During

In the game

Coaching execution, in-the-moment decisions, and the strange job of coaching your own kid in front of the team.

How to Tape a Hockey Stick: Blade, Knob and Grip Step by Step

To tape a hockey stick, start with a clean, dry blade. Anchor cloth tape at the heel and wrap toward the toe, overlapping each pass by about half the tape's width.

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Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Little League vs. Babe Ruth: What Parents Need to Know

The quick answer: Little League and Babe Ruth are two separate organizations that run youth baseball, and they overlap more than most parents expect.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Volleyball

KT Tape vs Athletic Tape: What Volleyball Parents Should Know

Your daughter rolls an ankle at Saturday's tournament, or your son's shoulder aches after a long weekend of serving. Someone on the sideline hands you a roll of tape. Which one do you reach for?

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Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Soccer · age 5–7

Soccer Ball Sizes for Youth Players: A Parent's Guide by Age

Most kids play with a size 3 ball through U8, a size 4 from U9 or U10 through U12, and a size 5 from U13 on. The exact switch point depends on your league, and that is where parents get tripped up.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen for Young Athletes

Both types protect your child's skin well when you use them correctly. The real difference is how they work and how they feel on a sweaty kid at a tournament.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Rotating Positions in Youth Sports: A Parent's Guide

Most youth coaches rotate players through positions so every child learns the whole game, gets a fair turn, and stays interested in the sport. The tension for parents is real, though.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Halftime Talks for Youth Teams: What to Say in 3 Minutes

A good halftime talk is short, calm and built around one or two things your players can actually do in the next half. Let them drink and breathe first. Ask them what they noticed.

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Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Soccer

7v7 vs 9v9 Soccer: What Changes for Your Player

In U.S. youth soccer, 7v7 is the standard format for U9 and U10, and 9v9 takes over at U11 and U12.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Basketball

Zone vs. Man Defense in Youth Basketball: What Parents Need to Know

For most young players, man-to-man is the better place to start, and for ages 7 to 11 it is often the only defense allowed. In man-to-man, each player guards one opponent.

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Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Volleyball

Playing Up in Youth Volleyball: A Parent's Decision Guide

Your child is good. Maybe the coach has said so, maybe a club director has hinted at it, or maybe you have just watched her dominate a gym full of kids her own age.

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Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Volleyball

Coaching With Your Spouse: A Youth Volleyball Parent's Guide

Coaching a youth volleyball team with your spouse can be one of the best things you do as a family. It can also quietly turn your kitchen table into a second bench.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Volleyball

Cutting Players on Youth Teams: How to Do It Kindly

If you have to cut a child from a youth team, do three things. Decide your criteria before tryouts. Tell each family yourself, privately and quickly.

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Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Youth Sports Parents: Win With Class, Report Injuries Without Penalty

Winning with class means chasing results inside a mastery-based, safety-first culture. Start now: praise effort out loud, and make injury reporting a private, no-penalty habit.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Playing Up an Age Group? A Parent Checklist Before a Full Move

Playing up an age group usually makes sense when your child is technically ahead of peers, handles the social shift well, and will get real minutes on the new team, not a spot on the bench.

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The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

age 8–10

Playing time. The fairness question every coach faces.

Pick a policy, say it before the season, and hold the line.

Keep reading →

Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Volleyball · age 11–12

Switching Youth Volleyball Teams: A Parent’s 6–12 Week Plan

Leave for a pattern, not a bad season, and check the rules first.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

72 Hour Playbook for Parents: Playing Time Checklist & Email Scripts

Listen first, wait a day, then ask the coach for a private meeting.

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Rec vs travel

the Parent Coach Desk

Travel-Ball Politics: How to Stay Out

The drama is real. How to keep your family out of it.

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Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

The Unwritten Rules Every League Has

The stuff nobody tells you but everyone knows.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Parents: Ready to Use Playing Time Policy and Scripts for Youth Sports

Match the playing-time model to the team's age, then write it down.

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Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

age 11–12

The 11-12 Substitution Rules Every Parent Should Know

How playing time actually works at this age.

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Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

age 13–14

The 13-14 Sportsmanship Rules

What actually gets kids in trouble.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Hockey

Parent Coaches: ADM Youth Hockey Practice Plans Ready to Run, CDC Safe

Six short stations at 8U, more small-area games by 12U.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · age 8–10

Stop Parent Coaches' Favoritism: 8 Step Checklist, Policy & Age Scripts

Check the lineup against the team's stated model first.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Volleyball · age 5–7

6 Youth Volleyball Serving Drills to Build Parent Coach Confidence

Start close, master the toss, then add the swing.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Volleyball

U.S. Volleyball Parents: Build a Season Budget in 20 Minutes

Plan about $1,000 a year, and get costs in writing.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

age 15+

Game Day When Your Kid Is on the Bench

They know they're not starting. Support what they can control.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

The dad who corners coach in the parking lot

Coach is loading the car. A parent will not let them leave. Create an exit ramp.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Soccer

30–45 Minute Age Aware Youth Soccer Passing Drills for Parent Coaches

Six passing drills, ordered by priority, for any young team.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Concussion Protocol for Youth Sports: Scripts for Parents and Coaches

Remove, check for danger signs, and wait for a provider's clearance.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Baseball · age 8–10

20 Minute Sessions: 6 Youth Baseball Throwing Drills for Parent Coaches

Six throwing drills for accuracy, footwork, and a healthy arm.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Baseball · age 11–12

45 Min Coach Pitch Drills: Printable 12 Week Plan for Parent Coaches

Three stations, 45 minutes, and nobody stands in line.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Football — Flag · age 13–14

3 Practice Templates and 8 Flag Football Drills for Parent Coaches

Seven drills, three practice templates, and the order to teach them.

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Equipment

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · age 5–7

Parent Toolkit: 5 Immediate Steps for Youth Sports Safety

Five safety steps every sports parent should cover this season.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · age 8–10

Copyable Team Budget for Youth Sports: Table, Scripts & Calculator

Price the whole season, add a buffer, and save monthly.

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The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Football — Tackle · age 11–12

Making it fun for everyone when your own kid is struggling

Your kid's struggle is real. Practice still has to work for the other fourteen.

Keep reading →

The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Football — Tackle · age 11–12

The kid on your team who is mean to your kid

One kid on the roster keeps freezing your kid out. You coach them both.

Keep reading →

Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Dealing With Sports Parents: A Coach's Playbook That Works

Set the rules in August so October stays calm.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Soccer

Goalkeeper Drills Youth Coaches Can Run in 30 Minutes

Thirty minutes, six core drills, and safe landings for young keepers.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Baseball

Baseball Throwing Drills for Youth Coaches and Parents

Match the drill to the flaw, and protect the arm.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

A Parent Code of Conduct Every Family Can Actually Follow

A code works when parents sign it and hear it explained.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Youth Sports Playing Time: A Fair Rotation Plan

Fair minutes by age, a written policy, and a tracker.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Growth Mindset in Youth Sports: Scripts Parents Can Use This Week

Praise the process, call mistakes data, and repeat it all season.

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The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Football — Tackle

Your hungriest player needs a second track

Feed a talented kid's hunger for more without taxing the rest of the roster.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Volleyball

Youth Volleyball Drills: 15 Fun, Age-Appropriate Drills

Fifteen volleyball drills by skill, plus ready-made practice plans.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Volleyball · age 13–14

Youth Volleyball Practice Plan: Ready-to-Run Templates

Ready-to-run 60 and 90-minute volleyball practices for ages 8 to 14.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Parent Coach Ethics: Sideline Pledge and Scripts

Parent first, coach second, and a pledge to prove it.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Baseball

Coach Pitch vs Kid Pitch: Which Format Fits Your Child?

Contact and confidence first, then the mound when they're ready.

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Equipment

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Volleyball

Volleyball Equipment for Youth Players: Parent's Buying Guide

Shoes, knee pads, and the right ball come first.

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Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Basketball

Youth Basketball Drills: A Parent Coach's Ready-to-Run Guide

A 45 to 60 minute practice built around games, not lines.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Softball · age 11–12

Best Youth Softball Gloves: Sized Right for 8–12U

Discover the best youth softball gloves for 8–12U players. Find perfectly sized gloves that prioritize comfort and performance.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Best Kids Shin Guards: Fit, Comfort, and Stays Put

A slim guard that stays on beats a bulky one in the bag.

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The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Sideline etiquette for youth sports parents

Cheer without coaching, keep the game in its lane, and let your kid play.

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Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Baseball · age 5–7

Why Tee-Ball Doesn't Have Strikeouts

The answer starts with your league's current rulebook.

Keep reading →

The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

What parents shouldn't do at youth sports games

Your voice, face, and phone all reach the field. Use them carefully.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Youth Sports Costs for Parents: How to Plan and Save

Lower the season bill with scholarships, fee waivers, used gear, carpools, and a written all-in budget.

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Equipment

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Baseball

USA vs USSSA Bats: Which One Does Your Kid Need?

Start with the league stamp, then choose the drop, length, and material your player can control.

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The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

Golf

Golf Doesn't Let You Cheer. Here's What to Do With That Energy Instead

Our kid lined up a putt on sixteen and we had a full sentence of encouragement loaded and ready, and then realized every single person around the green had gone completely silent.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Lightning Delay: What Actually Happens During the 30-Minute Wait

The horn sounds, both teams jog to their cars, and a field full of families sits in a parking lot for half an hour watching the sky instead of a game.

Keep reading →

The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

Tennis

Tennis Has No Sideline: Learning to Cheer From Two Hundred Feet Away

We were sitting two courts down because that's as close as the fence let us get, straining to see which ball had landed out, and reminding ourselves for the tenth time not to yell during a point.

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Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Track and field

The Meet With No Sideline: Watching a Track Meet When You Can't See Your Kid Race

Four events happening at once, one program that doesn't match the announcer, and a kid who ran the 800 while we were watching someone else clear a high jump bar.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

age 5–7

Talking to a Parent Who's Coaching From the Stands

They're trying to help. They don't see what they're actually doing.

Keep reading →

Season operations

the Parent Coach Desk

age 8–10

The 8-10 Practice That Doesn't Drag

Forty minutes. One game. One fix. They remember what they played, not what you drilled.

Keep reading →

Rec vs travel

the Parent Coach Desk

age 5–7

Rec Ball at 5-7: Why It's the Right Answer

The foundations are here. Everything else comes later.

Keep reading →

In the game

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Baseball · age 8–10

Coaching your own kid in front of the team

I made the lineup at midnight. My wife asked why I was crying in the kitchen. Five seasons later, I think I finally have it figured out. Sort of.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · age 5–7

The first time a teammate calls you Coach and your kid hears it

The small moment that scrambles the family identity. What your kid is processing. What to say tonight if anything.

Keep reading →

Season operations

the Parent Coach Desk

Food on the road during a tournament

Hotel breakfast, gas station snacks, the dinner reservation that never materialized. The pattern that survives a three-day weekend.

Keep reading →

The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

Heat illness: when to pull them out

The signs that a kid is in trouble, the signs that they're tired, and the rule that protects you when it's not clear which is which.

Keep reading →

Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Reading the Ref: When to Say Something, When to Shut Up

One bad call doesn't lose the game. Your reaction to it does.

Keep reading →

Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

age 13–14

Managing Substitutions Kids Actually Buy Into

You're not sneaking subs past them. You're explaining the decision before the game.

Keep reading →

Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

Baseball · age 5–7

The 5-7 Lineup Card: A Fair Rotation in Three Minutes

Every kid plays half the game. Build it the night before. Post it before first pitch.

Keep reading →

Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

age 8–10

Game Day: When to Call a Timeout

Three reasons. Everything else is coaching theater.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

age 8–10

The Group Chat That Saved My Season

Three parents. One thread. Thirty-seven hundred messages of actual help.

Keep reading →

Season operations

the Parent Coach Desk

age 8–10

The hotel pool is the practice

Three days at a tournament, two pool sessions, one kid who doesn't want to play tomorrow's game. The trade nobody talks about.

Keep reading →

Rec vs travel

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · age 13–14

America has a missing rec layer.

Good youth rec. Aggressive travel. No just-for-fun high school. It comes back at college intramurals. The hole in the middle is where the most kids quit.

Keep reading →

The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

The other team's parent who keeps yelling

Stays on your sideline for three innings. Yelling at a kid who isn't theirs. The framework for whether and how to engage.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

The parent who screams at their own kid in the bleachers

Everyone hears it. Most people pretend they didn't. What to do.

Keep reading →

Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

Why we exist. Three things youth sports is for.

Have fun. Learn the rules and how to be a good teammate. Want to come back next year. Everything on this site exists to help with one of the three. The fourth, hidden challenge: doing all of this while coaching your own kid.

Keep reading →

Season operations

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

The sibling at the game who isn't playing

The kid you keep losing in the schedule. What a six-year-old actually experiences at a tournament. Five rules that hold the family together.

Keep reading →

Season operations

the Parent Coach Desk

The team mom you don't want to be

Five archetypes to avoid. How to be the team mom people thank in November.

Keep reading →

The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

When the tournament organizer mistake

Lost paperwork, wrong field assignment, no umpires. The script for the parent who gets stuck handling it.

Keep reading →

Equipment

the Parent Coach Desk

The tournament t-shirt economy

Twelve t-shirts later, two of which the kid wears. The honest read on the merch table, and what to actually buy.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read

When another parent says something racist at the field

It happens. The script for the moment, and what comes after.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Baseball

Baseball parent sideline behavior: what actually helps

What helps your kid, what embarrasses them, and the thing most parents don't realize they're doing.

Keep reading →

Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Baseball · age 8–10

Baseball pitch count rules explained for parents

Why pitch counts exist, how they work, and what rest-day rules actually mean.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Basketball

Basketball parent sideline behavior: what actually helps

What helps, what hurts, and the thing most parents don't realize they're doing.

Keep reading →

Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Basketball

Basketball rules for parents: a quick guide

The rules you need to follow a youth basketball game without asking someone to explain every call.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Football — Tackle

Football parent sideline behavior: the rules that actually matter

What you do on the sideline is part of your kid's game experience, whether you realize it or not.

Keep reading →

Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Football — Tackle · age 11–12

Football special teams explained for parents

What happens on kickoffs, punts, and field goals, and why coaches care about it so much.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Soccer

How to watch a soccer game as a parent

What to look at, what to ignore, and how to enjoy 90 minutes you probably don't fully understand yet.

Keep reading →

The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

Hydration for Young Athletes by the Numbers

Actual volumes, actual timing, and the dehydration signs most parents miss.

Keep reading →

Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Volleyball · age 11–12

The libero position explained for parents

Different jersey, different rules, and the most important defensive player on the court.

Keep reading →

Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Soccer

The offside rule in soccer, explained for parents

The clearest explanation of a rule that confuses almost every soccer parent.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Soccer

Soccer parent sideline behavior: what coaches actually see

What coaches see from the sideline, what it costs your kid, and what actually helps.

Keep reading →

The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

Tournament Day Food When You're Stuck There All Day

What to pack, what to buy, and what to avoid when you have multiple games and no good options.

Keep reading →

Season operations

the Parent Coach Desk

age 11–12

Managing the tournament day when you have three games.

The gaps between games are where it goes wrong.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Volleyball

Volleyball parent sideline behavior: what actually helps your kid

The noise that helps, the noise that hurts, and the thing you're probably doing without knowing it.

Keep reading →

Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

Volleyball

Volleyball rules for parents: a quick game-day guide

Scoring, rotations, and the calls that confuse everybody on the first day.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · age 11–12

When your kid is always on the bench

How to process it, how to talk to your kid, when to involve the coach, and when the honest answer is a level change.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

Longer read · Baseball · age 11–12

When your kid is the pitcher: what parents need to know

Arm care, pitch count rules, handling the pressure, and what not to say after a rough inning.

Keep reading →

Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

age 15+

The 15-Plus Game-Management Rule Book

What actually matters in serious competition.

Keep reading →

Season operations

the Parent Coach Desk

age 5–7

The First Practice Plan (5-7 Years Old)

Twenty-five minutes that work for this age group.

Keep reading →

Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

age 8–10

The cheer that embarrasses your kid

He played well. You yelled. He gave you the look. The cheer rules.

Keep reading →

Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

The bench reaction your kid will remember

He got pulled. He's on the bench. His face is checking yours. The reaction matters.

Keep reading →

Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

When a parent yells at the ref

Could be your team. Could be the other team. Could be you. The rules.

Keep reading →

Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

When your kid gets hurt mid-game

He goes down. He's not getting up. The first ten seconds. The next ten minutes.

Keep reading →

Game day

the Parent Coach Desk

age 11–12

The double-header recovery plan

Two games in one day. Two hours apart. The plan that gets the team through.

Keep reading →

The hard moments

the Parent Coach Desk

Your Kid Is the Worst on the Team

They know. The team knows. You're the only one pretending otherwise.

Keep reading →

Season operations

the Parent Coach Desk

age 13–14

The 13-14 Practice Plan That Respects Their Time

Fifty minutes. One problem. One focus. They know when you're wasting it.

Keep reading →

Communication

the Parent Coach Desk

age 11–12

The 11-12 Ages: The Team Meeting When Things Have Gone Sideways

Something broke. Here's how to talk about it without pointing fingers.

Keep reading →

Season operations

the Parent Coach Desk

age 11–12

The Mid-Season Tune-Up at 11-12

One thing. One practice. Reset without starting over.

Keep reading →

Rules of play

the Parent Coach Desk

age 8–10

The 8-10 Mercy Rule and Why It's a Feature

Competition is good. Running up the score is not. The mercy rule teaches both.

Keep reading →

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One short read every Friday from the Parent Coach Desk.

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