SPORTSMANSHIP: It’s Easy to be a Good Winner…the Real Test is When You Lose
Post-Game Handshakes By Doug Abrams In late June, Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested a Vancouver youth hockey coach who was captured on video sticking out his leg to trip a 13-year-old opponent as the teams passed each other in the handshake line at the end of a summer league game. … Read more
DANGERS OF LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL: When Will LL Baseball Finally Make the Change to Either Wood or BBCOR Bats?
In light of the $14.5 million settlement between the Stephen Domalewski family and Louisville Slugger and Little League Baseball, isn’t it about time — once and for all — for Little League Baseball to finally make the shift (like the NCAA and HS baseball already has) and mandate that aluminum bats are no longer to … Read more
DANGERS OF ALUMINUM BATS: $14.5 Million Settlement Announced in Domalewski Case Against Little League and Louisville Slugger
DOMALEWSKI (NJ KID WHO WAS HIT IN CjHEST WITH BALL OFF ALUMINUM BAT AND SUFFERED BRAIN DAMAGE) SETTLEMENT SENDS A BIG MESSAGE By Steve Kallas Many of you are familiar with the sad story of Steven Domalewski who, on June 6, 2006 (at the age of 12), was hit in the chest with … Read more
OBESITY CONCERNS: How Team Sports Can Help Your Child
New Study Cites Team Sports as an Effective Weapon Against Childhood Obesity By Doug Abrams In 2001, U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher issued a thoughtful 60-page report warning that among adults and children alike, “overweight and obesity . . . have reached epidemic proportions in the United States.” This week’s column focuses … Read more
TRAVEL TEAMS: US Soccer Federation Continues to Make Life Difficult for HS Soccer Players
I had discussed this issue back in Jan and Feb of this year, and it was a serious issue then. Now, this issue only continues to spread, this time to Long Island, which is a long-time hot bed of excellent HS soccer. In short, the US Soccer Federation, one of the nation’s leading travel programs, … Read more
OBNOXIOUS SPORTS PARENTS: “We Are Not Alone”
“We Are Not Alone”: The Globalization of Youth Sports By Doug Abrams Shortly after we posted last week’s column about troubles in British youth sports, a friend e-mailed me with perceptive four-word message: “We are not alone.” My friend is right. In this age of globalization, Americans’ responses to a wide range of … Read more
DANGERS OF CONCUSSIONS: New Numbers Suggest Fewer Kids Playing Tackle Football
The question still remains for so many sports parents – what do you do if your child tells you that they want to play tackle football? In light of the onslaught of research that clearly links repeated concussions from playing football to long-term mental health concerns, it’s just harder for parents to let their boys … Read more
OBNOXIOUS SPORTS PARENTS: American Parents Don’t Have A Monopoly on Bad Behavior
Insights Into British Youth Sports By Doug Abrams Last week, the Birmingham Mail’s headline drew my attention — “’Blame It On the Pushy Parents’: Report Reveals Rising Violence and Abuse in Youth Football.” Here we go again, I thought. Yet another story about American parents who embarrass themselves and their families, this … Read more
COACHING TIPS: Sportsmanship v. gamemanship – Play to Win, or Play to Advance?
There’s no question that the Olympics are a huge international celebration of supremely dedicated and talented athletes, all of whom hope to perhaps win a gold medal in their sport. So what happened with the opening rounds of the badminton competition was so bizarre. I don’t want to go into too much detail here – … Read more
OBNOXIOUS SPORTS PARENTS: Does Your Child Ask This Question?
“Will You Still Love Me If I Don’t Win?” By Doug Abrams I appreciate non-fiction books whose titles or subtitles provoke thought, even before I open the pages and begin reading. Once the cover piques interest, reading the book itself is like icing on the cake. One such book is “Will You Still … Read more
"The Sports Edge"
Doug Abrams
Rick Wolff
Steve Kallas
