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The pandemic had a great impact on fitness facilities across the nation. Now, there’s a growing sense that many Americans want to get back to the gym and interact with their friends and neighbors while getting fit.
Banish Bullying
About 10 years ago, the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) received a call from one of its largest member organizations: “What does NAYS have for us on bullying prevention?” I immediately recognized this was a subject missing from our training. NAYS contacted organization officials to discover the extent of the problem.
Avoid Being A One-Trick Pony
Ever been accused of being a one-trick pony? In the animal kingdom, it’s probably a compliment: the dog that jumps through a hoop, the elephant that sits up. But clearly NOT Koko, the gorilla that mastered sign language. But if you’re a one-trick pony in the human species, that accusation can be quite an insult:
Opportunity, Motivation, And Access
The National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) has always championed the idea that active kids are likely not only to be more physically fit but to be mentally healthy as well. This is especially important during the recent and present situations involving the pandemic.
The Lens Of A Lifetime
Now and then I mention some little illustrations to my 16 grandchildren. The habit developed while raising my five kids, coming from my romantic “poet’s” heart (for which I am often accused).
Mastering The Five Ps
Continuous evaluation may be the single-most important aspect of operating a successful leisure-service agency. The worldwide onset of the pandemic has caused every profession and industry to evaluate all aspects of daily operations and adjust how programs are delivered and services are maintained.
The Quest For Fun
Of all the programs initiated by the National Alliance for Youth Sports, my favorite one is the Start Smart Sports Development Program. It began, in part, because of the shocking statistic that many kids quit sports by the time they turn 13 years old.
One Wonderful Life
I was pounding tomato stakes along the side of the house where the sun shines most of the day. With a five-pound sledge in one hand and a bundle of twine in the other, I rounded the front of the house.
Break Body-Image Barriers
Lately, I have been lucky enough to view some of the interviews the National Alliance for Youth Sports is collecting from top experts for a free, new training that will be offered to coaches, parents, and youth leaders, which deals with understanding good mental-health habits. One of the areas of discussion is how boys deal with body image in sports, and the staggering figures on how many are encountering difficulties, just as many girls have for so long.
Goodbye, Forever Friend
In my quiet, little hometown—like many other communities—students made the jump from sixth grade to seventh grade by entering junior high school. There was the typical hesitation and fear of leaving the safety and security of the neighborhood elementary school, where all our fellow students lived within blocks of the building.
Youth Sports Administration 101: League Documentation
It is extremely important to keep well-organized documentation and records on league operations as well as administrative aspects of a program. Make policies on managing and retaining documents to ensure they are consistent.
Matters Of The Mind
These days, there seems to be much talk about mental-health challenges in the world of sports. Watching Simone Biles in the Summer Games struggle with her confidence, and then watching almost the same thing happen to Mikaela Shiffrin in the Winter Games—two of our countries’ most-celebrated athletes at the Olympics—was a real eye opener.
Duty Of Care
As spring sports begin, it’s important to examine the policies and processes in recruiting and signing up volunteers. The National Alliance for Youth Sports’ professional-administrator training course advocates “building a shield” to protect organizations from allegations, and participants from harm.
The Village That Raised Me
When Hillary Clinton titled her book, It Takes a Village, published in 2006, I remember pausing to let the title sink in, and then smiled and nodded, as it made so very much sense. The clear reference that many influences are involved in building one’s life had also been the locomotion of my life, and the older I got, that philosophy became clearer.
Make Inclusion A First Thought
After listening to a presentation on inclusion by Krista Rappoccio from Move United at the most recent Youth Sports Congress, I remembered one of my favorite volunteer youth-coaching experiences. It was the last season my daughter played in recreational soccer.
Youth Sports Administration 101: Ramp Up Revenue
All league administrators should have a budget in place before taking a single registration. The budget should estimate revenue and expenses and separate them as individual line items.
Make Kindness Your Currency
In 2013, I went to grad school after being in the workforce for 20 years. One of the first activities my classmates and I took part in was the Myers-Briggs assessment to determine the characteristics of our personalities.
Simplification Is Adding Complication
When my overnight sleep medication—approved by four of five doctors—wore off this morning, I rose from my adjustable bed, disabled the automatic heat function, and set my apnea machine to the “clean” mode. I put on copper-lined socks, stepped into cross-training shoes and shorts, and walked to the den.
Youth Sports Administration 101: Have A Plan
All league administrators should have a budget in place before taking a single registration. The budget should estimate revenue and expenses and separate them as individual line items.