Sports Development Science

Two-year-old Rachel Haines didn’t know that she would be committing to 21 years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance as she jumped into the foam pit during her first “mommy and me” gymnastics class. She had no idea that one day she would become a two-time National Team Member, two-time National Champion, and a Division I college gymnast at the University of Minnesota. Nor could she have known that she had just signed herself up for serious injury, emotional distress, and continuous sexual assault by world-renowned trainer turned serial molester, Larry Nassar.

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 look at how commercialization has transformed youth sports from fun into a heavily commercialized and profitable venture. Examining the youth sports economy from many sides - the major corporations, the small entrepreneurs, the coaches, the parents, and, of course, the kids - Hyman probes the reasons for rapid changes in what gets bought and sold in this lucrative marketplace. He reveals the effects on kids and profiles the individuals and communities bucking this destructive trend of commercialization.

Walking is the most natural means of getting around under your own steam and the only sustained dynamic exercise that is possible for nearly all of us to participate in. No special skills or equipment are required, and you can do it anywhere. Walking is flexible enough to be accommodated into occupational and domestic routines, as well as for leisure or specific fitness training. Exploring the evolutionary and historical importance of walking, this book uncovers how the principles that motivated people to walk in the past are even more relevant in the 21st century.

Discover the Life-Changing Power of Walking. Struggling with anxiety, chronic pain, or addiction? This isn’t just another fitness book—it’s a practical, science-backed toolkit for rebuilding your life, one five-minute walk at a time. Written by a former skeptic who walked away from alcoholism and debilitating neuropathy, this guide offers immediate, actionable strategies anyone can use.