. Reach out to local food trucks with a proposal for collaboration at your team's events. Negotiate a fair percentage of sales to be donated to your high school sports team.

Then, coordinate logistics, such as parking and space requirements, with the food truck owners and promote the event.

15. Host a dog wash fundraiser

Organizing a dog wash event is a fun and interactive way for your high school sports team to raise funds. Your team can make money by offering pet grooming services for a reasonable fee.

You can host the dog wash at your school or the local community center. It's a win-win for everyone involved: your team plays with dogs all day, and customers get to go home with a freshly washed pup.

16. Sell team discount cards

Selling team-branded discount cards can be an effective fundraising strategy for your high school sports team. Your team can raise money while providing value to supporters by partnering with local businesses.

💡PRO TIP: Try an app like The Discount Card to sell digital cards fast. The setup is easy, and you can sell cards anywhere, anytime.

17. Create a dedicated team donation page

Want a good online fundraising idea? Set up a dedication team donation page so supporters can easily contribute to your high school sports team. You can use an online platform like PayPal or Donorbox, or collect donations on your team website.

When creating a fundraising page for donations:

18. Host a restaurant night

Partnering with a local restaurant is a great opportunity to raise money for your team. Set a time and date for the event. Invite people from your community and set up something fun like karaoke or a silent auction.

The key to raising funds here? The restaurant will donate a portion of their profits to the good cause (aka, your team!)

Final thoughts

The fundraising ideas above will help your team get more funding. You don't have to do all of them at once. Try one or two. Raise the money you need. Then try another idea from this list.

At the end of the day, it's all about community. If you can get local people involved in your events, you'll bring more awareness to your high school sports team, raise more money, and help student athletes excel on and off the field.

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18 Fundraising Ideas for Your High School Sports Team (2024) | Jersey Watch

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Could your high school sports team use some more funding for next season? Learn 18 proven ways to fund your high school sports club in this article.

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Association offering coaching resources and professional development opportunities

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Association offering coaching resources and professional development opportunities

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Great resource for high school coaches

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 Association providing resources and support for high school athletic coaches.

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 Association providing resources and support for high school athletic coaches.

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Good for information about coaching

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 Website offering high school sports news

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 Website offering high school sports news

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scores, rankings, and player stats

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MaxPreps is America's source for high school sports. Find rankings, stat leaderboards, schedules, scores, news and more of your high school teams and players. Sports coverage includes football, basketball, and many more high school sports.

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Article discussing the importance of high school athletics in student development

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Article discussing the importance of high school athletics in student development

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It's true I can vouch

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10 Reasons Why High School Sports Benefit Students - PublicSchoolReview.com

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Explore the many benefits high school sports offer to students, both during the secondary academic years and beyond.

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Resource offering guidance and resources for student-athletes seeking scholarships to play college sports.

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Resource offering guidance and resources for student-athletes seeking scholarships to play college sports.

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Wish I knew about this in high school

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 Official website of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 

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 Official website of the National Collegiate Athletic Association 

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offering information on college sports regulations, championships, and student-athlete eligibility.

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 Official website of the College Football Playoff

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 Official website of the College Football Playoff

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providing information on playoff rankings, bowl games, and championship events.

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College Football Playoff - Official Athletics Website

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The official website of the College Football Playoff

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offering news and analysis of college athletics.

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Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs

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Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs

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Free Higher Education News, Jobs, Career Advice and Events for college and university faculty, adjuncts, graduate students, and administrators.

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 Alliance focused on promoting safety in youth sports

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 Alliance focused on promoting safety in youth sports

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education and advocacy

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Organized sports bring health benefits to children but the lure of a college scholarship or future professional sports career may tempt kids to ignore pain and injuries, with the result of lifelong injuries or even worse.

To protect one of America's most treasured traditions - amateur and professional sports - we must also assure that they are played safely, and that when inevitable injuries occur, someone knows what to do. Safety measures are not costly when compared with the tens of thousands - even hundreds of thousands - of dollars spent on sporting events. The investment in a healthy future for student athletes will pay dividends in better students, reduced medical bills and lives free from pain. YSSA has created a National Action Plan for Sports Safety (pdf) to give specific guidelines to policymakers about the steps that will accomplish the goal of making America's sports programs safer for young athletes.

Click the newsletter below to access!

YSSA recently teamed up with YSSA Member Simon's Heart to produce this educational resources on Sudden Cardiac Arrest! Click on the image to download and share with your teammates, classmates, students and friends!

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Organized sports bring health benefits to children but the lure of a college scholarship or future professional sports career may tempt kids to ignore pain and injuries, with the result of lifelong injuries or even worse.

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Research organization dedicated to studying youth sports 

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Research organization dedicated to studying youth sports 

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participation, trends, and outcomes

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An Information Center for Youth Sports

Youth Sports Research Council provides adults who work with children and adolescents in organized youth sport programs with quality, current and empirically based information concerning healthy physical, psychological and emotional development.

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The mission of the Rutgers Youth Sports Research Council is to provide adults who work with children and adolescents in organized youth sport programs with quality, current, empirically based information concerning healthy physical, psychological and emotional development.

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Information on academic support programs available to college student-athletes to help balance athletics and academics

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Information on academic support programs available to college student-athletes to help balance athletics and academics

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Excellent resource for college student-athletes

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Academic Support for Student-Athletes!

Every student's ultimate aim is to graduate on time with the degree of their choice. For student-athletes, it is essential to demonstrate strong organisational skills and time management in order to succeed academically as well as in their sport.

The life of a College athlete is a busy one! You will have a lot of sporting commitments: Training, competitive fixtures, travel, physical therapy, video analysis, and more. While you'll get all the help you need with that aspect of your life, it's also reassuring to know that you'll be supported on the academic side, too. That being said, you will be the one responsible for getting work done and earning good grades over your four years of studies! Read about A Day in the Life of a College Athlete here!

Will my Coach be involved with my academic responsibilities?

Yes! Your Head Coach and Assistant coaches play an active role in making sure you're doing well in classes. Their job is not solely about winning championships, they also have a duty to ensure that you're succeeding in the classroom and on track to graduate as planned.

Coaches will be in regular contact with professors at the university, so they tend to know when you've missed class or if your grade has dropped. Put simply, if you don't put in the effort academically, it can negatively impact your privileges as an athlete. If your GPA (average grades) fall down too low, you can be stopped from training and competing altogether. But coaches are not always there to breathe down your neck and keep you in line. They are also on hand if you feel you need assistance with a particular class that you might find challenging. Your coach can help arrange for you to access free tutoring for a period of time; something which is not available to regular students on campus.

Study Hall for Student-Athletes!

At a large percentage of universities, student-athletes have mandatory requirements to attend study sessions once or a few times per week. This will be something that is outlined in the team's rules. Essentially, you and your teammates will attend a certain place to focus on homework or studies at set times each week. Sometimes this will be at the campus library, like the one pictured above. Or, in some cases, Colleges have their own Student-Athlete Academic Performance Centers. Check out this one below at the University of Alabama:

'Study Hall' is not designed to treat students like children and keep tabs on them. Instead, it is aimed at ensuring you get a certain amount of allotted time each week to dedicate to studying. So hopefully your schedule remains balanced and your grades stay high! 🙂

Tutoring is always available to help you!

Sometimes we need a little more help in certain subjects. For me, it was Mathematics and Statistics! When this is the case, student-athletes have the luxury of receiving free tutoring to improve their understanding of different topics.

The video below explains just how beneficial that can be for you, if you ever need to make use of the resources available. Academic Advising is also something that gives student-athletes continuous support. Here, you will have a staff member assigned to your team and they will assist you in choosing classes and planning your next steps...!

Summary

The opportunities to maximise your academic potential are endless in the US university system. It really comes down to how dedicated and driven you are as an individual. If you have a strong work ethic and remain organised, you can really reap the benefits of a fantastic education! However, if you are not the most motivated student, you can still succeed as long as you focus and accept the help and support your College will provide. Read more on our blog, Degree Courses - What Can You Study at College?

We all want to succeed in the sporting arena and push ourselves to the limit, physically. But the academic side requires just as much attention and effort to make your whole College experience a success. The degree that you earn will be something that stays with you for the rest of your life, long after your career as an athlete!

Thanks for reading! 🙂
TEAM ATHLETICADEMIX

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As a student-athlete in the USA, you'll receive extensive support not only as athlete, but also as a student. Learn more on the academic support available!

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 Resource library providing information and guidelines on youth sports safety and health.

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 Resource library providing information and guidelines on youth sports safety and health.

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can never overlook safety

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Institute Launches Youth Sports Policy Agenda

Protecting children participating in youth sports is the focus of a bold, new policy agenda introduced today by the National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute (NYSHSI), a joint initiative by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and Sanford Health. As the leader in advocating for advancing and disseminating the latest research and evidence-based education, the institute built the agenda on seven pillars of athlete health and safety.

"Protecting children is paramount in youth sports," said William O. Roberts, M.D., FACSM, ACSM past president and NYSHSI Leadership Board Chair. "I'm not just talking about sports injury. It's protecting them emotionally, mentally as well as physically, including abuse of any type."

Approximately 70% of youth between 13 and 17 participate in sports annually. For young athletes, regular participation provides multiple physical and mental health benefits, as well as a chance to learn about discipline, commitment, setting and achieving goals, teamwork and fair play. The benefits can even extend to academic achievement.

Unfortunately, when playing sports long enough, hard enough and often enough, the potential for sustaining an injury is a reality of the game. Playing by the rules, using the right equipment and protective gear, and learning proper technique all contribute to minimizing injury risk. Adequate sleep, nutrition and hydration also contribute to peak performance and athlete safety. Every youth athlete, no matter the level of ability, should be able to enjoy any sport in a safe environment.

A poll conducted by ACSM showed 91% of Americans feel sports participation is important for children and adolescents, yet 94% feel more needs to be done to ensure the health and safety of youth athletes. These concerns are fueled by reports of heat illness, concussion, undiagnosed heart conditions and other issues affecting athletes of all ages.

"As a pediatric sports medicine physician and mom of three kids involved in sports, I fully support this policy agenda," said Anastasia Fischer, M.D., FACSM, ACSM president-elect. "It takes a holistic view that aims to ensure my children and countless others have the best, most rewarding experience when competing in youth sports."

To provide a safe environment for all youth athletes, ACSM and NYSHSI believe that each state should take measures to protect athletes as they participate in sports. Several core principles should be considered in any policy or legislation, and the Youth Sports Policy Agenda focuses on seven critical areas of athlete health:

1. Pre-participation Evaluation (PPE)

2. Heat Acclimatization

3. Concussion

4. Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs)

5. Youth protections from abuse

6. Coach education

7. Injury Management

"The seven areas outlined in our policy agenda create the framework for real change," said Nate Blessen, System Executive Director, Sanford Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. "This policy agenda highlights the importance of safety and overall well-being of our youth athletes."

View the full policy agenda and details of the seven areas of focus on the NYSHSI Advocacy page at http://nyshsi.org/advocacy/.

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About the National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute

NYSHSI is dedicated to being the recognized leader and advocate for advancing and disseminating the latest research and evidence-based education, recommendations and policy to enhance the experience, development, health and safety of our youth in sports. The NYSHSI encourages a deliberate early introduction of diverse functional movements and activities that are healthy and fun, as a catalyst for developing a critical foundation, capacity and enthusiasm for sustainable physical activity (sports and otherwise) through childhood, adolescence and beyond. www.nyshsi.org
American College of Sports Medicine
ACSM serves as the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world with more than 50,000 international, national and regional members and certified fitness professionals. All are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine. Find more details at www.acsm.org.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, one of the largest health systems in the United States, is dedicated to the integrated delivery of health care, genomic medicine, senior care and services, global clinics, research and affordable insurance. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization includes 46 hospitals, 1,500 physicians and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations in 26 states and 10 countries. Learn more about Sanford Health's transformative work to improve the human condition at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.

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Institute Launches Youth Sports Policy Agenda Protecting children participating in youth sports is the focus of a bold, new policy agenda introduced today by the National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute (NYSHSI), a joint initiative by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and Sanford Health.

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Association providing resources and networking opportunities for college sports information directors.

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Association providing resources and networking opportunities for college sports information directors.

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good for college directors to communicate and share ideas

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Resources and initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion in college sports

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Resources and initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion in college sports

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important to keep student-athletes aware of diversity

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Guide for student-athletes navigating the college sports recruiting process

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Guide for student-athletes navigating the college sports recruiting process

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great for kids looking to play sports at college

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College athletic recruiting is a complex process

Families can spend countless hours scouring the Internet and self-help books for advice on how to get recruited. But between school, practices, work and other extracurricular activities, it's tough to find the time to do the research and piece it all together.

To save families time and energy, we've created the College Recruiting Guide. Here, we've laid out all the steps your family needs to take to successfully navigate the recruiting process. With advice from current and former college coaches and athletes, we've provided the basics, as well as insider tips that only come from years of recruiting experience.

How to get recruited

To get the process started, you need to know where you're going and how you're going to get there. This section is dedicated to giving your family the baseline knowledge you need to know to get the ball rolling, including

Read more about how to get recruited.

Searching for colleges

While, student-athletes usually have a couple of dream schools in mind, the chances of those coaches recruiting their position and offering a scholarship might not be too likely. That's why we tell every athlete to research several programs and build a school list to maximize their opportunities and find their best college matches.

Read more about searching for colleges. Learn more about NCSA recruiting services.

Communicating with coaches

When families think about college recruiting, communicating with coaches is usually the first thing that comes to mind. And it is a very important part of the process! However, there are a lot of misconceptions about when and how athletes can contact coaches. We provide expert insights into

Read more about communicating with college coaches.

Managing your recruiting process

There are many times during the recruiting process where families are left wondering, "Now what do we do?" Managing your recruiting is an understated, yet crucial, part of the process. During this time, recruits need to

Read more about managing your recruiting.

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Families can spend countless hours scouring the Internet and self-help books for advice on how to get recruited. But between school, practices, work and other extracurricular activities, it's tough to find the time to do the research and piece it all together. To save families time and energy, we've created the College Recruiting Guide.

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 Association governing small college athletics 

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 Association governing small college athletics 

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providing resources for student-athletes

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National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, The experts in the business of small college athletics.

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Guide for parents on choosing the right equipment for youth sports activities

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Guide for parents on choosing the right equipment for youth sports activities

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It may be hard as a parent to know which equipment to purchase

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Choosing the Right Sports Gear for Your Kids: Safety First, Style Second

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Learn exactly what your little athlete needs, different safety and quality standards for sports gear, and easy ways to keep their gear in tip-top shape.

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Guide for parents navigating the world of youth sports

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Guide for parents navigating the world of youth sports

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tips on coaching, safety, and encouragement

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Parenting styles in sports are as varied as the types of athletes in the world. Everyone has heard of, or been around the "nightmare" sports parent. You know, the one with the cringeworthy behavior; like screaming at their child after a competition or game, the child mortified, more about being shamed in public than how they performed.

When we witness acts of inappropriate behavior like this, we avert our eyes and say a silent prayer that we never do the same to our kids.

When it comes to youth sports there are a variety parenting styles and relationships between parents and athletes. For the purpose of this article, I am going to simplify and generalize the types of parent involvement in regards to their child's sports experience.

What kind of Sports Parent are you?

Problem parents exist. You probably know at least one in every rink or on every team. In the worst cases, coaches resort to banning them from watching their child's practices, and go out of their way to avoid contact, even resorting to running away when they see the parent looking in their direction.

We poke fun at situations like these, but in reality it is a concern. Disruptive parent behavior affects other skaters, athletes, parents, coaches and anyone in the vicinity.

It is understandable that a parent wants the best for their child. They are following their natural instinct to preserve, protect and promote their children as set forth by the laws of nature.

Many parents who seek mental game coaching for their youth athletes privately acknowledge that they know they are part of the problem (their child's difficulty in sport), but don't know how to change.

Parents are a child's first teacher. It is our privilege and our honor to be there for their first words and their first steps. It is gratifying to witness their first axel or first soccer goal. We are there to celebrate their first medal.

It is hard to let go, and sometimes confusing when we know nothing about the sport that our child gets involved in. We can feel lost and useless. We are so used to being in control and in the driver's seat of our child's educational experiences. Most of the time we are "experts" or at least know more about the subject than our child does.

When a child starts a technical sport or a select team sport, parents are asked, maybe for the first time, to let go of control. This can be challenging, especially in skating, where there is the potential for a long term close relationship between skater and coach.

Parents can feel unsettled and unsure of what they can do for their child in this situation.

It is human nature to want to feel useful and involved, especially where our children are concerned. When we are focused on doing something useful and important to contribute to our child's experience, we are less likely to cross the line into, coaching, for instance.

When parents understand their role on the young athlete's support team, and the other team members acknowledge that role, they are less likely to "act out" and more likely to be an asset to their child's progress in the sport.

Parents continue to be an essential part of an athlete's world no matter what their age. Their role changes and adapts as their child's ages and their skill level improves. On the athlete's support team, they are the second in importance to the athlete themselves.

Here are a few contributions parents make to a child's success in sport according to Fredricks and Eccles (2005)

Parents are:

Provider of sports experience-opportunity, transportation, finances, scheduling

Interpreters of the sports experience-The parent's perspective often becomes the lens through which a child judges their sports experience.

Interpreters of success or failure

Emotional influencers-stress, satisfaction

Role models-work ethic, sports participation, emotional reaction, sportsmanship

Have a legal and ethical responsibility to be involved

The parent is a child's touchstone, even as the become elite athletes. A child will follow a parent's example. If a parent or parent/coach yells at other skaters on the ice. A child will be more likely to follow this example, or blame others for "getting in their way." If a parent constantly yells at the referee or questions a coach's strategies, a child might become "un-coachable" and disrespectful to the game and the individuals associated with it.

During a figure skating competition, if a parent voices being upset about the judging, a child might learn to think judging is unfair. This can negatively affect how a skater behaves at practice and competition.

Remember that your child is participating in this sport. They have to live with the rules of the competition. When you criticize the system, the officials, or other athletes, you set your child up for future difficulties.

When an athlete feels that judging is unfair it can stall their improvement. They might learn to blame the unfairness of judging for their failures instead of working to improve their skills.

Parents and athletes who feel that the system is unfair can resort to poor sportsmanship and bullying.

Negative parental behavior can lead to increased dropout rate of coaches, officials and athletes.

A parent who is paying [a lot] for coaching can unwittingly undermine the coach's authority by giving their child mixed messages, or coaching them off the ice or in the backyard. This is a waste of money and time, and a source of frustration for the child.

What can a parent or coach do to foster a positive sports experience for youth athletes?

Parents and coaches can form a professional relationship with clear lines of communication that is of benefit to everyone.

In a TSL interview, expert coach Rafael Arutyunyan, shared some of his thoughts about the role of a high level athlete's parent. He said that he as a coach doesn't "like" (favor) one athlete over another.

Parents must love them.
Coach must respect them.

He said that it is natural that an athlete will communicate first and foremost to their parent if there is a problem. It has been a lifelong "culture" to do so. But the athlete also needs to communicate with their coach.

Parents can help to facilitate the line of communication between athlete and coach by encouraging their child to pass on important information. A parent can educate their children about what is relevant and important for their coach to know in the context of their sport performance.

Many parents are well intentioned but uninformed.

Parents can get educated about the sport by reading articles and asking their child and their child's coach for resources. An educated parent will use their knowledge to enhance their own enjoyment of the sport and be able to look out for their child's best interest as well [make sure they are getting expert coaching and monitor for any distress signs].

Coaches can involve parents by acknowledging that they are experts on their child outside of their sport. They are valuable resources that can help a coach get the best out of an athlete in good times and in more challenging times as well.

Parents play an important role in the development of youth athletes. An involved parent can enhance their child's experience in sport with the mindset of learning, growing and loving.

Figure skating parents: Another great way to help your athlete during competition is to decrease your stress and worry. Download your Figure Skating Competition Money and Time Saving Tricks eBook complements of ICE Mental Game.

Resources:
Fredrick and Eccles. Family Socialization, Gender and Sports Motivation and Involvement (2005)
TSL interview with Rafael Arutyunyan

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A Sports Parents Guide to Youth Athlete Success - ICE Mental Game Coaching

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Parenting styles in sports are as varied as the types of athletes in the world. Everyone has heard of, or been around the "nightmare" sports parent. You know, the one with the cringeworthy behavior; like screaming at their child after a competition or game, the child mortified, more about being shamed in public than how ...

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 Guide providing nutrition tips and meal plans for youth athletes

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 Guide providing nutrition tips and meal plans for youth athletes

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Helpful for parents preparing their athletes

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Healthy, well-balanced meals and snacks give kids the nutrients they need to do well in sports. Besides getting the right amount of calories, eating a variety of nutritious foods will help them play at their best. Active, athletic kids and teens need: Vitamins and minerals: Kids need a variety of vitamins and minerals.

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Articles and resources on the psychological aspects of youth sports participation

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Articles and resources on the psychological aspects of youth sports participation

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Keeping kid's confidence up is important to not allow discouragement

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Strategies and resources for preventing common injuries in youth sports

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Strategies and resources for preventing common injuries in youth sports

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Good for keeping young athletes healthy

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Sports Injuries Sports Injuries

With sports camps and more structured activities, kids today are increasingly likely to play their chosen sport year-round. But more time on the field brings a greater risk of experiencing sports-related injuries, including ACL and meniscus injuries in the knee, or injuries to the labrum or UCL in the shoulder and elbow.

Pediatric sports medicine expert R. Jay Lee, M.D. provides these 10 injury prevention tips to help keep your young athlete on the field rather than on the sidelines:

1. Talk with your young athlete.

Make sure your young athlete understands that he or she should talk with you and seek help if experiencing pain or something that just doesn't feel right. "In my practice, I always promote participating in pain-free sports and activities," says Dr. Lee. "But some kids are tough and just push through pain, which can lead to a more serious condition that could have been prevented with early intervention."

2. Get a preseason physical.

A preseason or back-to-school physical is a great way to determine if your young athlete is fit to play. "Sports physicals help assess any areas of concern for athletes before they start an activity, and in turn keeps them from further injuring themselves during play if a condition is present and needs to be treated," says Dr. Lee.

3. Encourage cross-training and a variety of sports.

"I see kids today who play on two baseball or lacrosse teams on the same day or throughout the week and year. But it's important for athletes to change the sports or activities they are doing so they are not continuously putting stress on the same muscles and joints," warns Dr. Lee. Parents should consider limiting the number of teams their athlete is on at any given time and changing up the routine regularly so that the same muscles are not continuously overused.

4. Stress the importance of warming up.

Stretching is an important prevention technique that should become a habit for all athletes before starting an activity or sport. Dr. Lee suggests a mix of both static and dynamic stretching during warmups to help loosen the muscles and prepare them for play. Toe touches and stretches, where you hold the position for a certain amount of time, are considered static, while jumping jacks and stretches, where the body continues to move during stretching, are considered dynamic.

5. Make sure they rest.

Athletes of all ages need to rest between practices, games and events. A lack of sleep and muscle fatigue predispose an athlete to injury, says Lee. In fact, the most common injuries seen in young athletes are overuse injuries - too many sports and not enough rest. Along these same lines, parents should also plan an offseason for their athlete, giving him or her adequate time to recuperate before the next season.

6. Provide a healthy, well-balanced diet.

It's important for athletes to eat a well-balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables and lean proteins, and to maintain a regular eating schedule. For instance, have breakfast, lunch and dinner around the same time each day. "In sports like wrestling, where extra importance is put on an athlete's weight, parents also need to make sure their athletes are following safe eating habits," says Dr. Lee.

7. Emphasize hydration.

Heat-related illness is a real concern for athletes, especially during hot and humid days. Parents should make sure their children have adequate water before, during and after play, and watch for any signs of a heat-related illness, including fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion or fainting.

8. Get the proper equipment.

Protective equipment, like helmets, pads and shoes, are very important for injury prevention. Parents should talk with coaches before the season starts so that they have adequate time to properly outfit their child before practices begin.

9. Emphasize proper technique and guidelines.

In every sport, there is a correct way and a wrong way of doing things. For example, football players should be taught the proper way to tackle an opponent to avoid a concussion, and baseball players should be taught the proper way to throw and follow the guidelines on how many throws to make in a day. "I often hear from parents that they've followed the guidelines," says Dr. Lee, "except for that one time." Unfortunately, that one time is all your athlete needs for a shoulder injury to happen.

10. Recognize injury and get help early.

"I've seen a number of young athletes who have serious injuries and didn't do anything about them, and now the damage has progressed," Dr. Lee warns. "We need to get these kids in to see a doctor earlier to keep this from happening."

If parents notice that there is a change in their athlete's technique, such as a limp when running, throwing differently or rubbing a leg during activity, they should pull the athlete out of play. If the problems persist, parents should seek an assessment for their child prior to returning to the activity.

Dr. Lee warns: "Athletes will alter the way they do things because of pain, but then they can end up with a more serious injury because of it."

When to see a doctor for your sports-related injury:

1. Consistent pain during or after sports

2. Persistent or new swelling around a joint

3. Recurrent instability - joints "give way"

4. Painful pops (nonpainful pops are OK)

5. Pain that does not respond to a period of rest

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10 Tips for Preventing Sports Injuries in Kids and Teens

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Young athletes push themselves harder than ever before. Here are some tips for parents to help their kids avoid injuries and keep them healthy and in the game.

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 Information on programs and initiatives aimed at improving child development in sports

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 Information on programs and initiatives aimed at improving child development in sports

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Resource for parents wanting to further their athletes development

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University of San Diego - Professional & Continuing Education

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Winning feels good, but youth sports is about so much more than that, with higher stakes than any football game or soccer match.

Through friendly competition, teamwork, and physical activity, kids have the opportunity to learn new skills, develop self-confidence, build character, and so much more. That's why the aim of encouraging overall child development through sports supersedes any desire to top the standings. It's these formative experiences, win or lose, that help shape future generations.

This article offers a high-level overview of the benefits of sports in child development and how they can positively impact physical health, mental and emotional health, academic performance, and social skills.
Physical Health Mental and Emotional Health Academic Performance Social Skills
Exploring the Physical Health Benefits of Youth Sports

When thinking about the benefits of competitive sports and child development, physical health is likely the first thing that comes to mind. Over the last several decades, a major shift towards indoor playtime has coincided with the rise of video games, social media, and other digital technology.

A recent British study found that children now spend twice as much time indoors playing video games as playing outside. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the CDC recently reported a 19.7% childhood obesity rate in the United States. Clearly, the importance of encouraging physical activity in children and adolescents has never been higher.

However, all is not doom and gloom. Statistics on the benefits of youth sports clearly show how much those who participate gain from their experience. In addition to preventing obesity, the National Athletic Trainer's Association and the government of the state of Victoria in Australia identified a number of other facets of physical well-being that show the positive impact of sports on youth development:

Lower risk of future illness, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes

Lower recorded instances of drug abuse

Greater development of hand-eye coordination, functional movement skills, endurance, and strength

Better development of bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons

Improved sleep

Greater ability to physically relax and therefore avoid the complications of chronic muscle pain

The healthy habits kids develop by playing sports lead to lifelong benefits: According to one long-term study, children who participated in youth sports between the ages of nine to 18 were five to six times more likely to be physically active as adults.

Uncovering the Psychological Benefits of Youth Sports

While the physical health benefits of K-12 athletics have long been known and publicized, there has been greater emphasis in recent years on the psychological benefits of youth sports. With less and less time being spent outdoors, what little exposure there is must do more of the heavy lifting. So, it is of paramount importance that coaches, teachers, and anyone else supervising K-12 athletes know just how much of an impact they have on their players and students.

In the midst of what some have called a " kids' mental health crisis," there is strong evidence that participation in sports during developmentally formative years can have a strong positive effect. Some of the psychological benefits of youth sports include:

Lower stress levels

Lower rates of anxiety and depression

Greater self-confidence and higher self-esteem

Improved cognitive performance

More creativity

Additionally, studies have drawn a correlation between participation in youth sports and higher self-esteem and happiness and - for girls in particular - between participation in youth sports and a healthier body image.

The correlation between academics and athletics is not always obvious. In fact, some parents view time devoted to athletics as time taken away from academics in their child's already busy schedule. However, there is evidence to suggest that the opposite is true - that participation in athletics during one's school years leads to greater success in academics and beyond. This can manifest in the following ways:

Lower school dropout rates

Better overall academic performance and higher GPAs

Up to 40% higher test scores than their counterparts

A statistically higher likelihood of attending college

The increased levels of attainment that come with child development through sports extend well beyond the classroom and later into life. Research suggests that former student athletes are more productive at work and see as much as 7%-8% higher annual earnings than those who did not participate in youth sports.

Building Bonds Through Youth Sports

Social skills help form the backbone of society by minimizing conflict and helping facilitate interactions between its members. Most people would agree with this. However, there are some who would invariably ask: How do sports help with social skills? Indeed, there are many ways in which fields and courts become the forums where young people learn how to develop these skills and take their first tentative steps toward creating identities.

Being young is to be in a constant state of flux. While much attention must be paid to looking inward, team sports require cooperation with others in order to achieve a mutual goal. This helps the focus become more external in nature, enabling participants to learn the type of bonding and team-building skills that will be necessary throughout their whole lives. High-level communication, collaboration, and evaluative skills incubate and grow during these types of interactions.

Children who participate in youth sports tend to develop stronger peer relationships and have a higher likelihood of participating in civic activities. As parental involvement in youth sports increases, it also creates new opportunities for kids to interact with their parents, which can improve the parent-children relationship.

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Participation in K-12 sports can have a significant - and often life-long - positive impact on students. For many children, one of the key distinctions between a positive youth sports experience and a negative one is the support and mentorship of a qualified coach. Coaches not only teach kids the basics and foster a love of sport, but serve as role models, demonstrating leadership, creating inclusive environments, and teaching valuable life lessons.

The University of San Diego's Division of Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) proudly offers a Coaching Today's Student-Athlete Certificate that provides the information you need in order to unlock the holistic potential of those in your charge. The lessons learned through this program will empower you to nurture not only great athletes, but exceptional human beings and inspire the next generation.

5 REASONS WHY CONTINUING EDUCATION MATTERS FOR EDUCATORS

The education industry is always changing and evolving, perhaps now more than ever. Learn how you can be prepared by downloading our eBook.

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The Benefits of Youth Sports in Child Development

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From improved physical health to better academic performance, the benefits of youth sports are extensive. Read our blog post to learn more.

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 Article discussing the impact of technology on youth sports training, tracking, and performance analysis.

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 Article discussing the impact of technology on youth sports training, tracking, and performance analysis.

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Technology can be used to improve athletes performance

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As the value attached to athletics continues to increase across all sports, athletic fitness trends continue to advance the level of play. Coaches and athletes are constantly looking for methods to gain an edge and stay ahead of the competition.

Evaluating new technology and training methodology is part of the job description for sports teams at the professional level, but is now becoming part of the process for training youth athletes.

We now have a multitude of new technology platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), biometric data, gps tracking, smart balls, and wearable technology for athletes. The inclusion and awareness of levels of exertion and recovery metrics now can be taken into consideration when developing training regiments.

Coaches, parents and athletes should evaluate how any new technology and training method benefits their particular sport, as not all advances in the fitness realm may be universally effective for athletes across different sports.With all that in mind, let's take a look at some of the new trends for specific basketball, football, baseball and soccer. Most sports have similar technologies emerging everyday.

Top Trends for Basketball

Within the basketball space, there is no shortage of new technology advancements, with the promise of developing an athlete's sport specific skillset as the selling point.There is also an ever-evolving thought process behind how athletes should approach strength and conditioning training.Let's examine some of the training trends in basketball.

1. AI for Basketball Skill Development

Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) is used to assist sports training, especially basketball, has certainly increased in recent times.In this scientific done on the potential viability of Artificial Intelligence to be able to track player movement, researcher found they were able to track the primary player actions (catching, passing, dribbling, and shooting) with 98.95% accuracy.Undoubtedly, being able to track performance with this level of accuracy should allow for more precise evaluation and the development of better training programs.

There are currently numerous options available for those athletes looking to leverage AI to enhance their training, primarily through tracking the ball, allowing players to develop their ballhandling or track their shooting performance with precision.The abundance of data that new AI training devices will produce should lead to superior training and more consistent results from athletes.

2. Multiple Movement Training For Basketball

When it comes to basketball in particular, has found that combining movement patterns (jumping, then sprinting) in training workouts leads to better performance and improvement.This appears to be due to the inherent nature of the sport, where high-intensity, short bursts of exertion are common when running and jumping occur.

When looking for the best way to implement drills and exercises that allow for quick burst of activity and transistions, athletes should explore the versatility VertiMax offers for training as you play the game in real life.With the VertiMax V8 or Raptor, athletes can perform a variety of movements, from sprinting to jumping to moving laterally.In addition, VertiMax will help enhance performance through any of these exercises through its unique resistance system designed to targeted muscle groups while training.

Top Trends In Football

New technology is also evolving the way football players and teams measure performance.

1. Football Tracking Data & Analytics

The development of football tracking is making its way into the sport, where wireless cameras can track the ball and collect data allowing for real-time evaluations and analytics of the football team.Increased football tracking data combined with the data from wearable tracking devices, coaches and players will be able to better understand the dynamics that occur during game play and adjust their training preparation accordingly.

2. Virtual Reality Technology

As far as sport specific training goes, high-level football players have begun to use Virtual Reality as a method for preparing for games.This new immersive technology allows players to replicate game-like situations and accelerate the learning process, all while eliminating any physical demands on the player.With the ability to be used from anywhere, VR is a tremendous learning tool for players that should become more available across all levels as the desire to limit injury becomes the norm.

Top Trends In Baseball

Baseball technology is growing with more data and analytics to decrease player injury, increase player performance, and give fans more reasons to engage in the game.

1. Baseball Swing Analysis

Baseball has had a tremendous amount of new technology come available in recent years, benefitting the way baseball athletes train.For hitters, the introduction of bat swing analysis technology that allows players and coaches to gain insights from every single swing has enhanced the way teams go about player development.The unique swing metrics that are available (like velocity, angle, and plane) make training much more efficient, as players can hone in on a certain technique they are trying to develop.

2. Baseball Pitcher Mechanic Analysis

Pitchers also have benefitted from AI technology, as there are now platforms that will analyze the mechanics of a pitcher's motion .This technology is hugely beneficial in multiple ways, as not only does it analyze a player's throwing motion for ways to improve technique, but it can also assess inefficiencies in the mechanics that could lead to injury at some point.With the abundance of elbow injuries that occur with young pitchers, using technology to help prevent injuries should be a priority for all players and coaches.

Top Trends In Soccer

Soccer, or football, is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it has been at the forefront of sports technology for many years. From wearable devices to video analysis tools, technology has transformed the way soccer is played and trained for. Let's explore some of the top sports technology for soccer.

1. Connected Smart Ball Tracking

The first example of "connected ball technology" was featured during a FIFA World Cup. There is a sensor suspended inside the ball. Together, this technology and a variety of receivers placed all over the field are utilized to track the ball extremely precisely. The match officials will be informed immediately when the ball crosses the goal line, and the referee will wear a wristwatch transmitter that shows the data.

For soccer players, the new smart balls are equipped with sensors that track your every move. Data collected by a smart soccer ball is sent to a connected smartphone or tablet, where coaches or athletes can access a variety of training drills and exercises. Smart balls allow you to have practice sessions to measure your performance and usually have companion apps for mobile devices and even connect to a screen. With these sessions, you can practice and improve dribbling, speed, footwork, kicking, ball control, improve your weaker foot, and build confidence.

Use smart soccer balls with VertiMax equipment for unique and innovative training tools that can help players of all levels improve their skills and reach their full potential.

2. Biometric and Tracking Devices

Player tracking technology allows coaches to track the performance of individual players and the team as a whole during training and matches. GPS tracking devices are worn by players and record their movements, distance covered, and speed during the game.

The data collected by GPS tracking devices can be used to optimize training programs and improve performance. Coaches can analyze the data to identify areas where players need to improve, adjust their training accordingly, and monitor their progress over time.

There are even trackers for soccer shoes to track your performance on the pitch. Insoles is a high-tech device that fits snugly inside your soccer shoes packed with sensors that measure shot power, distance traveled, running speed, and the number of kicks.

2. Virtual Reality

Virtual reality technology is also being used in soccer training. Players can use VR technology to simulate real-world scenarios and train in a safe and controlled environment. For example, players can practice set-pieces and penalty kicks in a virtual environment, allowing them to improve their technique and build confidence.

Other Sports Training Trends

Individual Focus And Ball Skills Training

As far as methods of training, coaches in the space have advocated that players should focus on developing their ball skills .This seems to be the prevailing trend across all sports, as many coaches are emphasizing individual player development and implementing programs to help promote it within their teams.

One of the best ways for players to work on their individual skills is with the VertiMax, as it is a truly unique platform that allows athletes to work on strength and speed training while also developing their sport-specific skills.With the generous range of motion that the VertiMax V8 or Raptor affords athletes, along with its mobility and functionality that allows it to be used anywhere, makes it the perfect training equipment for soccer players.

Check out the video below for an example of how soccer players can use the VertiMax while working on their ball skills.

Mental Performance Coaching

In addition to the new technology and training ideas that have been introduced in the sports landscape recently, another trend that is becoming common across all sports is mental performance coaching.Players and teams have started to realize that just like physical skills, the mental approach to performance and competition needs to be refined on a continually basis.Mental performance coaches can help athletes with visualizing performance, improving their self-talk, and controlling their ability to remain calm once adversity hits.Many teams at higher levels of sports are starting to address this by hiring coaches to help with this, but athletes at lower levels can also get help from mental performance coaches, as many operate on a freelance basis.

Functional Training

More and more, athletes and other fitness enthusiasts are incorporating functional training into their workouts, which focus on the 7 functional movements of the human body (pull, push, squat, lunge, hinge, rotation, and gait).This is an effective way to maintain symmetry throughout the body and establish balance across muscle groups.Not only can you build strength and power, but athletes can improve balance, coordination, range of motion and mobility with functional training.For those looking for ways to include functional training into their routine, training with the VertiMax is an excellent way to enhance your results.The VertiMax's one of a kind resistance system is designed to allow athletes to perform these functional movements while also loading the body, leading to superior performance.

Stay on Top of the Latest Sports Trends

The landscape of fitness, health, and wellness is constantly evolving, as advances in technology and improved methodologies of training are always hitting the market.As athletes and coaches, it's important to stay updated on the potential developments in the world of fitness, as it could provide you with an advantage on your competition.For those athletes who are looking for a new and innovative way to train, check out the VertiMax V8 or Raptor training platforms.The VertiMax platforms allow athletes of any level to train like a professional, with an advanced resistance training system that produces explosive results.VertiMax also has unrivaled versatility, as users can take it anywhere they want to work out.Visit VertiMax.com and check out any of our exercise ideas, sport-specific instructions, or talk to support about any questions you might have.

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Top Sports Technology Trends Enhancing Athlete Training & Performance

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New sports technology trends are enhancing athletic training and performance with AI, biometrics, gps tracking, smart balls, and wearable technology.

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topics such as concussion awareness, bullying prevention, and positive coaching

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Teaching & Learning Topics For Parents In Sports

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Looking for learning & teaching topics for parents in sports? Visit TrueSport today for learning, teaching programs & materials for coaches & parents

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 Platform connecting volunteers with opportunities to coach, mentor, or support youth sports programs

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 Platform connecting volunteers with opportunities to coach, mentor, or support youth sports programs

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opportunities to get your foot in the door and gain experience

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Get involved at the YMCA through our nonprofit volunteer opportunities and help create a connected community where everyone can thrive.

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Information on Division III college sports programs

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Information on Division III college sports programs

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emphasizing a balance between academics and athletics

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The official Division III page for the NCAA.org

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Trends and innovations in college sports facility design and management

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Trends and innovations in college sports facility design and management

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Stay informed on the latest trends

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Collegiate sports venues can be powerful catalysts for energizing fans and drawing top-tier talent to an athletic program. Salas O’Brien shares a front-row view to the dynamics

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 Overview of academic eligibility requirements for student-athletes competing in NCAA sports

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 Overview of academic eligibility requirements for student-athletes competing in NCAA sports

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Important for college athletes to know

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NCAA eligibility is based on a student-athlete's academic readiness and amateur status. If you're thinking about playing college sports, it's crucial to know what this means - and it's best to start learning now.

Read on to stay up to date on the most recent NCAA eligibility rules for student-athletes.

NCAA eligibility rules and academic requirements

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA temporarily eased initial eligibility requirements by removing standardized testing. This change will now become a permanent policy for students starting college full-time from the 2023-2024 academic year onward.

This means the NCAA will no longer require standardized testing as part of the eligibility criteria.

Your academic eligibility is based on two factors:

1. Core Course Requirement: You'll need to pass 16 approved NCAA Core Courses during your high school years. Exact requirements vary slightly between D1 and D2 schools. View our full breakdown of the NCAA core course requirements.

2. Core Course GPA: Your GPA will be calculated based on your performance in core courses, not your entire high school transcript. The NCAA provides a core course worksheet to help, but we recommend you meet with your high school counselor too. Here's more more information on how to determine your core course GPA.

Did You Know? 75% of college student-athletes typically meet NCAA academic minimums. Just because you are a good student doesn't guarantee academic eligibility. Surprisingly, every year, student-athletes with 3.5+ GPAs and honors courses are declared academically ineligible due to not meeting one of the following NCAA eligibility requirements.

Although the NCAA isn't making the SAT or ACT mandatory, you may still need to take them. Some colleges continue to expect these scores for admission and specific scholarships may request them too. It's a good idea to check what each college and scholarship requires to make sure you meet all the criteria.

NCSA can help you prepare for the SAT/ACT through Method Learning. Think of it as making sure you have the right tools for your academic game - you wouldn't want to miss an opportunity just because you weren't prepared!

NCAA amateurism requirements

Your amateur status is determined by following NCAA amateurism rules, which are in place to ensure that student-athletes do not receive compensation or benefits that could jeopardize their amateur status. Students who are enrolling at a D1 or D2 school for the first time must obtain a final amateurism certification before becoming eligible to participate in college sports.

Examples of situations that may impact a prospective student-athlete's amateur status include:

Having received prize money (beyond participation reimbursement).

Signing contracts or receiving benefits from agents.

Receiving money for promoting products or services.

Making money using their athletic ability or fame.

Delaying full-time collegiate enrollment to compete in organized sports.

The new NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rules allow college athletes to earn money from endorsements and promotions while remaining amateurs. However, it's important to understand these rules, including state laws, to ensure you maintain your eligibility.
You can learn more about the NCAA NIL policy here.
NCAA Division 1 eligibility requirements
For high-school athletes enrolling in college full-time in 2023-24 and beyond:

Complete 16 core courses using pass/fail grades:

English: 4 years

Math (Algebra 1 or higher): 3 years

Natural/Physical Science (Including 1 year of lab, if offered): 2 years

Social Science: 2 years

Additional Courses

English, Math or Science: 1 year

English, Math, Sciences, Foreign Language, Comparative Religion or Philosophy: 4 years

Core Course Progression: You must complete 10 core courses by the beginning of senior year, or seventh semester. Among these 10, seven must be in the subjects of English, math or natural/physical science. This is known as the 10/7 rule.

Earn a core course GPA of 2.3 or higher

Graduate high school

Receive final certification on your amateurism status via the NCAA Eligibility Center

Once you enter your senior year, the grades you've received in your core courses are "locked in" and cannot be changed. If you're currently a junior in high school, it's crucial to keep an eye on your core course count. You might need to take additional courses during the summer between your junior and senior years to meet this requirement.

NCAA Division 2 eligibility requirements

For high-school athletes enrolling in college full-time in 2023-2024 and beyond:

Complete 16 core courses using pass/fail grades:

English: 4 years

Math (Algebra 1 or higher): 3 years

Natural/Physical Science (Including 1 year of lab, if offered): 2 years

Social Science: 2 years

Additional Courses

English, Math or Science: 1 year

English, Math, Sciences, Foreign Language, Comparative Religion or Philosophy: 4 years

Earn a core course GPA of 2.2 or higher

Graduate high school

Receive final certification on your amateurism status via the NCAA Eligibility Center

NCAA Division 3 eligibility requirements

Division 3 schools are responsible for setting their own academic eligibility rules. If you are going to be competing for a D3 institution, or if you are unsure what division level you'll be competing at, you can start with a free NCAA Profile page. If you do decide to pursue a D1 or D2 program, you can always transition to a Certification Account later.

Academic status: What your academic status with the NCAA means

The NCAA will only review an athlete's eligibility status if their status has been requested by a D1 or D2 college. This process will begin once you graduate high school and complete the minimum 16 core courses with a minimum GPA average in these courses.You also need to request your final amateurism certification from the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Once the NCAA reviews your account, they will assign you an "Academic Status." Here are the various statuses you could receive and what they mean:

Final Qualifier: You meet all of the academic requirements and can receive an athletic scholarship your first year.

Early Academic Qualifier: This status is based on your academic record after six semesters of high school. It means you are eligible to receive an athletic scholarship and practice/compete with your team during your first year of full-time college enrollment. Make sure to meet with your college's compliance office to confirm this status.

Final Nonqualifier: You do not meet the academic requirements and are not eligible to compete or practice at the college requesting your final status. You will not be eligible to receive an athletic scholarship.

Final Partial Qualifier: This is a status for only D2 schools. Athletes with this status can receive an athletic scholarship and practice with the team, but you are not eligible to compete your first year in college.

Under Review: The NCAA Eligibility Center is reviewing a unique academic situation related to your case.

Academic Redshirt: This means you will be eligible to receive an athletic scholarship and practice but will not be allowed to compete during your first year in school. Only athletes enrolling in a Division 1 school after August 1, 2016, are eligible for this status.

Automatic Waiver Approved: This indicates that you are immediately eligible to receive an athletic scholarship, and practice/compete with your team during your first year as a full-time enrollee. Contact your college's compliance department for more details.

HS Decision Pending: If your high school courses are not NCAA Approved, the NCAA will likely need to make a more in-depth review of your high school classes.

In Process: The NCAA Eligibility Center is reviewing your case. Usually, cases remain in process for no more than two business days.

Secondary Review: On rare occasions, the NCAA will make a secondary review of your status. This will only happen with the help of your college compliance office.

Waiver Approved: From time to time, your colleges compliance office will file for a waiver if they think you will meet one of the cases for academic waivers. This status means that the waiver has been approved.

Waiver Denied: If your compliance office has filed for a waiver and it is denied, you will receive this status. This likely means you will not be eligible for a scholarship or to compete.

Waiver Partially Approved (athletics aid only): If your compliance office has filed for a waiver on your behalf, it might be partially approved. This would mean you are eligible to receive an athletic scholarship but are not eligible to practice or play your first year in college.

Waiver Partially Approved (aid and practice): If your compliance office has filed for a waiver on your behalf, this status would mean you are eligible to receive an athletic scholarship and practice, but you will not be eligible to compete your first year in college.

COVID-19 policies

The chart below has been created to help people understand the NCAA's new legislation and stay informed about COVID-19 policies that might affect students who start full-time enrollment in the academic year 2023-24 and later.

See these NCAA FAQs regarding COVID-19 policies for more info.

NCAA eligibility FAQs

Is the SAT/ACT required for NCAA eligibility?

No. In January 2023, the NCAA voted to remove test score requirements for initial eligibility for incoming college freshmen student-athletes following a recommendation from the NCAA Standardized Test Score Task Force.

What are the NCAA academic eligibility requirements?

To meet NCAA academic eligibility requirements, student-athletes must complete a specific set of high school core courses, maintain a minimum GPA in these courses, and graduate from high school.

How long do you have NCAA eligibility?

NCAA eligibility rules allow student-athletes 5 years to compete athletically in 4 seasons.

What is the NCAA 10/7 rule?

The 10/7 rule is a specific requirement for NCAA D1 eligibility. It means you must complete 10 of the required 16 core courses before your senior year of high school, or seventh semester. Seven of these 10 courses should be in subjects like English, Math or Natural/Physical Science. This rule doesn't apply to students with international academic credentials, including those from Canada.

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The NCAA determines a student-athlete's eligibility based on their academic preparedness and amateurism status. Learn more about NCAA eligibility.

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Insights into the business side of youth sports

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Insights into the business side of youth sports

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marketing, finances, and facility management

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As the name suggests, youth sports management is the term used to describe the business behind running a youth sports organization. There's a strong focus on "back office" activities, such as registration setup, payment processing, and parent communication-all the daily and seasonal tasks needed to keep your organization moving.

But that's not everything. A winning playbook for youth sports management also includes the work required to operate organization successfully-such as staff recruiting and retention, culture building, leadership development, customer success, and marketing and branding ...just to name a few.

In other words, youth sports management isn't just about running sports programs-it's about running a with your programs as your .

Think of it like this: as a sports professional, you know what on-field excellence looks like. You know that it takes preparation and organization, a well-crafted plan, the right equipment, and strong leadership to put a winning product on the field.

Youth sports management is all about bringing that winning mindset to your organization. It's about preparation, organization, and finding the right technology to support your initiatives-all of which will set you up to be the best leader on and off the field.

Understanding Youth Sports Management

Youth sports management can be broken into five key pillars: culture, operational excellence, advertising and marketing, community and impact, and high-performance management-something we call COACH.

Just like you rely on coaches to help you successfully run your programs, you can rely on a youth sports management platform to help you run the administration of your organization-a coach, so to speak.

You want to interact and network with other program directors. You are hungry for information, best practices, tips, and tools that will allow you to save time and money. Like other businesses with programs such as Vistage or YPO, the youth sports industry is hungry for the same.

The COACH program provides that for you-and allows you to professionalize youth sports management inside your organization.

Here's an introduction to what's included, which we'll go deeper into over the next few weeks.

Culture

Like in any other organization, having a strong culture is one of the most important things the leaders can build inside the organization. When an organization has a strong culture, everyone from parent volunteers and coaches to administrative staff knows how they are supposed to behave and how to respond to any situation.

Operational Excellence

You want your organization to run efficiently and effectively, but operational excellence is more than that. Operational excellence is achieved when every member of an organization can see how everything they do affects the end customer-the parents and players.

Watch the video below for a look at how LeagueApps helped 3Step Sports streamline their operations so they can better service their customers.

Advertising & Marketing

Not only do you have to build culture and operational excellence, but you also have to market your organization, both to compete and to grow your programs. And, unless you have a marketing background, it can be intimidating to try to figure out all that goes into it, especially today when it seems like there is something new every day that the experts say you should pay attention to.

If you're not so familiar with how to market your organization, you're not alone! That's why we have so many resources to help you do so-including this digital marketing game plan for sports organizers.

Community and Impact

In the world of youth sports, community and impact are all about positively affecting kids' whole lives-not just in how and when they play sports. When you think about community and impact, it's helpful to consider it in three buckets: philanthropy (making charitable donations), advocacy (lobbying for policies that support youth sports families), and community building (finding a shared vision with your parents, players, and coaches).

Uptown Soccer is a youth soccer program in Northern Manhattan that offers free training for kids and is one of our FundPlay partners. This means Uptown Soccer has free access to our youth sports management software for life.

High-Performance Management

Efficient operations are critical to the success of your organization and your ability to achieve long-term growth because saving time ultimately means saving money. It also allows you to free up time to focus on what will take your organization to the next level. So often, this "big picture" thinking gets pushed to the back burner due to all the day-to-day things that have to get done. But there's a better way.

Learn More About the Dimensions of Youth Sports Management

During the next few weeks, we'll go deeper into each of the dimensions of youth sports management (COACH) so you can learn more about how they can be used to grow your organization.

To stay updated on this series, keep up with our blog -where you'll access everything you need to stay in the know about youth sports today.

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The 5 Dimensions of Youth Sports Management

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COACH: the dimensions of youth sports management that will help prepare your youth sports organization to be a leader on and off the field.

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 Injury prevention tips and resources for parents of high school athletes

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 Injury prevention tips and resources for parents of high school athletes

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High School Sports Safety Tips for Parents

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While kids are learning important life skills through sports, remember to teach them to take care of their health. No matter if they are in middle school or high school, make their health a priority. Take a look at these tips to help you keep your kids safe while they're on the court, field, track, and beyond!
1. Check Gear
An important and continuous aspect of sports safety is the right gear. Make sure your child is outfitted with properly fitting gear and is of high enough quality so it will last throughout the season. You should also remind your child of the importance of wearing their gear every time they practice, whether that's in your own backyard or at school.
2. Ask Coach's History
A big part of sports safety is making sure that your child is in good hands. Check in with your child's coach to see that they're CPR and First Aid certified. A good coach will take the safety of athletes seriously and should support you checking in to make sure that your child is safe.

3. Schedule a Sports Physical

Before the practices even begin, getting your child a physical is an important step towards preventing any injuries. A physical can give you peace of mind or necessary information if your child has physical needs you weren't aware. This ensures they will remain in good health at the end of the season.
4. Properly Warm Up and Stretch
Stretching both before and after physical activity is a great way to practice sports safety. It helps facilitate blood flow to tired muscles and allows for rapid healing. If a child isn't stretching regularly, they put themselves at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage.
5. Stay Disciplined with Practice
Regular practice is crucial to maintaining health and avoiding injury. If your child doesn't practice for a long period of time then jumps back into intense physical activity, they run a higher risk of injury. Parents can help by reminding their kids to stay steady with their practice to build strength and maintain health.

6. Take Breaks

Not only is disciplined practice important, but so is time for your child's body to rest and recover. Children should have at least one day a week off from sports training. They should also take short breaks every once in a while during longer practices. Taking breaks can help prevent overuse injuries like tennis elbow, swimmer's shoulder, and more.

7. Learn How to Report Pain

If your child starts to experience pain, it's always a good idea to make an appointment with a professional. The more specific you child can be about the location of the pain and when it started, the better. Using the pain scale is also helpful for your doctor. Usually, the pain scale is numbered 1-10 with 10 being the most painful. It's a simple and clear way to communicate the pain level with a doctor. With this, also be sure to report pain to their coach.

8. Provide Coaches with Medical Information

While this isn't preventive, it can be a highly important safety measure if an emergency arises. It also allows for a coach to make special accommodations for your child, if need be.

Treatment at MidAmerica Orthopaedics

If your child has suffered a sports-related injury, or if you have any questions, let MidAmerica help! We're equipped with both a Sports Medicine Clinic and Pediatric Clinic. One of our skilled specialists will be happy to assist in keeping your child safe and healthy.

Beverlee A. Brisbin, MD

Dr. Brisbin is a Sports Medicine and Non-Operative Orthopaedics specialist. Dr. Brisbin has expert experience treating running related orthopaedic injuries with non invasive methods through her years of working as a team sports medicine doctor to USA women's Soccer Team.

Adam F. Meisel, MD

Our Arthroscopy Specialist, Dr. Meisel, strives to help his patients regain and maintain their active lifestyles by offering both operative and non-operative approaches to treatment. He feels it is important to stay on the cutting edge of medicine in order to provide the best possible care for his patients.

Dr. Chapman is a Pediatric Sports Medicine Specialist at MidAmerica Orthopaedics' Pediatric Clinic. Dr. Chapman's specialties seeks to treat his young patients in the least invasive way possible, by emphasizing alternatives to surgery such as therapy and rehabilitation.

Chris Chapman, DO

To learn more about MidAmerica Orthopaedics and the different treatment options available to you, request an appointment online or call (708) 237-7200. MidAmerica Orthopaedics serves various areas such as Chicago, Tinley Park, Palos Hills, Mokena, Evergreen Park, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, and more.

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midamerica hand to shoulder clinic palos hills

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midamerica hand to shoulder clinic mokena

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MidAmerica Orthopaedics - Our highly skilled team of physicians, therapists, radiologists, orthopedic technicians and staff provide the most up to date diagnostic and treatment modalities and personal care to our patients.

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Guide for parents on effective communication with their child's high school coach and involvement in the athletic program.

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Guide for parents on effective communication with their child's high school coach and involvement in the athletic program.

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Communicate effectively with a coach

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Expectation of Parent/Guardian

1. Support your student athlete's efforts toward success.

2. Work to promote a positive environment that is conducive to the development of the student-athlete.

3. Become familiar with, and review the rules and regulations with the student athlete.

4. Communicate any concerns in a timely manner according to school protocol.

5. Treat all coaching personnel with courtesy and respect, and insist your student athlete do the same. Research indicates a student involved in co-curricular activities has a greater chance for success during adulthood. Many of the character traits required to be successful participant are exactly those that will promote a successful life after high school. We hope the information provided in this pamphlet makes your son's and your experience with the Central Catholic athletic program truly rewarding and enjoyable.

Parent/Coach Communication Plan

Parents and coaches have extremely important and difficult roles in helping to shape student- athletes into responsible and contributing members of their teams and their school communities. Both parents and coaches approach their roles with unique perspective and expectations that are, hopefully reflections of the Lasallian traditions of the Christian Brothers and Central Catholic High School. When parents and coaches understand each other's positions and expectations, they are able to:

Work more cohesively, and

Support the young men's journey through High School Athletics Key to this mutual understanding and respect is communication. At Central Catholic, parents have a right to know what expectations are placed on their son. This begins with clear and concise communication from their son's coach. Reciprocal communication is expected from the parents as well.

General Communication parents should expect from coaches:

The expectations placed upon their son (attendance, out-of-season conditioning, special equipment, out-of-season conditions, and other team requirements).

Locations and times of all practices and sporting events.

Disciplinary actions that may result in the denial of a student's participation in an athletic event.

General Communication coaches should expect from parents:

Advance notice of any situation that may interfere with participation in practices and/or games.

Appropriate concerns expressed directly to the coach concerning individual injury, academic, or discipline problems.

Other communication

As your son becomes involved in the athletic programs at Central Catholic High School, he will hopefully experience some of the most rewarding times of his life. It is important to understand that there may also be times when things do not go the way you or your son expected. At these times, discussion with the coach is encouraged.

Appropriate concerns to discuss with coaches:

The treatment of your son

Improving your son's athletic performance At times it may be difficult to accept our child's limited playing opportunities. Please remember that coaches are professionals. They make decisions based on what they believe to be the best for ALL students involved. As noted above, certain things can and should be discussed with your son's coach. Other things, noted below, should and WILL NOT be discussed.

Issues not to be discussed with coaches:

Playing time

Team strategy

Coach's philosophy

Other student-athletes

Dealing with un-resolved situations:

When general communication and informal discussions fail to address a concern, the situation may require a conference between the coach and the parents(s). When such a conference is set up, the following procedures should be followed to help promote a resolution that will reflect the Lasallian principles of Central Catholic High School.

First, please encourage your son to speak directly to the coach about the situation.

THIS IS HIS RESPONSIBILITY.

Call the coach to set up an appointment for a conference.

If the coach cannot be reached, call the Athletic Director (412.208.3494) to assist you in arranging a meeting.

Please DO NOT attempt to confront a coach before or after a sporting event or practice. These can be emotional times for both the parent and the coach. Meetings of this nature rarely promote resolution.

If the meeting with your son's coach does not provide a satisfactory resolution, call and set up an appointment with the Athletic Director to discuss the situation. As a parent, please realize that your son's participation in athletics at Central Catholic is a privilege that is based on his adherence to the general guidelines of the school and the specific rules of each individual sport.

Member:

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Support your student athlete's efforts toward success. Work to promote a positive environment that is conducive to the development of the student-athlete. Become familiar with, and review the rules and regulations with the student athlete. Communicate any concerns in a timely manner according to school protocol.

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Comprehensive guide for parents of college student-athletes

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Comprehensive guide for parents of college student-athletes

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eligibility, recruiting, and academic support.

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Information on parent support groups and resources for parents navigating the world of college athletics.

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Information on parent support groups and resources for parents navigating the world of college athletics.

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Ways to support your student-athlete

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Your student athlete may seek Sport Psychology services for the same reasons non-student athletes do and/or for reasons unique to student athletes. These reasons can include:

Depression

Anxiety

Loneliness and/or Homesickness

Managing pressure/expectation related to sport

Managing relationship with coaches and teammates

Academic problems

Eating concerns

Substance abuse

Grief/loss

Identity issues

When to suggest to your student athlete to seek mental health services:

1. Change in mood and/or behavior

2. Increase in substance use

3. Decrease in daily functioning, not limited to academic, athletics and/or social functioning more days than not

4. Withdrawal and/or isolation

5. Any indirect or direct references to suicide (Call the Counseling Center immediately: 310-506-4210)

*If you are unsure of how to approach a situation, please call the sport psychologist to consult.

Do's and Don'ts of helping your student transition to college/athletics and maintain well being

Adjusting to the world of collegiate athletics can be challenging. Here are some tips on how you and your student can make strides to adjust:

1. Do establish healthy boundaries: At the collegiate level, student athletes will be seen as and treated as an independent ADULT by faculty, staff and the athletic department. Encourage your student to advocate for themselves!

2. Don't hover: Respect your athlete's space, both academically and athletically. Don't plan on emailing or making calls to professors and staff unless there is a true emergency.

3. Do familiarize yourself with resources and encourage your athlete to speak to the appropriate staff member and seek out resources available to them. Please seeGet support/Get connected page and Athlete Mental Health and Performance resources page for more information.

4. Do remind your student athlete of their strengths: Determination, hard work and commitment helped your athlete get on the team. If your student is feeling homesick, discouraged or upset, remind them of their strengths and encourage them to find their niche.

5. Don't forget to treasure these moments with your student athlete! Supporting your student at the collegiate level can be anxiety-inducing but also exciting!

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How Parents Can Support Your Student-Athlete

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Tips and advice for parents on supporting their children in youth sports while promoting a positive and balanced approach

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Tips and advice for parents on supporting their children in youth sports while promoting a positive and balanced approach

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Positive ways for parents to support

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Creating a Positive and Supportive Sports Environment for Children: A Guide for Parents

Engaging children in sports not only promotes physical fitness but also teaches valuable life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. As parents, it is crucial to create a positive and supportive sports environment that fosters their development and enjoyment. In this blog, we will explore the key behaviors to embrace and those to avoid, supported by statistics and research, to ensure your child's sports experience is a positive one. Here is your guide to:

Create A Positive Environment in Youth Sports: A Parents Guide

Encourage Participation, Not Just Winning:

One of the most important aspects of fostering a positive sports environment is emphasizing participation over winning. Research shows that children who focus solely on winning may experience increased stress, anxiety, and reduced enjoyment. Instead, encourage your child to focus on personal improvement, skill development, and the joy of being part of a team. According to a study published in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, children who feel supported in their efforts and have fun are more likely to remain active in sports.

Emphasize Effort and Progress:

Praising your child's effort and progress rather than solely focusing on outcomes can significantly contribute to their motivation and self-esteem. Research conducted by Stanford University highlights that children who receive process-oriented feedback and encouragement are more likely to develop a growth mindset, leading to increased resilience and continued effort in sports. Remember to acknowledge and celebrate small achievements along the way to boost their confidence and sense of accomplishment.

Promote Sportsmanship and Respect:

Teaching your child about sportsmanship and respect for opponents, teammates, coaches, and officials is essential. According to a survey by the National Alliance for Youth Sports, 77% of children identified their parents' and coaches' behavior as the primary reason they quit sports. Set a positive example by demonstrating good sportsmanship, encouraging fair play, and respecting the decisions made by coaches and officials. Help your child understand that winning is not the only measure of success, but rather how they conduct themselves on and off the field.

Avoid Overemphasis on Winning:

While competition is an inherent part of sports, placing excessive emphasis on winning can create a negative environment for children. Research published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology indicates that overly competitive environments can lead to increased anxiety, burnout, and decreased motivation. Instead, focus on the process of learning, skill development, and enjoying the sport. Encourage healthy competition, but ensure it does not overshadow the overall experience.

Want to know more about our soccer classes?

Support Communication and Problem-Solving Skills:

Encourage open communication between your child, coaches, and teammates. Effective communication allows children to express their needs, concerns, and ideas, fostering a supportive environment. Encourage problem-solving skills, teamwork, and conflict resolution strategies. Research from the Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology demonstrates that athletes who have effective communication skills are more likely to experience positive social interactions, enhanced team cohesion, and improved performance.

Conclusion:

Creating a positive and supportive sports environment for children is crucial for their overall development, enjoyment, and long-term participation in sports. By prioritizing participation, emphasizing effort and progress, promoting sportsmanship, avoiding overemphasis on winning, and supporting communication skills, parents can provide a nurturing environment that allows their children to thrive. Remember, your influence as a parent extends beyond the game, shaping your child's attitude towards sports and life itself.

By fostering a positive sports environment, you not only help your child become a better athlete but also instill invaluable life lessons that will benefit them well beyond their sporting years.

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Create A Positive Environment in Youth Sports: A Parents Guide

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Create A Positive Environment in Youth Sports: A Parents Guide. This guide focuses on effort, sportsmanship, and enjoyment.