Articles
Bullying Prevention
Photo: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / barr5557Whether you are volunteering as a coach for a town league or a school, coaching youth sports is not easy. Finding the time between busy work schedules and fami
Pedaling Park Maintenance
Staff members of the Mt. Pleasant Parks Department in Michigan knew they needed a more efficient and earth-friendly way to complete daily park-maintenance tasks. After exploring
Maximizing Reach
The saying, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much,” is undeniably true—especially in local government. Partnerships are often what make or break new legislation,
Youth Tackle Football
Is tackle football safe? The debate continues. In the past four years, the National Alliance for Youth Sports has been constantly asked whether the organization is for or against the sport
Kicking Up Customer Service
The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks) is a multi-faceted agency with 32 facilities serving three counties and three cities. NOVA Parks operates golf courses,
Staking Claim To A Local Legend
For those of you who don’t understand the type of twisted addiction that makes Cleveland kids remain Browns football fans all the way through adulthood, some of this article may get
Making Positive Memories
Growing up, Rick Bruya’s sports participation was packed with fun, learning, and character-building experiences. And—as it turned out—a career-shaping one too.
Focusing On The Entire Season
When you hear the phrase “youth sports,” what is the first image that comes to mind? Maybe it’s a bunch of kids in uniforms running up and down a soccer field. Or maybe it is parents and
Good Programs Don’t Just Happen
There are countless books, articles, and videos about the importance of being mindful and living in each moment. Authors before me have written about the many benefits of being in the
Farewell, Cleveland Metroparks
In May of 1984, I was a typical, overanxious young man who had been out of college for a year and had yet to find “long-term employment.” I had worked hard in school. I had good grades
For Richard--Why I do what I do
Everyone has a story about how they got to where they are today; while some may appear to be more profound than others, all are, unequivocally, unique. Each person’s motivations are
Youth Development
When conducting an online search for “positive youth development,” one will likely find a wide range of definitions and approaches.
The Hubbub Behind "Happy Birthday"
Hey, what is up with this birthday thing? Birthdays make less sense to me with each passing year. When you’re a kid, you LIVE for birthdays. You get gifts, you do the old bring-cupcakes-into-school-for-the-big-“sing-to”-thing,
Let Sport Lights Shine Bright
Sports-field lighting, from design and purchase to installation, operation, and maintenance, is arguably one of the largest consumers in parks and rec department budgets.
Remaining Relevant
Teens who have been cut from their high-school basketball teams, or those not interested in playing at that competitive level, love participating in a popular high-school intramural
A Natural Fit
In the densely populated Boston suburb of Somerville, Mass., open space is at a premium. Residents gravitate to natural areas, even if those spaces are undeveloped city lots on side
Want To Become A Better Manager?
Being a manager is not easy because it usually involves both tasks and people. The latter are considered the greater challenge for managers because too often organizations view employees in much the same way as material resources—a commodity.
Strangers Of A Feather
On a snowy January 4 in 1981 I carefully maneuvered my pickup truck down the interstate, heading back to Bowling Green State University.
A Gentleman’s Tale
You know what the problem is with you kids today? You know everything, and if you don’t know, you look it up on that dang phone of yours and then you know it within a minute. When I
The Quest For Physical Fitness
In the not-so-distant past, a visit to one of the many sites owned and managed by municipal parks and recreation departments would have been considered “going to the playground.”