All articles The best articles and resources about youth sports for parents, athletes, coaches, and organizations. Is Your Child Injured, or Just Temporarily Sore? July 03, 2019 Top articles What to Know About Kids and Nutrition by Molly Hurford October 15, 2019 Nutrition knowledge is as critical to a young athletes mental health as it is to their physical growth. Training + Recovery = Better Athletic Performance July 03, 2019 Sportsmanship Avoiding Assumptions: How to Minimize Conflict Arising from Assumptions April 08, 2021 Young athletes sometimes make judgements based on assumptions that may or may not be true, and these can cause team conflict. 6 Simple Reasons Why Athletes May Not Meet Their Goals December 10, 2020 Keep these barriers to success in mind as you help your young athletes set and work towards their goals. Tiger Woods to Play With Son Charlie at PNC Championship December 02, 2020 Tiger Woods will team with son in the PNC Championship Why Didn’t We Know Sarah Fuller’s Name Before She Became a Football Player? December 02, 2020 Sarah Fuller proves girls can do anything after she made history as the first woman ever to play in a “Power 5” football game. 8 Constructive Ways to Push Your Child in Youth Sports November 04, 2020 How you can “push” your youth athlete in a positive way 7 Tips for a Positive Parent-Coach Relationship October 21, 2020 How to Build a Team in Youth Sports October 15, 2020 There is often hidden resilience behind bullying-type behaviors. But how can you help shift those problematic behaviors to more positive ones? How to Win Like a Champion October 15, 2020 We all know that losing can bring opportunities for growth and improvement for athletes. Herm Edwards Talks About Being a Triple Impact Competitor September 21, 2020 Herm talks about what it means to be a Triple-Impact Competitor® especially as it relates to the current events with the COVID-19 Pandemic and racial injustice. How to Help Young Players Love the Game September 11, 2020 From the tyrannical coach to the parent that never made it past little league that now obsesses in getting their child to the big leagues, the events in youth baseball and softball could be plucked from a reality television series. 6 Ways Coaches Can Facilitate Peer Pressure for Good September 10, 2020 In the right contexts, peer pressure can be a leadership tool that coaches use for positive outcomes in their youth athletes. 10 Habits of Good Sports Parenting August 12, 2020 Find out 10 habits that make you a good sports parent. View all sportsmanship articles New to sports History In A Minute: Baseball February 01, 2021 Look back at the history of Baseball in Blue Earth County. Sport Guide: Inside Equestrian January 12, 2021 Riders compete in eventing, dressage and jumping in the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete on equal terms. Sport Guide: All About Wrestling January 12, 2021 Men's wrestling is an Olympic Games ever-present, with the women's event joining the programme in 2004. Sport Guide: All About Weightlifting January 12, 2021 Lifting the greatest weight possible is the goal for these athletes, with the snatch and clean and jerk methods bringing the biggest lifts. Sport Guide: Beach Volleyball Explained January 12, 2021 Teams consist of two players who play over best of three sets. Types of shots include an ace, a bump pass, a dig, a spike, a dink and block. Sport Guide: Examining Volleyball January 12, 2021 Teams consist of six athletes playing the best of five sets. A player called the 'Libero' may substitute into the back court for any player. Sport Guide: Tackling Triathlon January 12, 2021 Athletes must swim 1.5km, cycle 40km and run 10km, but the triathlon transitions are often called the fourth discipline and can be decisive. Sport Guide: Understanding Tennis January 12, 2021 Elite tennis can be won or lost on the smallest of margins, and the pressure often serves up incredible tension and thrilling matches. Sport Guide: Tackling Taekwondo January 12, 2021 This knockout martial arts competition awards athletes points for how they attack their competitor. Sport Guide: Shooting January 12, 2021 Shooting disciplines include rifle, shotgun and pistol. Athletes must possess great technique, nerve and concentration. Sport Guide: All About Sailing January 12, 2021 Sailing a boat through the finish line takes strategy and skill, but sometimes nature gets in the way. Sport Guide: Tackling Rugby Sevens January 12, 2021 Olympic rugby previously involved teams of 15, but the seven-a-side version made its debut in 2016. View all new to sports articles Recruiting What A College Coach Looks For In Recruits January 25, 2021 Hard work and positive attitudes will take an athlete a long way with college coaches and recruiters. What To Look For In Recruits? Basketball Coach Marlon Stewart Explains October 21, 2020 Stewart explains four things he looks for in recruits that coaches might miss if they aren't looking NCAA Eligibility Checklist for 2021-2024 Graduates August 24, 2020 As the recruiting landscape continues to change, keeping things on track can be challenging. To help recruits manage their recruiting, NCSA experts broke down what student-athletes should be doing to stay on track with NCAA eligibility by grad year. 5 Questions Families Ask About Athletic Scholarships August 05, 2020 To help student-athletes understand how athletic scholarships work and what to expect, we’ve answered five common questions about scholarships. Tips for Knowing When to Call a College Coach July 28, 2020 When it comes to contacting college coaches, student-athletes tend to rely on digital forms of communication, including email, text and social media. This article shares what really stands out for coaches when it comes to contacting them. How Should You Communicate with College Coaches? July 21, 2020 Starting June 15 after a student-athlete’s sophomore year, most NCAA college coaches can begin contacting them via email, phone calls, texts, DMS and face-to-face meeting. Before you start reaching out to college coaches 5 Questions Families are Asking About College Recruiting During COVID-19 July 14, 2020 Below we’ve answered 5 common questions families are asking about college recruiting during COVID-19. 10 Tips for Creating a Highlight Video July 08, 2020 Below is a list of ten tips to creating an eye-catching highlight video: What Questions to Ask College Coaches June 30, 2020 Read on to find out what questions to ask college coaches during the recruiting process to determine if that school is the best fit. The Impact of the NCAA D1 Extended Suspension of In-Person Recruiting Through July 31 June 16, 2020 While Division 1 coaches are not allowed to meet face-to-face with a recruit on or off campus, this doesn’t mean they’ve stopped recruiting. Below are just a few ways that Division 1 coaches are recruiting and connecting with student-athletes digitally. How to Use Social Media for College Recruiting June 11, 2020 Here are five ways you can catch the attention of college coaches through your social media. Quiet vs. Dead Period: What's the difference? June 02, 2020 The NCAA Division 1 Committee extended its suspension of in-person recruiting through July 31, while Division 2 programs are observing a quiet period from June 1-30. View all recruiting articles Athlete's Health Returning to Your Sport Following Covid March 22, 2021 Here's what you should know on how to make a safe return to play. How to Fuel for Two-a-Day Practices March 11, 2021 Two-a-day practices have become the norm for many youth athletes and it can make eating right throughout the day more difficult. 5 Tips to Staying Healthy and on the Field March 10, 2021 Outdoor sports are finally in full force. Although many athletes have been training, conditioning and playing games, the intensity will definitely be ramping up with more practices and games each week. So how can an athlete stay healthy and on the field? How to Keep Kids Active During Remote Learning December 27, 2020 Many districts have already announced plans to go remote for at least the start of the school year -- which means no PE class How and Why to Teach Mindfulness to Young Athletes November 05, 2020 Help young athletes learn how to incorporate mindfulness techniques into their routine, lowering stress levels and improving concentration. Keep Your Teeth Protected as You Return to Sport November 04, 2020 Don't get caught with $10,000 - $15,000 bill for tooth trauma. Follow these simple steps to keep your choppers safe. Top 5 Foods to Boost Your Athlete’s Mood October 29, 2020 Find out what foods may help boost your young athlete's mood while maintaining good nutrition and also keeping them sport-ready. Are Your Kids Outside Enough? October 10, 2020 Kids can never be outside too much 7 Best Go-To Foods to Bring on the Road September 24, 2020 Here are a few easy options to tackle any amount of hunger with cost-effective, tasty, and healthy options on a road trip. 7 Ways to Exercise at Home With a Toddler or Preschooler September 17, 2020 At home with a rambunctious toddler or preschooler? Here's how to exercise in a way that gets your heart pumping and helps run down their energy, too. 4 Key Mindset Changes Your Athlete Needs to Make ASAP September 12, 2020 Mental toughness is a skill helps with athletic performance and everyday life but it's a skill that must be learned like any other. This article shows you how to begin the process of developing this skill. Preventing Heat Illness in Athletes September 09, 2020 Rising temperatures combined with intense sports training present the greatest risk of heat illness, especially in the first weeks of practices. And long practices in poorly ventilated gyms or studios carry a higher risk of heat illness. View all athlete health articles