Columns

The Buy-In

Why it matters in youth-sports programs It’s amazing how today’s youth-sports volunteers know much more about coaching kids compared to the era in

Columns 3 min read

Confidence From Failure—Not Success

You lean over your glowing birthday cake and blow out candles that signify you’ve turned two years old, and somehow (probably with a little assistance from Mom), the candles go out. Everyone around you applauds and smiles.

Columns 4 min read

The Battle For Balance

One of the most distinct memories from my first coaching experience happened before I ever had a team! I signed my son up for T-ball and volunteered to coach.

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Columns 3 min read

Ushering In Change

In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, the Ohio Department of Commerce began discussing the formalization of programs to regulate the safe operation of underground fuel storage tanks (USTs), in addition to the safe removal of aging, leaking tanks that contained petroleum and other hazardous substances.

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Columns 4 min read

Monday Nights Under The Lights

Athletes and organizations around the country recently celebrated National Girls & Women in Sports Day. It always makes me feel great to see all the social media posts about young girls engaged in sports.

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Columns 3 min read

Standing Firm

In my youth, I enjoyed coaching kids’ sports and shaping the minds and attitudes of young athletes. Baseball is one of those fabulous teacher’s aids. As part of the recreation department experience, I also had to umpire and referee games.

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Columns 6 min read

All In?

A metaphorically constructed proverb about the importance of seemingly insignificant things from Poor Richard’s Almanack by Benjamin Franklin

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Columns 5 min read

Valuable Volunteer Voice

One bonus of working for a national youth-sports organization is the opportunity to interact with several volunteers and youth-sports professionals doing great work around the country. My favorite annual task is notifying and interviewing our national volunteer parent and coach of the year.

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Columns 4 min read

Making Space

Poet Robert Herrick used these six words—simple in nature—to declare a profound message: we have only one life and one youth, and both must be enjoyed while they last.

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Columns 4 min read

Help Wanted

Most people can agree that today’s youth-sports landscape has changed significantly. Volunteers are burdened with many requirements that weren’t concerns 20 years ago.

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Columns 3 min read

Taking Fun Seriously

"We take our fun pretty seriously. We've really looked at what keeps kids coming back. Because if they're not having fun, they’re not enjoying the experience, they vote with their feet. They just walk away."

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Columns 4 min read

When Less Becomes More

During one of my college summers, I worked for an earth-moving contractor and, being the new man and lowest on the totem pole, I was often tasked with asking the boss questions.

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Columns 4 min read