As parents and caregivers, we want our athletes to perform at their best and achieve excellence in their sport, at school, and in their other extracurricular activities. But while striving to be their best is important, sometimes athletes can take these behaviors too far and end up hurting themselves as a result. So, how can you help your athlete strive for greatness -- while avoiding the dangers that can come from perfectionist tendencies?

As a coach, are you thinking about helping your athletes form habits? It’s easy to be consumed by making it through the next practice or game, but in many cases, taking the time to focus on good habits can make your team run a lot smoother and lead to better results and performances.

TrueSport expert Kevin Chapman, PhD, clinical psychologist and founder of The Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, is sharing why habits are so important, along with a few easy ways to start making them part of your team's culture.

For many coaches, it’s easy to end up with a scarcity-based mindset. After all, we’re used to the concept of ‘winning’ and ‘losing’ on the field, fighting for time in the weight room, and battling over buses and uniform budgets. But is this mindset really necessary?

TrueSport expert Nadia Kyba shares some tips on how to focus on what we do have and harness the power of collaboration.

You may assume that athletes simply develop leadership ability by participating in sports, and it’s true that statistics suggest participation in youth sport is one of the top predictors of leadership capability. In fact, 94 percent of female CEOs were student-athletes.

Many parents sign up their children for sports for the social and emotional development, as well as the physical benefits. Sport can teach problem solving, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and of course, leadership. But those aren't guaranteed outcomes.

Board-certified family physician and TrueSport expert Deborah Gilboa, MD, shares six ways to make sure youth sport is delivering on you and your athlete's expectations.

When you were in school, was there something you remember a coach or teacher saying to you that's stuck with you for decades? Is it a positive or negative memory? Likely, that coach doesn't remember telling you that you were too lazy to be a good defender, but to you, that was a pivotal moment in your athletic career. The power of the words we choose is immense, but it’s often overlooked by a busy coach who's just trying to get through practice. But the language a team uses can shift the likelihood of achieving goals.

Boundary-setting is a tough topic for coaches, many of whom wear a lot of hats. However, learning how to set boundaries is critical to a coach’s personal well-being and their management of a team. Coaches also have the opportunity to lead by example, setting boundaries that reflect their goals and priorities for the team, as well as boundaries that protect their own mental and physical health.

Are you worried about the amount of time your student-athlete spends on social media?

Dr. Charron Sumler, a TrueSport expert and Assistant Director of Sport Psychology and Wellness Services at Ohio State University, shares the stats on social media, along with the pros and cons of usage for young athletes.

The bottom line: Social media is a valuable tool, and it isn't inherently good or bad, which means you can help your athlete harness its positive power.

As a parent, your behavior around your athlete matters. If you're yelling at the referee or blaming the coach for a bad outcome, you're teaching your athlete to do the same.

On the other hand, when you model healthy behaviors around practice and competition, your athlete learns by observing you. It's not always easy, but it's an important part of being an involved sports parent.

Four-time Olympian and javelin thrower Kara Winger has seen a change happening. Not only are more women coming to sport, but they are also being celebrated and promoted as equals to their male counterparts, they're getting more coverage on TV and in print, and they are getting more financial recognition. There is still a long way to go to, but progress is being made.

Here, Winger talks about what being a role model in sport means, how the narrative around girls in sport is changing, and why professional women athletes are a necessary part of that change.