Coaching Youth

Parents today feel the pressure — to spend more, specialize earlier, and chase perfection — all while quietly wondering: Am I doing too much…or not enough? The Curveball Life is for families caught in that tension. Written by a former Ivy League and pro baseball player turned dad, this book isn’t about chasing a scholarship. It’s about raising a strong, grounded kid who thrives long after the final out.

Every year, more than 3.5 million children under age 15 require medical treatment for sports injuries, nearly half of which are the result of simple overuse. Journalist Mark Hyman investigates the evolution of youth sports from mere games to full-on quests to turn children into tomorrow's superstar athletes by pushing them beyond physical and emotional limits. Opening up a crucial discussion about the perils of youth-sports culture today, Hyman offers the solutions and answers we need.

A player who could hardly defend. A bleak soccer future as a bench-warmer. An athlete who lacked confidence in their game. Are you or a loved one enjoying soccer, but can’t stand not being confident on how to defend? Do you or a child have a problem stopping the team from shooting? Are you a parent or player that would love to stop the dribble of each opponent, but struggle even stopping the foot skills of one player? If any of these situations describe you, you are not alone. Coaches of soccer are good at having the team work together. Sadly, your abilities as an individual are often lost in the team’s tactics unless you are the star player on the team. The coach lets the best player do as they please but every other player must do their job, even though the coach may not always teach exactly how to do that job.

The focus of this book is to provide you, the listener, with best practices for working with youth and athletes outside of the classroom environment. There are too many kids and athletes not receiving the support they need mentally, academically, behaviorally, and emotionally.

An author/mentor has to be honest, generous, bold, energetic, passionate, candid, authentic and devoted toward its listener or member or follower and I am following these principles in my life. I also felt that it is an honour to me that except for love from listeners, the members and followers there is no other best gift for me.