PLAYERS vs. COACHES: When HS Coaches Pressure Their Players to Focus Only on the Coach’s Sport
This is an issue that has been growing in real concern in recent years. Basically, a HS varsity coach starts to apply subtle but direct pressure on his players to focus on just the coach’s sport all year round. Let me give you an example to clarify. Let’s say it’s a HS varsity basketball coach, … Read more
PLAYERS VS. COACHES: The Top 10 Rules for Coaching Kids
Last week on my radio show, I had a chance to review the Top 10 Rules for Expected Parental Behavior…and this week, I wanted to go down the same road for the Top Rules that are Expected for Youth Coaches… Here we go… 1. Here’s the most important rule of all…all the … Read more
SPORT SAFETY: Be Forewarned – Immature Coaches Produce Immature Players
When Youth Coaches Taunt Opposing Players By Doug Abrams On April 2, a bench clearing brawl broke out in a California junior varsity baseball game between Yuba City High School and Fair Oaks Del Campo High School. With the score tied 3-3 in the sixth inning, Yuba City’s pitcher turned, hurled the … 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
What do you if you think your kid is playing for a “bad” coach?
Let’s be honest. You have devoted some serious time…energy…money..and love to make sure your youngster is getting the most out of their God-given potential as an athlete. And the good news is that your kid is putting together a pretty good track record of accomplishments. But then your youngster tries out for a team – … Read more
A question of propriety? Should HS coaches be allowed to run travel programs for their players?
Rarely has a topic generated more comments on my show than this one – and understandably so. In short, as travel teams inexorably begin to dominate the HS landscape, more and more HS varsity coaches are beginning to see a potential payday by running their own travel programs for their players in the off-season. The … Read more
Achieving Equal Opportunity in Youth Sports (Part I) – The “Power of the Permit”
By Doug Abrams About 35 million boys and girls — nearly half the nation’s children — play each year in at least one organized sports program conducted by a private association, or by a public agency such as the parks and recreation department. Some of these youngsters play on travel or select teams, and others … Read more
How Pressure to Win Can Tempt Youth Coaches to Create Benchwarmers – and How Coaches Can Resist the Temptation
By Doug Abrams Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo says that politicians campaign in poetry but govern in prose. His point is that inspiring words may come easy on the stump because words alone carry no immediate consequences. But realism controls once newly elected officeholders must make decisions that actually affect people’s lives. When youth-league … Read more
What Youth League Coaches Don’t Know – And What Coaches and Parents Can Do About It
By Doug Abrams When I was president of mid-Missouri’s youth hockey program about ten years ago, a visibly upset parent called me aside one night to say that her son was being bullied by a couple of teammates, both at the home rink and on road trips. Nothing physical, but teasing had continued for a … Read more
Why Youth Leagues Should Encourage Older Players to Help Coach Younger Teams – and How to Do It
By Doug Abrams When I tell friends that I began coaching in 1967, they usually guess that I am a bit older than I really am. That year, I coached a Little League baseball team in the Central Nassau Athletic Association in East Meadow, Long Island. The following year, I also coached a youth hockey … Read more
"The Sports Edge"
Doug Abrams
Rick Wolff
Steve Kallas
