Headlines From The Nation's Press

Each week we open the show with some of the most glaring and reoccurring stories chronicling the ugliness surrounding youth sports organized by adults; issues pertaining to our children's health and education. These headlines clap like thunder across the country signaling a warning to parents, coaches, administrators, lawmakers, and community stakeholders that widespread change is imperative.

My good friend, and frequent guest on the show, Professor Doug Abrams of the College of Law at the University of Missouri, will add you to his daily mailing list of these stories. Simply email Doug and ask him to add your name to the list.

The Main(e) Event

Brian Lampman is a secondary school teacher in Saline, Michigan, where he teaches eighth-grade social studies, integrating sports sociology concepts into his course. His research focuses on using sports as a "hook" to teach his students about race, gender, social class, and our nation's history.

Brian co-edited Learning Culture Through Sports with Sandra Spickard Prettyman an assistant professor at the University of Akron. Sandra will be a guest in August discussing coaches, language, and power. The book is available with a 15% discount directly from the publisher Rowman and Littlefield Education at www.rowmaneducation.com. Hardcover and paperback editions.

Visit Brian's website to learn more http://www.salinehornetsoccer.net/SIS.html

Bob Bigelow has been a frequent guest on the show. His book, "Just Let The Kids Play" has adults around the country re-thinking how youth sports are organized. Bob co-authored an "Open Letter To Communities" in Learning Culture Through Sports. We'll talk about what communities can do to improve youth sports in the second hour.

The Coaches Corner

OK, so why is the Little League season over for 95% of our kids who are not "All-Stars?" The big complaint from high school and LL coaches is that the playing season (spring) is too short, cold, rainy, snowy, and muddy.  July and August are generally nice and the kids are out of school. So what if a handful are gone on vacation? Its a shame to see all of those LL fields vacant when they could be filled with boys and girls playing ball all summer instead of "chillin', or just hangin' out" until school resumes.

Regis' Rant

Did you see the infamous "head butt" by France's super-hero, Zinedine Zidane? Zidane lost his cool and temper in the second overtime of the World Cup final on Sunday. France played the last 10 minutes without their captain and superstar. Zidane's bad judgment arguably cost France the World Cup. Unfortunately, the final image of this great player will forever be him dropping Italy's Marco Materazzi with a vicious head butt after the two exchanged words...trash talking. Is there a lesson here? I think so.

The Parent Trap

Resist the temptation to have your kids spend most of the summer at camps and clinics because you fear they won't make the high school or travel team next year. For 99% of you, your kids won't be moving to the next level, so why put them through the crazed pressure cooker of a year 'round sport? Nearly every professional athlete will tell you that your kids need to play several sports, just as they did. They will also tell you to "back off" and let your kids be kids, be with their friends, and to play what they want, when they want, and however they want!

We invite our listeners to call in and share their views.

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