Topic
Rules of play
Why youth sports exists, what it is for, what it is not.
89 pieces
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Baseball · age 5–7 · Jan 12, 2026
Why Tee-Ball Doesn't Have Strikeouts
The rule exists for a reason.
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Hockey · age 15+ · Jun 10, 2026
High School Hockey and the Juniors Math
College hockey players don't come from high school teams. They come from juniors, two or three years later, through a billet family's spare bedroom.
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age 13–14 · Apr 17, 2026
The 4% rule
What college sports actually looks like. The math that matters.
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Longer read · Apr 20, 2026
The case for one sport per season
We over-schedule kids. The actual research. What one season buys you. The pushback you will get.
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Longer read · age 5–7 · Apr 9, 2026
The kid who isn't athletic (and what that actually means)
Not coordinated. Not fast. Not 'a natural.' But can they learn? Yes.
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Longer read · age 11–12 · Apr 20, 2026
The Olympic dream conversation at 12
When your kid says they want to go pro. When the dream is big but the reality is getting bigger.
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Longer read · Apr 29, 2026
Why we exist. Three things youth sports is for.
Have fun. Learn the rules and how to be a good teammate. Want to come back next year. Everything on this site exists to help with one of the three. The fourth, hidden challenge: doing all of this while coaching your own kid.
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Longer read · Apr 13, 2026
The science fair question
When sports stops being practice and becomes more. When your kid needs to choose.
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Mar 20, 2026
The Unwritten Rules Every League Has
The stuff nobody tells you but everyone knows.
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Longer read · Apr 19, 2026
What sports gives kids that nothing else does
Not the trophy. Not the skill. The thing that sticks with them at 30.
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Longer read · age 15+ · Apr 16, 2026
When your kid isn't going to play in college (and that's fine)
The moment you know. The conversation that matters. What comes next.
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Longer read · age 8–10 · Apr 10, 2026
Why winning at 8 doesn't mean what you think
The scoreboard, the trophy, and what your kid is actually learning.
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Longer read · Basketball · age 11–12 · Jun 11, 2026
AAU basketball: what parents need to know
How AAU works, what it costs, and what nobody tells you before the first check clears.
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Baseball · age 8–10 · Jun 11, 2026
Baseball pitch count rules explained for parents
Why pitch counts exist, how they work, and what rest-day rules actually mean.
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Basketball · Jun 11, 2026
Basketball rules for parents: a quick guide
The rules you need to follow a youth basketball game without asking someone to explain every call.
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Jun 11, 2026
Boys lacrosse vs girls lacrosse rules: what's different
Same sport name, different games — here is what actually differs between boys and girls lacrosse.
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Longer read · Cheerleading · age 11–12 · Jun 11, 2026
Cheer tryouts: what to expect
What happens at a cheer tryout, how coaches evaluate athletes, and what your kid should practice beforehand.
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Longer read · Volleyball · age 11–12 · Jun 11, 2026
Club volleyball: what parents need to know before signing up
How the club system works, what the season actually looks like, and what to ask before you write the first check.
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Longer read · Cheerleading · age 11–12 · Jun 11, 2026
Competitive cheer vs sideline cheer: what's the difference?
Two different sports wearing the same name — here is what each one actually involves.
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Longer read · age 11–12 · Jun 11, 2026
Concert band vs. marching band: what's the difference and which fits your kid
Same instrument, completely different experience.
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Longer read · age 8–10 · Jun 11, 2026
Competitive dance vs. recreational dance: which one is right for your kid
Start here before you sign anything.
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Longer read · Cross country · age 13–14 · Jun 11, 2026
Cross country vs track: which is better for your kid?
What the two sports actually develop differently, and how to help your kid decide.
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Longer read · age 8–10 · Jun 11, 2026
Competitive dance: what parents need to know before signing up
Competitive dance is a different world from recreational class. Know what you are stepping into.
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Longer read · age 11–12 · Jun 11, 2026
Dance tryouts: what to expect and how to help your kid prepare
The tryout room is different from a regular class. Know the difference before you walk in.