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Why Free Play is Key to Young Athletes’ Success, Ottawa Citizen

Danny Almonte was the star of the 2001 Little League World Series. In three games, the lanky, fireballing pitcher from the Bronx gave up three hits, one run (unearned) and struck out 62 of the 72 batters he faced. And like major league baseball superstars Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez and many others, Danny Almonte was also a cheat. His father had falsified his birth certificate […]

Image: Alistair Berg/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Some Tips For Youth Sports Parents, Time Magazine

We’ve known for a long time that the youth sports environment is toxic. You hear the news stories – in Colorado this summer, for example, a brawl broke out amongst parents following a baseball game for 10-year-olds.

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? Read More »

ON BOYS Podcast: Whole Child Sports: Alternative to Toxic Youth Sports Culture

Whole Child Sports emphasizes wholesome, safe, and developmentally appropriate athletic experiences for kids. It is the antithesis of the toxic, highly competitive youth sports culture that’s unfortunately become the norm here in the United States.

The Youth Football Revolution That Was and Can Still Be

I was hired by the NFL in 1995 to address the worrisome decline in youth football participation. The remarkable progress we made during that tenure involved setting up a series of programs that not only attracted more kids to play football, but, more importantly, made the game safer to play.

Focus on injury prevention, wellness earns top mark for Bound Brook High girls basketball, USA Today

Youth sports needs MORE WOMEN coaching girls. Which is not, in any way, shape or form, to suggest or insinuate that co-ed and boys teams (at the recreational and travel levels) do not sorely need more female coaches too: THEY DO.

Three Things Female Athletes Can Do to Avoid a Season Ending ACL Tear

Female athletes should not be trained like their male counterparts. Their workouts should focus on improving range-of-motion and strengthening specific muscle groups—like glutes and hamstrings—during pre-season. What’s more, keeping up with such training throughout the regular season can dramatically reduce the risk of ACL injuries.