Youth Sports Forum

The Ultimate Act Of Sportsmanship

sportsaholic@softwerkz.com — 6/21/2008

The story (which can be read here: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=3372631) is one that is so compelling that I just had to link to it. Granted, this story focuses on an event that took place in college sports, and this site focuses on youth sports, but the ideals and the act itself are so compelling that they should be a model for us as youth sports parents and something that we teach our kids.

During playoffs for Division II softball, a player from Western Oregon who had never hit a home run in her career, hit a home run during the playoffs and tore a kneww ligament as she was rounding first base. Since no one on her team could assist her without causing an out and since she needed to round the bases to get the home run, members of the opposing team (Central Washington) picked her up and assisted her around the bases even though it could possibly mean a loss and them not being able to continue in the playoffs.

What a show of compassion and sportsmanship that we can all learn from.]]>

Youth Sports Coaches Putting Athletes at Risk

sportsaholic@softwerkz.com — 6/21/2008

Granted this article (http://www.prweb.com/releases/sports/coaching/prweb907124.htm) is more of a PR piece than a news item but some fo the concepts and statistics are interesting anyway. The American Coaching Academy (http://www.americancoachingacademy.com) [Free Plug] offers new online certification programs for youth sports coaches so that they can learn the required knowledge and skills from their home or office computer. There are 3.5 million youth sport coaches in the US and many have little or no training in coaching.

The goal of the ACA is to make sure that coaches understand and can fulfill their roles as mentors, motivators, teacher, leader, medic and disciplinarian all while ensuring that the risk of physical injury is minimized. ]]>

Another Sign of the Apocolypse

sportsaholic@softwerkz.com — 6/20/2008

Phoenix, Arizona announced that city budget cuts are eliminating most of the city's youth-sports programs. This will shut down soccer and baseball programs that last year saw 3,850 youth participants. These cuts will save just over a half-million dollars.

The programs served children ages 3 to 12 in soccer, t-ball, baseball and flag football. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0516phxyouth0516.html

Local government cutbacks and participant enrollment drops are a definite concern yet a definite dichotomy to certain municipalities and companies that are able to see the financial growth and income that hosting things like youth sports tournaments can bring to a region. Youth sports as a whole will survive, I am sure. But, the next year or so, in these tough economic times, will definitely be an interesting time to watch and see how things shake out.]]>

RE: Shopping for a new Hockey Stick - Wood or Composite?

sportsaholic@softwerkz.com — 6/14/2008

http://www.wwj.com/pages/2295051.php?

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Youth Sports Links

sportsaholic@softwerkz.com — 6/14/2008

http://www.sports-health.org is a site sponsored by the Cleveland Clinic which focuses on sports fitness, nutrition, performance and rehabilitation.

http://www.sportzu.tv is a video based sports community that is focused on youth athletes, coaches and parents to educate and entertain. They were recently featured in the Denver Post online http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_9538642.]]>

NCAA and NBA to invest $15 million each over 5 years in Youth Basketball

sportsaholic@softwerkz.com — 4/13/2008

Right now there are not a whole lot of specifics as to what the corporation and its coalition of supporting companies and organizations will do specifically but the overriding goal will be to correct the lack of coaching and training that many perceive exists in youth basketball today.

Read more about it in the LA Times at http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/basketball/la-sp-ncaanba8apr08,1,5292656.story]]>

Teaching Field Sense (Vision) To Athletes