“All Safety is Local” (Part II)
By Doug Abrams Last week’s column explained that national playing rules protect youth athletes most effectively when parents, coaches and officials actually enforce the rules. The explanation may sound commonsensical, but enforcement can break down whenever parents and coaches intimidate referees, coaches skirt the rules, or parents incite the players. The truth is that breakdown, … Read more
Should New HS Varsity Coaches Be Allowed to “Build” with Younger Players?
This happens more and more, and it’s worrisome. Let’s say your kid plays basketball. He’s paid his dues right up the ladder: sat on the bench pretty much all of his sophomore year, played more in his junior year but didn’t start, and now as a senior he’s expecting to finally get a real shot … Read more
All Safety is Local (Part I)
By Doug Abrams Former U.S. House Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill famously said that “all politics is local.” Decisionmaking in Washington surely influences voters, but the Speaker explained that local happenings can influence voters even more by affecting their daily lives most directly. O’Neill’s explanation has relevance in youth sports, where “all player safety is … Read more
The Temptation of Specializing in One Sport
It’s a very natural assumption. Your youngster shows some real sign of athletic talent at a very early age, and a coach or perhaps a neighbor suggests that your son or daughter would be well-served to forego playing a variety of sports, as most kids do, and instead, just focus on soccer, or ice hockey, or … Read more
Why Parks and Recreation Departments Deserve Public Funding
By Doug Abrams During the recession that has beset the nation for the last five years or so, many municipalities have slashed budgets for a range of new and existing public services. Setting annual budgetary priorities deserves careful attention in any town or city whose laws require a balanced budget, but a beleaguered parks director … Read more
Little League Baseball Still Not Stepping Up on Kids Throwing Curve Balls
The New York Times ran a big feature piece this AM about the “so-called” ongoing controversy involving kids under 13 throwing curveballs. I write “so-called” controversy because for more than 50 years, top surgeons everywhere have insisted that throwing curves at an early age can only damage a kid’s elbow and growth plates in their … Read more
The Battle Between Helicopter Sports Parents and Their Kids’ Coaches
“Coach, I don’t think you understand….my son was the star on his travel soccer team last spring and summer. Maybe I ought to have his travel team coach you directly….” “Coach, my son spent all winter working out with a pitching coach. According to that coach, my kid should be one of top players on … Read more
Why Youth Sports Programs Should Seek Input from Pediatricians and How Programs Can Do It
By Doug Abrams In June of 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reaffirmed its 2001 policy statement on “Organized Sports for Children and Preadolescents.” The policy statement demonstrates the valuable contributions that a pediatrician can make in a local youth sports program that wants to do a better job of serving the emotional and … Read more
Another Case of Religious Accomodation: In this case, a happy ending…
The boys’ basketball team at Beren Academy, a Jewish Orthodox school near Houston, had a terrific season, and the players were eagerly looking to the post-season playoffs. But then, the Texas Assn of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS), ruled that the playoff games were slated to start on Friday evening and that they couldn’t be changed. … Read more
WHAT BASEBALL BAT SHOULD YOU USE IN 2012 IN COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOL OR LITTLE LEAGUE?
By Steve Kallas Another baseball season is upon us and, while the rules for baseball bat usage are clear in college andhigh school, they become a little murky (or even difficult to understand) in Little League and travelleague baseball. COLLEGE BASEBALL The NCAA went to only approved BBCOR (Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution) bats starting … Read more
"The Sports Edge"
Doug Abrams
Rick Wolff
Steve Kallas
