Read Excerpts From The Book

"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, ... then you will be man, my son."

- Rudyard Kipling

• This book is about children. Our children today depend on us -- "the adults" -- for their every need, but tomorrow they will be the adults making their own decisions. The actions they take tomorrow depend directly on the actions we take today.
• Children are full of enthusiasm and optimism. Life, to them, is full of possibilities. The memory of a caught fly ball, played on a loop again and again in their minds, will last forever. This is the stuff dreams are made of. Yet we tamper with those dreams by abusing the positions of authority we are in. We, the parents and coaches, have the power to build or to destroy, and that is an awesome responsibility.
• Within most games there are moments of triumph that will be remembered forever by someone. Your coaching will create memories. What kind of memories will your coaching create?
• The quality of behavior of individuals in both victory and defeat is what sportsmanship is all about. In any sport, as in life, mistakes are inevitable. To accept this is to understand that a person's value is not determined by his accomplishments on the playing field.
• The importance you place on winning will largely determine the children's attitudes about winning.
• If we never learn to lose with dignity, life will hold many bitter memories for us indeed.
• Coaches need to create an environment of positive learning, not one in which the child is afraid to make a mistake.
• Coaches and parents alike need to be aware that what children need most when they make a mistake is support and encouragement.
• How important is the outcome of a kid's game compared with the lessons and the memories that each child will take away from being a participant? Children need to be spoken to in a positive manner and with positive encouragement. Will your coaching style be the turning point in some child's life that builds self-esteem confidence and character, or will you be the reason he never reaches full potential?