lthough the physical and psychological benefits of youth participating in sport are evident, the increasing professionalization and specialization of youth sport, primarily by coaches and parents, are changing the culture of youth sport and causing it to erode the ideal mantra: “It’s all about the kids.”
In Best Practice for Youth Sport, readers will gain an appreciation of an array of issues regarding youth sport. This research-based text is presented in a practical manner, with examples from current events that foster readers’ interest and class discussion. The content is based on the principle of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP), which can be defined as engaging in decisions, behaviors, and policies that meet the physical, psychological, and social needs of children and youth based on their ages and maturational levels. This groundbreaking resource covers a breadth of topics, including bone development, burnout, gender and racial stereotypes, injuries, motor behavior, and parental pressures.
Part I. Youth Sport Basics
Chapter 1. Overview of Youth Sport
Chapter 2. Evolution of Youth Sport
Chapter 3. Philosophy and Objectives of Youth Sport
Part II. Maturation and Readiness for Youth Sport Participation
Chapter 4. Physical Growth and Maturation
Chapter 5. Readiness for Learning Skills and Competing
Chapter 6. Motivation and Psychosocial Development
Chapter 7. Modifying Sport for Youth
Chapter 8. Teaching Skills to Youth Athletes
Part III. Intensity of Participation in Youth Sport
Chapter 9. Physical Training and Young Athletes
Chapter 10. Talent Development in Sport
Chapter 11. Stress and Burnout in Youth Sport
Chapter 12. Injuries in Youth Sport
Part IV. Social Considerations in Youth Sport
Chapter 13. Cultural Competence in Youth Sport
Chapter 14. Coaches and Youth Sport
Chapter 15. Parents and Youth Sport
Chapter 16. Moral and Life Skills Development in Youth Sport
Robin S. Vealey, PhD, is a professor in the department of kinesiology and health at Miami University in Ohio, where she has worked for more than 30 years. She has dedicated nearly her entire adult life to youth sports, whether as a coach, administrator, educator, researcher, or consultant. She is internationally known for her research on the psychological aspects of youth sport and coaching effectiveness.
Melissa A. Chase, PhD, is a professor in the department of kinesiology and health at Miami University in Ohio, where she has worked for two decades. She specializes in research about coaching efficacy and self-efficacy in children interested in increasing motivation and effectiveness, and she has presented her research across the United States and internationally.