For many of us, the New Year brings with it renewed hope and expectations. The same is true for youth sports and coaches.
COVID-19 disrupted all of our lives last year and youth sports were not immune. Leagues across the country shut down. When some leagues re-opened, there were restrictions on equipment sharing, spacing, and having end-of-game snacks. Adjustments were made. The baseball league where I coached my niece didn’t shake hands after the game – both teams went to their respective foul lines and tipped their caps to each other. There were some parents who were reluctant to have their children return to sports even with additional precautions.
As we flip the calendar, youth sports – at least as we knew them before the virus – are not a given. Cases here in Arizona are on the rise and many schools are going back to online only classes. As the vaccines become more prevalent, perhaps we can get back to youth recreational sports later this spring and into the summer. Leagues can restart and children can safely return to play. This is my hope.
My other hopes for the New Year:
- Continued positive relationship with my Flag Football Fanatics and Goodyear Parks and Recreation clients. When they start playing this season, I’ll be doing my clinics.
- Continued blog posts to provide assistance to youth recreational sports coaches. On deck already are discussions about coaching teams with both boys and girls and whether my philosophy is ‘soft‘.
- Progress towards the Hustle & Attitude Guide to Coaching Youth Sports book. I haven’t given up on writing the book.
Most of all, my hope is for safety and good health for everyone.
Hustle & Attitude 