This Week’s Playbook. This week we’re excited to roll out a new design and so many of the features you’ve been asking for: better readability, content topic labels, weekly surveys, easy buttons for referrals and more. Here’s what else we have tee’d up this week.

“Youth sports parenting is a full-time side hustle. The car rides, the snacks, the weekends, the bills, the deep breaths… and you still show up with love. One day, they’ll understand. And they’ll never forget it.”

Goal-setting (pun intended!) is such an important part of a young athlete’s motivation. Ironically though, goal setting usually has little to do with scoring goals and so much to do with the process of getting there. Done right, it builds confidence, purpose, and resilience. Done wrong, it piles on pressure and sucks the joy out of the game. Here’s how to help your child (or team) set goals that actually work—without turning sports into another source of stress. Take your shot and read on.

—Ian Goldberg

Or add some other tools to your athlete’s toolbox:

💪 Why Multi-Sport Athletes Make the Best Athletes

❤️‍🩹 Why Your Daughter Says “Sorry” All The Time (and what to do about it)

🧘‍♂️ Why Every Athlete Needs A Pre-Game Routine

Of all the roles coaches play (trainer, leader, diplomat, communicator) perhaps “mental health advocate” is the most important. The truth is, coaches have more influence on athletes' mental health (for good or for bad) than almost anyone else in their lives right now. That’s why I love to start practices with some light-hearted fun, particularly to help my players transition from the busy school day, homework and studying, into a space where they can let loose, play sport and have fun.

In my experience, the formula work best when coaches and parents are in synch and when coaches create space for athletes to talk about anxiety, stress, or tough days without judgment, kids actually use it. Too many coaches focus only on performance and forget that what's happening in a kid's head directly affects what happens on the field. When coaches normalize mental health conversations, teach basic coping strategies, and emphasize effort over outcomes, they're not just building better athletes; they're building healthier humans. Get the full guide on supporting your athletes' mental health here.

—Maddie Soviero

Or find other coach resources here:

🧑‍🧒 Making Parents Part of the Process, Instead of Part of the Problem

‼️ VIDEO: Using the Buddy System to Fill Your Athlete’s Emotional Tank

🙌 Top Tips for Building Team Culture

Let's talk about fueling your young athlete. Too many sports parents think the answer is stocking up on Gatorade, protein bars, and supplements. But here's the reality: those convenient sport fuels should be used sparingly, not as the foundation for your athlete’s food pyramid. Youth sports nutrition works best when athletes build from the ground up, starting with high-quality whole foods and ending with supplements as a bonus, not a base.

The foundation matters most. Athletes need minimally processed, high-quality foods that provide enough energy to meet the demands of an active lifestyle. From there, add micronutrients (think colorful fruits and vegetables), then focus on nutrient timing (carbs before practice, protein after), and only then introduce sport-specific fuel like bars and gels for during games or intense training. Supplements come last because they're useless without the other four layers holding them up. When parents skip the foundation and jump straight to the fancy stuff, kids end up tired, underperforming, and wondering why their expensive pre-workout shake isn't helping. Check out the full athlete food pyramid breakdown here...

—Lori Russell, MS RD CSSD

Or find other tips for sideline parents here:

🥍 This Giving Tuesday We’re Inviting Our Community to Support Kids Lacrosse Africa (KLA)

🤬 Is the Parent Pledge the Secret to Reducing Heated Sideline Moments

🪖 Are we Making Our Kids Soft: the Risk of Overprotective Sports Parenting

The last time Rose Lavelle scored in an NWSL Championship, she was on the losing side, a member of the Seattle Reign team that lost to Gotham in 2023.

A Rose on any other team is an MVP.

For the second time, Gotham FC are the NWSL Champions, defeating the Washington Spirit 1-0. Gotham are now two-for-two in the Championship match. Lavelle’s goal earned her MVP honors – and her first NWSL Championship. Read the exciting game breakdown here…

Or check out other tips from the pros here:

🥅 VIDEO: NHL All-Star Ryan Kessler on the Life Lesson Her Learned from his Dad

📣 VIDEO: Steve Kerr on the Only Sidelines Louder Thank the NBA

🧢 VIDEO: Johnny Damon on Being a Sports Parent to 8 Kids

Why not parlay your next tournament into a family vacation? This week’s article rounds up 8 U.S. destinations where youth sports and family fun intersect — from Cooperstown to San Diego — all with IHG Hotels & Resorts making travel easier for sports families.. Start your journey here…

Or get other travel tips here:

📚 How to Keep Howework and Sports from Colliding, at Home or on the Road

🚘 What Parents Can Say on the Car Ride Home

📊 Is this the Disney Era for the Youth Sports Industry?

Have a great sports week,

Ian Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief

Follow our sport parents and athletes building the future of youth sports.