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![]() The Future of Youth Sports Author and founder of Changing the Game Project, John O’Sullivan, reimagines youth sports in a post-COVID-19 world. He says a major rethink is in order, especially for kids 12 years old and under. The pandemic has created hardship for everyone, especially children who may be super-eager to return to their sports programs. O’Sullivan expects these thoughts will be running through parent’s minds the closer we get to the “new normal”:
O’Sullivan believes that “every youth sports organization that wants to thrive in a post-pandemic world must put character and personal development at the forefront of their mission.” That responsibility, he says, is on coaches who volunteer their time to teach skills and develop young athletes. They will need to be educated and their coaching skills developed first:
Involving parents more is also mandatory:
Maybe when activities are allowed to commence again, families will want a little more balance in their lives:
It should be clear to practically everyone that “back to normal” is not the direction we are currently headed. Our kids need to stay active and fit, and physically interact with their peers. While sports are an effective and fun avenue for athletic development, it is character development that coaches and parents would be wise to emphasize in a post-pandemic world. Nick Jacobs is a partner with SMR, LLC, a senior leadership healthcare consulting firm. He is a founder of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, former board member and officer of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine and served on the Executive Committee of the Integrative Health Policy Consortium. A former hospital CEO and founder of two genetic research institutes, Jacobs maintains a website, Healinghospitals.com. ![]() |
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![]() Western Pennsylvania Guide to Good Health. All rights reserved. |