By Mark Thomas
(September 12, 2021)
I remember watching an interview once with famed historian and author, David McCullough. He explained his reason for why he started writing books. His answer was simple. Nobody was writing the stories he wanted to read, so he started doing it himself. That inspiration has carried him for decades and the rest of us have enjoyed the fruits of his labors of love.
When I decided to start “The Youth Sports Experience”, my reasoning was similar. As a parent, coach, and genuinely curious guy placed into the youth sports world, I was coming across challenges I hadn’t thought about before. There were different places and people I could turn to for advice, but no one central hub connecting them. Then I realized that I am that hub. So, I started tinkering around with a podcast interviewing a lot of interesting people and a blog where I could share experiences and resources. It’s a work in progress, but it will allow me to distribute information to anyone out there looking. I’ve made the name broad enough that I can incorporate several different topics.
Navigating the youth sports landscape brings questions and decisions never anticipated. I found this out as a first-time parent. I’ve spent my life around sports and my wife is the head coach of the University of Maryland Women’s Basketball program. So I thought that between us, we would have most of the answers. Little did I know what a learning experience would lie ahead. It does create some stress, but it’s also been a fun education. I freely admit I haven’t gotten everything right, but I try my best.
Some of the dilemmas my wife and I have come across include:
- What age should a kid begin playing organized sports? Which sports?
- How do we find the right program?
- Should our kid join a travel team and at what age does that make sense?
- Which travel team is the right one?
- How do I find the right coach for my kid?
- Do we need to find a skills trainer and how do I know what they are teaching makes sense?
- Does our kid need to do extra speed and agility training? If so, what methods are age appropriate? Can a person even really get faster and quicker?
- What makes a good summer sports camp?
That’s a partial list of the questions I’ve had to answer as a father of twin boys. I’m not only interested in what’s best for my boys, but also in sharing that information with people in similar situations. I’ve done my best to find really good people to help me find solutions.
That’s why I started “The Youth Sports Experience” podcast. I’m talking to several insightful people connected to youth sports. We’re doing deeper dives on a variety of topics. What are the “successful” coaches doing with kids to help them? What youth programs figured out how to best teach kids how to play? I even want to get into the science of the various systems that lie within our children. I am genuinely curious and eager to make information available to everyone.
I’m now 51 years old, but decades ago, I played youth sports. It goes without saying that today’s scene is very different. I have worked in sports media and coached youth sports teams. I lived and traveled with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team through World Cup Qualifying and the 2006 World Cup in Germany. My wife is the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Maryland, in which they have been to multiple Final Fours and won the 2006 National Championship. Through it all, I have been exposed to many different facets of the sports world as a fan, an insider, as someone covering sports, and as a spouse to a highly successful coach. It gives me a unique perspective and understanding of the twists and turns of the sports world and I’m still genuinely curious and ask lots of questions.
“Know your why” is a key piece of business advice offered by bestselling author and speaker Simon Sinek, this concept also applies to youth sport coaches and administrators. In my mind, I know my “why”- the chance to talk to people I want to learn from. I hope lots of other people gain from it as well. If you have any ideas or topics, feel free to reach out.
