This holiday season revealed some symptoms of the problems that never seem to get addressed in competitive athletics.  Maybe this is due to addressing the problem at the wrong level.

Intercollegiate and professional sports get the majority of  the attention.  The media takes every incident and rides it until we are sick of hearing about it.

It is all about winning.  This is a natural since the purpose of playing any game is to declare a winner and a loser.  This is not the problem.  The problem is the perspective we have about winning.  It is only a very small part of the competitive athletics experience.

Competitive athletics is one of the great opportunities for the development of any child.  That is if we keep everything in the proper perspective. The child spends a relatively small amount of time actually playing the game.  What about the majority of the time?  Everything involved can be a satisfying and productive learning experience.

Back to our symptoms.  They appeared in the headlines and lead stories on TV.  œUrban Meyer, Florida University Football Coach Resigns.  Reason; health.  This is the coach of last years NCAA champion.  Age”45.

Second headline. œ Mike Leach, Texas Tech Football Coach Fired.  This happened hours before his 10-2 team was scheduled to play in a bowl game.  Why?  Alleged player abuse.

Another factor in the firing was the role the players parent had in how the whole thing was viewed.  The accusation was that the well-known parent was a œhelicopter parent.  Thats a polite way to identify an interference.

Training begins at the youth level and the coaches and parents involved are basically not trained.  Well intended but not trained.  So where do they get their models?  Of course, the people at the top and their own experience growing up.  Thats if they had any.

I have written a book that is a guide for any youth coach or parent. It is called œHey Mom, Wheres My Glove and is backed by my fifty years of coaching experience.  It can be found on-line at www.YouPublish.com.  It will allow you to be yourself yet have a way to keep on track.

Why the Urban Meyer headline.  Stress is the leading cause of health problems. Pressure to win.

You do the math.  Plus coaches dont take care of themselves.

Texas Tech.  There is no excuse ever to abuse a player.  And, parents need to learn the most effective way to support their childs athletic experience.

Check it out.  œHey Mom, Wheres My Glove on YouPublish.com