Youth Sports Links for Parents and Coaches
Youth Sports Organizations
Citizenship Through Sports Alliance (CTSA) – This site is a must visit for all parents, coaches and league administrators. Check out their report card on youth sports. You might be shocked at what you see.
2005 National Youth Sports Report Card (CTSA)
2005 Youth Sports Community Report Card for Parents (CTSA)
National Youth Sports Safety Foundation – The NYSSF is dedicated to the reduction and revention of youth sports injuries. Check out this website for ways to promote youth sports safety, publications, hot topics and more.
National Council of Youth Sports – The NCYS is an organization that promotes participation by all youth in physical activities. Their website offers the Youth Sports Today free newsletter, a Certified Sports Administrator course, ways to get involved in government relations through their Call to Action issues, and more.
Youth Sports Research Council – The YSRC was founded by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and offers clinics for coaches, parents and administrators. The website offers links to information on legal and administrative issues in youth sports, as well as provides general information on a wide variety of topics.
National Association for Sports and Physical Education – NASPE is a professional organization that offers a wide variety of resources for coaches and PE teachers. NASPE also offers workshops, conferences, and a discussion forum.
National Alliance for Youth Sports – NAYS “is America’s leading advocate for positive and safe sports and activities for children.” They offer programs for parents, coaches, administrators and volunteers as well as links to resources on youth sports.
The Institute for the Study of Youth Sports – This website run by Michigan State University offers information for coaches, parents and kids.
North American Youth Sport Institute
Capital City Volleyball Club – Capital City Volleyball Club Official Website, Reno Nevada. The site offers articles on volleyball along with training tips
Other Youth Sports Sites
Kids Sports Network – KSN is a website for coaches and parents. The KSN offers training programs, articles, and support to volunteer coaches.
True Sport – This site is operated by the Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport. It serves the members of the True Sport Movement. True Sport is a national movement (Canadian based and focused) made up of communities and groups across Canada working to ensure that sport provides a positive, meaningful, and enriching experience for all participants.
MomsTeam – This website targeted to parents offers a wide range of articles and resources on youth sports from ages 5 to 18. MomsTeam also offers a free newsletter.
http://www.youth-sports.com/ – Offers how-to coloring books on youth sports such as t-ball, soccer, and basketball to help teach young children about the various sports. It also offers articles and newsletters for parents and coaches.
A Guide to Safety for Young Athletes
Parents for Good Sports – Find out about their most recent project here
Positive Coaching Alliance – The mission of the PCA is to transform the culture of youth sports so that it leads to a positive experience for all athletes
Weplay – Weplay is an online community of parents, athletes, coaches, and administrators that offers information on a wide range of sports, and youth-sports related issues. It provides a way to organize and connect with your team members or keep track of your child’s sports schedule.
Online Article Resources
Sports Shorts – This site from the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness is for parents as well as physicians. It offers articles on sports-related conditions. Examples of topics covered include: foot pain, ACL injuries in female athletes, performance enhancing substances, and the female athlete triad. Sports-specific issues are also available.
The Physician and Sportsmedicine Online – Offers full text articles on a variety of sports medicine issues
The American Journal of Sportsmedicine – Offers free abstracts with the option to purchase articles or purchase a subscription
Sports Feel Good Stories – SportsFeelGoodStories.com showcases inspirational sports stories that focus on good deeds, overcoming obstacles, achievement and sportsmanship.
Coaching Links
The American Council for Coaching – The American Council for Coaching offers youth and advanced level certification courses in Baseball, Softball, Soccer, and Basketball. All courses are accredited by the American Council on Fitness Education.
International Council for Coaching Education
Coaching Association of Canada
Coaches Network – The site provides tools for coaches to communicate with other coaches in order to exchange ideas, further relationships, share solutions, etc.; and tools for coaches to efficiently communicate with the parents of the athletes on their team and post valuable resources for these parents as well as a establish forums for discussion.
Coaching Youth Sports – This website offers an electronic newsletter with great information and articles for parents, coaches and athletes. It is run by the Health and Physical Education department of Virginia Tech.
Sport Association Links
US Youth Soccer Association – Find information for coaches, parents, players, officials here, including information on rule modifications for younger players such as small-sided games.
Little League Baseball – This website offers tips and info for parents, coaches, players and umpires involved in Little League.
USA Hockey – Youth Page – Find info on the rules and on parent education programs. This site also contains a link to a skills progression handbook that is great for parents or coaches.
United States Youth Volleyball League – The mission of the USYVL is “to provide every child between the ages of 8 and 14 a chance to learn and play volleyball in a fun, safe, supervised environment.” Click on this link for programs and information in your area.
