Finally, a comprehensive and interactive manual designed to address nearly every critical issue faced by parents with children involved in sports. Respected sport psychologists Christopher Stankovich and Todd Kays give parents and coaches the tools they need to create a fun and enriching sporting environment, develop essential communications skills, and help their children achieve peak-performance in both sports and life.

Parenting Young Athletes tells readers exactly how to enhance the well-being of their children, both on and off the athletic field/court. The latest information on child development, sport psychology, and sports medicine is translated into a practical "how-to" guide that assists parents in assuring their sons and daughters get the most out of youth sports. The authors, seasoned experts in the field, thoughtfully address a wide range of issues including: -Promoting achievement in all areas of life -Choosing the right sport program -Understanding the unique nutritional needs of young athletes -Identifying, treating, and preventing sport injuries -Helping children cope with disappointment and performance anxiety -Applying positive principles of coaching and character-building -Addressing the special concerns of high school athletes -Recognizing and preventing bullying and abuse -Growing together as a family through sports Engagingly written, Parenting Young Athletes is targeted at parents of youngsters from elementary through high school years. Geared toward parents who have relatively little athletic experience as well as those who have a strong background in sports, the book provides clear recommendations with enlightening examples and real stories of growth-promoting sport experiences. Key concepts and principles are highlighted throughout. Parenting Young Athletes explores the joys as well as the dangers of sport participation and is a must-read for parents who hope to raise champions in sports and in life.

First published in 1990. This book offers important guidelines to help parents and coaches make the right decisions for children by laying out a program of athletic activity and parental involvement through the age of 11. Margenau exposes the myths that parents use to justify pressuring their kids too early in life.

"...remember that sports are a great transformational platform to develop personal life qualities and skills that enhance a kid's greatness. The key is to intentionally help your child transfer those qualities from sports to the rest of life. "- Javelin M. GuidryAs a parent, coach, and former college athlete, Javelin Guidry is passionate about youth and high school sports. That's why he wrote the Warrior Parent Playbook and created WP3 Sports, a life-skills development program for young athletes, coaches and their parents. According to the Aspen Institute, three-fourths of American families include at least one kid who participates in youth sports. Guidry is committed to ensuring that these families help their kids become not just the best athlete, but the best person they can be. To thrive on the field . . . and beyond.Whether your young athlete is a 10-year-old trying softball for the first time or an 18-year-old 4-star football recruit, Guidry wants to help them "live in their own personal greatness."In this book, the author takes you beyond the X's and O's to explore and explain what really makes a difference, both on and off the field. He shares timeless parental wisdom on ways to utilize sports for developing character and life lessons in children. Tackling topics like A Championship Life, Living in Greatness, The Warrior Parent Mentality, The Power of Dreaming, Raising SuperHeroes, and specific qualities like . . . lGrowth Mindsetl Work Ethicl Self-Confidencel Leadershipl Self-Disciplinel Focusl Playing with Passionl Adaptabilityl Characterl Gritl Teamworkl Healthy Active Lifestylel Competitive Drivel FaithJavelin Guidry has invested many years coaching sports at a variety of levels. His elder son, Javelin "Jav", is currently playing cornerback for the NFL's New York Jets, while younger son, Elisha, stars in football for the UCLA Bruins, his dad and mom's alma mater. Daughter Kailah was a high school track athlete who is now an honor-roll pre-med student at San Diego State University.

These days it seems everyone has a youth sports horror story—whether it’s about a tyrant coach obsessed with his team record that only plays the best kids on the team, or a parent who publicly berates his kid for not making a goal. But should it really only be all about winning? What about having fun, learning a sport, and developing athletic skills? Beyond Winning with Whole Child Sports offers an alternative approach to teaching sports to kids. It deemphasizes short-term goals like winning and youth championships and discourages the introduction of adult-oriented, league-structured competition. Instead it emphasizes training techniques and coaching strategies aimed at improving core strength, balance, and creativity in aspiring athletes, using an age-appropriate four-stage timeline, based on a child’s physical, psychological, and neurological development. Beyond Winning with Whole Child Sports provides frustrated parents with help in the form of advice and concrete solutions to common questions, and step-by-step instructions for helping young children develop athletic ability in an environment that’s less structured while encouraging athletic and personal growth. It also reveals how to avoid bullying, trash talk, and elitism.

The determining factor in whether a child between the ages of six and seventeen enjoys athletics is his or her parents -- not the sport, coach, or team. Yet, parents are often unaware of how their behavior and expectations impact their child's experience. In 101 Ways to Be a Terrific Sports Parent, Dr. Joel Fish, a sport psychologist who is also the dad of three young athletes, shares both his clinical expertise and practical experience to help parents develop a deeper understanding of the many issues that surround the young athlete. For athletes of all skill levels, from Little League to high school, Dr. Fish discusses how to: •Help your child reach his or her full athletic potential •Develop strategies to deal with competitive pressure •Know if you're too involved or not involved enough •Interact successfully with your child's coach, and more With insights into the different developmental and self-esteem issues facing girls and boys, information on parenting a superstar athlete, and special tips for single parents, 101 Ways to Be a Terrific Sports Parent will help any parent make sports a memorable and happy experience for their child.

Being the parent of a young athlete is a complex and challenging endeavour. Parents play a pivotal role in the development of young people in reaching their full potential in sport – indeed, the psychological and practical support of parents can be as vital to young athletes as the appropriate coaching and facilities. This book brings together current research into the impact of parenting in youth sport and examines the relationships between athletes, coaches and parents, whilst also discussing topics such as parenting styles, behaviour at competition and talent development. This book not only outlines the theories of parenting in youth sport, but also utilises research and examples from several countries, including the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. It has a research-to-practice theme and includes numerous suggestions for research projects (and getting research published). Parenting in Youth Sport is an essential text for students, lecturers and practitioners with an interest in youth sport, sport psychology or sport development.