Editorials

Indiana Teen Unfairly Kicked Off Basketball Team Because Of Length Of His Hair

Last October, 14-year-old Austin Hayden earned a place on his Greensburg, Indiana middle school boys' basketball team.  A week later, he was told he could no longer be a member of the team after refusing to cut his hair (which was long, but not long enough to pull into a pony-tail) to comply with the coach's policy, which required that his hair be above his collar and ears.

Ten Years After: The State of Youth Sports in 2010

In August 2010 MomsTeam.com celebrated its tenth anniversary.  As we head into 2011, MomsTeam.com founder and Publisher, Brooke de Lench, looks back at where youth sports were 10 years ago, where it is now, and where it is going.  She says it's a mixed bag: In some ways, things have gotten better, and some ways they have stayed the same, and in some ways they have gotten worse.

 

.

Thanksgiving Blessings: Foundation Gives Malawi Youth Chance To Play Sports, Get Education

Most American youth playing sports these days are lucky enough to play on well-maintained fields and with the best and latest sports gear.  Children in the southeast African nation of Malawi, among the world's least developed and most densely populated countries, aren't so fortunate.  Malawan children face many adversities, including poverty, disease, and low life expectancies.  Opportunities to play sports, much less with the right equipment, are few and far between.Kalekeni Banda and children of Chituka, Malawi

 

Reforming Youth Sports: One Mom's Wish List

While Mother's Day may have come and gone, I have a lot to be thankful for: my wonderful, healthy triplet sons of whom I am immensely proud. But, wearing my MomsTeam hat, I also have wishes for all the sports moms out there.  My first wish is that, instead of defining competition solely in terms of winning and losing, youth sports could also reflect a mother's belief that, while competition is healthy and necessary, a successful competition is one where all players do their best and respect their teammates, opponents, and the rules.

N.F.L. Concussion Message: Do As We Say, Not As We Do

Last week Arizona Cardinals wide receiver and Pro Bowl special teams player Sean Morey admitted that he covered up his concussion symptoms so he could play against the Chicago Bears the previous Sunday.

In one sense the news wasn't all that surprising. After all, N.F.L. players play hurt all the time. It's their job. It's part of the gladiator culture of the league and of the game of football.

Tebow Concussion, NFL Dementia Study Are Teachable Moments

Concussion continue to be in the news.  Which is a good thing, because the media coverage provide teachable moments.  But what lessons should parents of youth and high school athletes take away from concussions suffered by comic Conan O'Brien, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, and the NFL's reaction to its own study showing an alarmingly high incidence of early dementia in former players?  The answers may surprise you.

Concussions in the News

Concussions have been in the news a lot lately.

First was the concussion suffered by "Tonight" star, Conan O'Brien, when he slipped and hit the back of his head during a fake triathlon with "Desperate Housewives" star, Teri Hatcher.

According to news reports, O'Brien "saw stars," couldn't stand and had slurred speech. After trying to continue the taping, O'Brien ended up going to the hospital.

Empowering Women To Take More Active Role in Youth Sports

Women need to push for leadership roles in youth sports both as coaches and administrators to protect their children from needless injury playing sports and help break down the gender stereotyping and sexist attitudes that permeate today's youth sports culture more than 25 years after the passage of Title IX.

MomsTeam: Past, Present, and Future

MomsTeam.com founder and editor-in-chief, Brooke de Lench, talks about how MomsTeam got started and its plans for the future.

8 Ways Mothers Can Make Youth Sports Safer And Enjoyable For All

What serves mothers so well as sports parents is their natural protectiveness, nurturing instinct, emotional openness, and their belief in the importance of fair play, cooperation, connectedness, inclusiveness and the value of doing one's best over winning and competition.  Here are 8 ways moms can use their special gifts to help their child - and all children - have the best possible sports experience.
Syndicate content