As adults, we have an important role and responsibility to oversee and shepard our children to assume their eventual role as good adults.  Youth sports provides a portal into both society and adulthood.  As coaches and parents, you are extremely influential in the development of our children.  Youth sports should be a joyous and positive experience; however, unfortunately — as in life — there are negative influences and risks that can contribute to ruining the experience.  Adult misconduct is often one of the most impactful and negative contributing factors to bad experiences.

The provided Top Ten Tips sheets are intended to in a light hearted, but serious fashion, provide suggestions to assist coaches, parents/guardians, grandparents and other adults how to support our young athletes.  Along with the Top Ten Tips suggestions you will find at the top and bottom of the sheets valuable safety and well-being messaging that you may need to utilize when confronted with unprecedented incidents.  The Early Adolescent Program’s Four Pillars have been created to assist youth sports advocates as we all strive to fulfill our mission to raise our children to become good adults.