Category: Sports Parents

Rather than concern with scoreboard wins and losses, PCA hopes that you, as a sports parent, keep your eye on the Big Picture – the life lessons in teamwork, resilience,…

While young athletes gain a variety of positive mental health benefits from playing sports, pressures from highly competitive play can also pose mental health challenges. Listen in as ‘Winning Is…

It’s no secret the holiday season can be the busiest of the year. Here are five ways to help you keep life balanced–and easy.

In partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance Jason Richardson, Official Team Physician of the Golden State Warriors shares with the Positive Coaching Alliance how youth athletes are easing back into…

Youth sports at its very core represent fun. The whole idea around kids playing sports is to stay active, learn new skills and socialize. It can get complicated however, because…

Appreciation goes a long way, especially for a coach who dedicates many hours to the well-being and development of your child. Most coaches feel fulfilled by their work helping young…

We’ve all had a bad day. Probably for us adults, plenty of them! That doesn’t necessarily make it any easier when your child comes home from school or practice and…

If you are a parent manager for your child’s sports team, you know the tasks can pile up. Parent managers are typically put in place to help the coaches out…

For many athletes, training throughout the summer and in hot temperatures is just part of the game. And even if training under these conditions may be normal, there’s some best…

Although it is most commonly associated with college fraternities and sororities, hazing can happen in any type of organized group, at any age. Coaches and parents can begin heading off…

If your child loves playing sports, there’s no better way to help them develop and improve their skills than by enrolling them in a summer sports camp. Summer sports camps…

Sometimes parents want their child to make the team more than the actual child. When your child is trying out for a travel team or a competitive league, the stakes…

Off-season refers to the period of time when your young athlete’s sports team isn’t in the main season. Depending on where you live in the country, different sports may be…

Your child made the travel team, congratulations! Although as a parent you are excited that your child’s hard work has paid off, you have some questions about whether or not…

Downtime = reduced activity or inactivity. Athletes typically have very little downtime and some even feel anxious around taking time to rest. What if we told you that downtime can…

Sporting events bring players, coaches, families, and fans together. But travel revolving around a sporting event can be about more than just getting to the location for the game. Dive…

The trip is booked. You’re going to a tournament with your team and it’s the first of the season. Excitement is high, but trip logistics are in question. The location…

The car ride home after a game can be either filled with lots of laughs, game highlight replays, and singing or quiet time, replaying your performance, and listening to your…

The car is packed, the snacks are properly stocked, and the kids are buckled up. The weekend agenda is as follows: soccer, soccer, and more soccer. As parents, you may…

There are many reasons why you may want your child to try a new sport. For instance, they seem bored during the offseason. Perhaps, they are obsessed in a way…

One of the most common causes of injuries amongst youth athletes is overuse. Many children and parents see through social media and the news, that the only way to get…

Many youth athletic coaches dread the “playing time” conversation at any level of play. In fact, some coaches create a hard fast rule that they don’t have conversations about playing…

When it comes to selecting the right sports program for your youth athlete, the first thing to consider is who is your kid? Is your child always itching to get…

Building relationships with your team is the most important thing you can do as a coach. Relationships and trust are built through consistent communication with the team. The team includes…

Operating tryouts for your youth sports club can be daunting. If not planned correctly, an exciting, hope-filled day can turn into an organizational nightmare. Try these five tips to prepare…

Technology is keeping people more connected than ever before. It is changing the youth sports landscape and revolutionizing communication and collaboration for the entire community. As with any change, technology…

Team sports can be extremely stressful, especially for children and teens. There is a need to succeed, a need to be competitive and a desire to win – sometimes at…

Gentle stretching is a great way to balance the body and mind after an intense practice or game. It is important for many reasons, such as: Keeping muscles long, lean,…

Teach your young athlete that pregame jitters are nothing to worry about. After all, it’s perfectly normal for young athletes to feel nervous before a big athletic performance. Getting nervous…

As the New Year kicks off, it’s the perfect time to take a look at your family routine and think about potential positive changes and habits you can build into…

With the holiday rush in full swing, the last thing on most people’s minds right now is probably sports and registration. But with baseball and softball registration season right around…

It’s no secret the holiday season can be the busiest of the year. Here are five ways to help you keep life balanced–and easy.

TeamSnap and Johnsonville teamed up this summer to bring TeamSnap users a chance to win Johnsonville’s Best of the Backyard Sweepstakes! Two lucky winners were able to score The Ultimate…

So much goes into creating an elite athlete: devoted coaches, parents, sports psychologists, physical therapists, trial and error, and of course, intrinsic motivation. Many athletes (including myself) also coach young…

The desire to see young athletes do well is usually what motivates sports parents to get into a pushing groove. No mom or dad enjoys seeing a child sit too long…

Tryouts, evaluations, auditions, selections, whatever you call it, the evaluation and assessment process for making a competitive youth sports team can be daunting, and let’s face it, a little nerve-wracking…

We’ve all seen what can happen when an athlete or a coach experiences a lapse in sportsmanship. Foul language flies out their mouth; they withhold a handshake; they disrespect the…

Supporting your kids as they get involved in sports can help them gain community, responsibility and resilience. As with life, playing a sport comes with highs and lows. Not all…

Proper hydration is important for day-to-day life but also plays a critical role in the physical performance of athletes of all ages. During their sports season, kids are often playing…

So you want to get your kids involved in sports but don’t know where to start? Like most things parenting-related, there’s no hard and fast roadmap for what to do,…

Lacrosse, the fastest sport on two feet, is growing even faster across the USA than the pace of play. As a former player and current coach, it’s easy for me…

  As adults, we often assume that getting the kids onto the fields and into youth sports is all that needs to happen to build a cohesive, tight-knit team. But…

Schools out for the summer and beaches, BBQs, sports, and pools are in. But don’t count out the easy energy and recharging respite a little summer reading can add to…

  “When you do everything in the normal state of mind, as it is when totally unoccupied, then everything goes smoothly and easily” – Yagyu Munenori.  “He makes hitting a ball…

You deserve the best summer ever. TeamSnap has teamed up with Johnsonville to put together this ‘Fire Up Fun with Johnsonville’ blog series to spark your playful spirit and help…

What motivates kids to keep playing sports? Success–though it may not always resemble a big trophy. Here are four wins every child can score.

It’s no surprise sports teach life skills. Here’s how to create female leaders while supporting your kids on the field.

You deserve the best summer ever. TeamSnap has teamed up with Johnsonville to put together this ‘Fire Up Fun with Johnsonville’ blog series to spark your playful spirit and help…

Youth athletes’ emotions can often be compared to a roller coaster ride: The highs are high and the lows…the lowest. Denying this is futile–and teaching a child how to handle…

In the increasingly competitive landscape of youth sports, practices are longer, more intense, and more frequent than ever. While practice and repetition may inch the athlete closer to perfection, athletes…

As part of our ongoing partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), we are proud to announce the national recipients and winners of PCA’s 2021 National Double-goal Coach® Award. In…

February 3, 2021, is the 35th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day. This day calls on girls and women to own their inner and outer strength while recognizing…

February 3, 2021, is the 35th Annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day. This moment inspires girls and women to own their inner and outer strength while understanding the…

New Year’s resolutions can be hard to keep but habits? They’re doable–and science proves it. Here are four habits for every young athlete and ways to make them stick.

As we head into the New Year, we’re also heading into another season of uncertainty. Many coaches and sports organizers may face the challenges of the pandemic for the first…

For many youth sports families, the holidays usually present the challenge of balancing sports activities and family events. But 2020 has altered the “normal” for everyone; some of you may…

The days are getting shorter, the wind is getting chillier, and most sports are entering the off-season. Practicing health and wellness in the winter in order to stay healthy for…

As we navigate the age of COVID-19, many have suffered from the restrictions and lockdowns. Kids are among those who have felt the worst affects. Schools were shut down, sports…

There’s nothing normal about life right now. And for children who, for the most part, do better with structure, routine and predictability, the changes they face in school, in sports,…

The Right Tools and Planning Youth sports continue to reopen, but attending as a spectator may come down to following smart etiquette. Coaches need to not only have a strong…

COVID-19 has given “normal” a different look for youth sports this fall. However, one thing that must not change is the diligent attention to concussions in athletics. First and foremost,…

Summer may be ending but youth sports continue to reopen. The cooler weather will bring more sports and see many moving indoors. Now that there’s been some time to feel…

Not AGAIN! Are you or your young athletes saying that about the postponement of fall sports as COVID-19 continues to leave its unwelcome mark in our lives? This distress is…

A concussion can be caused by a blow, bump or jolt to the head, or by any fall or hit that jars the brain. Once your child has been diagnosed…

“Watching my grandson learn all aspects of life through sports, playing hard, working as a team and most of all, having fun.” “The fun. Whether you are a player or…

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, 51 NFHS member state associations and 19,500 high schools nationwide are making difficult decisions about how to restart high school…

Although team names are often assigned by the league or influenced by sponsorships, in some cases, the coaches and players are able to select their team name in a fun–but…

The summer of 2020 will go down in history as one like no other. COVID-19 has rearranged all of our lives and for many families, it has caused huge disruptions….

As individual activities have become more popular during social distancing, skateboarding participation, which has remained steady since 2013, could see an increase this summer. Skateboarding is an extreme sport, and…

Although summer break continues to shrink, it still looms as a challenge for many parents who feel they must find ways to keep their kids busy for two months every…

Major news events can play a significant role in a child’s life. While a child may not need anything to remember this unprecedented time, a COVID-19 time capsule or journal…

Visualization can up your game: Elite athletes know it and science proves it. Here’s how to imagine your way better, whether you’re in season or off.

There will be seasons when kids are forced to take time off. Setting goals can help young athletes return to play stronger than ever.

The loss of the sports season can be tough. Kids might miss teammates just as much as the game. Here’s how to keep morale high and kids feeling strong.

Try these activities to keep your kids engaged and active during the pandemic. Along with helping children learn how to read, how to talk and how to play well with…

Playing different sports can help youth athletes boost strength, agility–and enjoyment. Here are five combinations to try.

We spoke with Elise Hooper about the 1936 Women’s Olympic Team, Jesse Owens, and more.

What really matters when it comes to youth sports? It’s important for adults to teach skills that can help foster success in all aspects of life.

Life can get busy for student athletes–whether it’s today’s practice or tomorrow’s quiz. Here are four ways to help strike a balance.

It’s been said that ‘winning isn’t everything,’ especially when it comes to youth sports. Here’s how to maintain perspective.

Parenting is hard enough and your child may find more success when you take a step back. Here’s why it’s best to leave coaching to the coach.

School sports might hit pause, but that doesn’t mean your young athlete has to as well. Here are three ways to keep kids on their toes.

It’s going to happen. Sooner or later, your child is going to disagree with teammates or coaches, whether about game strategy, playing time, or simply the color of the uniforms….

Setting goals can not only help kids succeed on the playing field, but it can also help them grow into happy, balanced adults. Here’s how to start.

Sometimes parenting can affect whether or not a child sticks with sports. Here’s how to keep youth athletes engaged–and in the game.

Youth sports teach tremendous life skills. Here’s how to keep young athletes playing.

You always want to see your young athlete succeed, but what happens when he or she falls short of what you know is possible? Here are three ways to help.

Youth sports is a world of many discussions–but the ones you have with yourself as a parent can sometimes be the most important.

Every parent wants to help their child, but sometimes hanging back can help them achieve even better results. Here are four ways to fight the ‘rescue’ urge.

Training is what leads to results–so why not train right? Here, we explain why it’s so important.

School may be in session, but maybe your child is taking the season off. Fortunately there are a whole slew of activities kids can try–and participating in them may even…

Tennis great Billie Jean King likes to say “pressure is a privilege,” because you often feel it when an opportunity you’ve dreamed of comes along. Knowing how to rise to…

Do you feel sports ready? There’s so much involved when it comes to being a sports parent, whether it’s driving to after-school practices and Saturday games, or washing seemingly endless…

In 1939, Little League was born when Carl Stotz of Williamsport, Pennsylvania founded an organization that gave children the opportunity to play organized baseball. Youth football began in 1929, youth…

Every sports parent needs to be aware of concussion protocol and safety. Concussions are serious and should not be taken likely. If your child is playing sports this year–and any…

“Mom I can’t,” my 12-year-old nugget sobbed through his tears.  It was mile three of 20–yes, 20 miles heaven help us–on a qualifying run my son needed to finish for…

When can my child return to play after a concussion? It’s an unfortunate question sports parents may have to ask. And when it comes to concussions, you should not be…

We all know youth sports can teach kids about failure, and that’s not a bad thing. But kids can also learn early on that blaming others for such failures might…

It may seem with sports that it’s all about the big games and the results of the other games in the middle. After all, with sports, it’s about competition. But…

A new school year brings a new season of sports and for many children, that can mean joining a new team. Old friends might get together again or make new…