The stories seem more prevalent today than ever: coaches and parents pushing kids to the point of "burnout" before high school, parents fighting with referees and umpires, coaches berating kids in front of teammates and parents, and even kids using performance-enhancing drugs. Renowned sport psychologist Dr. Andrew Jacobs, longtime Major League pitcher Jeff Montgomery, and Hall of Fame swimming coach Peter Malone have seen first-hand the issues that are making youth sports increasingly difficult for parents, coaches, officials, and especially kids to navigate.
In July 2013, Time magazine published an article titled "Final Four for the 4-foot set." The article describes a national AAU basketball tournament - for second graders. In the article, one of the coaches says, "I tell my kids, 'I'm going to treat you like a full-grown 14-year-old. This isn't baby ball.'" Indeed. It is, in fact, basketball for eight-year-olds.
Bucking this trend, Dr. Jacobs, Montgomery, and Malone continue to teach lessons youth sports have taught for generations - working with others for the team's sake; hard work and commitment; setting and achieving goals; learning how to win; learning how to lose or to fail; respecting coaches and officials; coaches and officials serving as strong role models for young athletes; and, most importantly, having fun.
In Just Let 'Em Play: Guiding Parents, Coaches, and Athletes through Youth Sports, Dr. Jacobs, Montgomery, and Malone utilize decades of experience and training with amateur and professional athletes to explain the importance of winning and losing, success and failure; why it's okay that not every athlete receive a trophy; and the role of parents, coaches, officials, and athletes. role of pa