Protect the Joy
A positive, collaborative approach to youth sport
Samenvatting
Youth sports are meant as a space for children to learn many benefits, from teamwork and character to skill development and fitness, and most of all…fun.
Despite the best of intentions from coaches and parents, youth sport is too often delivered in ways that are not aligned with sound research and best practices. This leads to miscommunication and unclear priorities when the adults are not aligned with each other and kids don't get a positive experience.
Dr. Amanda Stanec and Richard Way have been heavily involved in sport either as athletes, coaches, consultants, or researchers all their lives. They take questions daily from frustrated parents and exasperated coaches who want better for the kids they care about. Protect the Joy provides expert answers and action steps on how to get our youth sports programs on the right track again.
Combining key research that prioritizes a stage-before-age approach and taking on difficult issues, Stanec and Way show coaches, parents, and sport directors a better approach to ensure the children under their watch get the most out of the games they play.
Instead of wins and scholarships, Stanec and Way invite coaches and parents to collaborate to build an environment of fun, empathy, and healthy physical, social, and emotional growth for all participants. When we master that goal, we protect the joy of sport, which is what invariably keeps kids in the game.
Literatuurverwijzing: Stanec, A., & Way, R. (2024). Protect the Joy: a positive, collaborative approach to youth sport. Herndon, Virginia (US): Amplify Publishing Group.