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“I kind of realized that sometimes coaches and dads have conflicting jobs.” ~Ted Lasso (S4E1) That simple line from Ted Lasso captures something deeply true about the adults who surround young people. A coach’s job is to challenge, correct, raise expectations, and help an athlete become more than they thought they could be. A parent’s job is to protect, reassure, and provide the steady reminder that love and belonging are not dependent on a score, placement, starting position

Why Children Need Disappointment, Failure, Rejection, Grief, and the Chance to Discover That They Can Survive Them There is a particular expression that passes across a child’s face when something they deeply wanted does not happen. A name is missing from the list. A friend chooses someone else. A role goes to another student. The judge announces the placements, and the number they hoped to hear never comes. The invitation does not arrive. The grade is lower than expected. Th

“Youth sports are not only about building better athletes. They are about building young people who know how to work hard, handle disappointment, celebrate others, support a team, and keep going.” ~Dr. Catherine V. Addor We often measure youth sports by scores, placements, trophies, titles, and advancement. We ask who won, who qualified, who made the team, and who earned the highest score. Those things matter. Young athletes should be encouraged to set goals, work hard, compe

The other day, someone walked past me wearing a T-shirt that read, “No Risk, No Story.” It was one of those simple statements that stays with you long after the person wearing it has disappeared into the crowd. I immediately thought about classrooms. Every day, students are asked to take risks. They raise their hands without knowing whether their answer is correct. They read aloud when they are unsure of a word. They share an idea that may be different from everyone else’s. T

They say “third time’s the charm,” but what if it’s not? What if it takes four tries? Or five? Persistence doesn’t count attempts; it...