Dr. Julie Partridge, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Kinesiology Southern Illinois University
This week marks the 40th anniversary of the passage of Title IX. This landmark legislation led to many important cultural changes in the United States, and paved the way for millions of girls to begin participating in scholastic sport. Many people assumed that as new generations were given the chance to play sports, these girls would eventually end up coaching either at the youth, scholastic, college or even professional levels.
By: Lisa Licata, Director, Professional Administrators
National Alliance for Youth Sports
Last week, a jury in Pennsylvania found Jerry Sandusky GUILTY on 45 counts of child sexual abuse. Also last week, in a not-so-high-profile case, a South Carolina man who was a former teacher, coach, foster parent and church youth group leader confessed and then plead guilty to 23 charges of child sexual abuse (read that story here). These stories are both sickening and frightening for those of us dedicated to serving youth.
As youth sports providers – we must ask ourselves what can be done now to protect young athletes in our programs?
By: Kacey Lake, Director, Ready, Set, Run!
National Alliance for Youth Sports
My runner’s heart is smiling. Full-toothed. You see, youth sports are featured in news stories all of the time. For better or worse. But running? And youth running, at that? Not a lot of ink. Last week, however, two different stories caught my eye. And they weren’t even just youth running stories; they were inspirational youth running stories.
Enter Meghan Vogel from West Liberty, Ohio. Meghan had just won the 1600 meter run and up next was the 3200 meter. At the state track meet, mind you. As she came into her final stretch, a competitor, yes COMPETITOR, fell down in front of her. Without hesitation, Meghan helped the other runner up and supported her to finish the race and cross the finish line together. Actually, the result was that Meghan came in after her competitor.
By: Lisa Licata, Director, Professional Administrators
National Alliance for Youth Sports
As the end of 2nd and 4th grade approaches, it has been quite exciting for my children and me. Reading, math and science lessons have given way to end-of-the-year parties and a whole bunch of silliness. I have heard countless knock-knock jokes and kid pranks in the past few days and one stuck out beyond the others. My older daughter blurted out a new way of saying the word “assume.” She exuberantly stated that we should not assume anything as it can make an ASS out of U and ME. She immediately laughed and looked at me for my reaction. While I tried to keep my giggles in check (and then proceeded to answer my younger daughter’s standard question, “what does that mean?”), I could not help to think about how many parents ASSUME so much about the sport programs they put their children into.
By: Kacey Lake, Director, Ready, Set, Run!
