We know that sports are hugely beneficial to children and young adults, from both a physical and mental standpoint. But sometimes, the sport systems don’t promote the healthiest practices for all athletes, and that can be difficult for families in youth sports to navigate.

As a coach, you play a large role in the creation of your team culture. While athletes make a difference, you are ultimately the leader who will set the tone for the team each season as athletes come and go. It's easy to fall into certain patterns and skip self-reflection, especially if you've been coaching for a long time. However, self-reflection is one of the most important things you can do to create a positive team culture for your athletes.

You may be wondering to yourself, "What possible benefit can I get by understanding how brain chemistry relates to sport?" It matters more than you might think.

A better understanding of brain chemistry may actually lead to improved outcomes for your athletes, from strategies to engage them more in practice to a better understanding of how certain prescribed medications should be taken into account when helping an athlete thrive on the team.

At this time of year, the end of a young athlete’s competitive sporting career can come quickly. Maybe you're a high school senior who isn't planning to continue with your sport in college. Perhaps you were injured and need to take an extended break from the sport you've been playing for a decade. Or maybe you're graduating college and starting a career outside of sport.

If your athlete has a bad competition, game, or practice, it can lead to a tense car ride home. Often, parents and caregivers are well-meaning in their efforts to soothe grumpy athletes with advice and reassurances. Unfortunately, we often end up creating a more stressful, angst-filled situation in our attempts to help our athletes.

TrueSport expert Kevin Chapman, PhD, a clinical psychologist, shares a few simple strategies to help your athlete move on from a bad performance in a way that's productive.

If you're the parent or caregiver to an athlete with a disability, it can be a daunting process to help them pursue the sports that they're interested in, and it may be tempting to shy away from putting youth with disabilities into traditional sports programs at all. However, youth sport can be incredibly beneficial for a young person's development and well-being, regardless of their ability. 

Dr. Michele LaBotz, a TrueSport expert and sports medicine physician, offers some guidance for caregivers about how to navigate sport if your aspiring athlete has a disability.

Dealing with the preferences and needs of different family members at mealtime can be extremely difficult. You may have one child who’s going through a ‘picky eater’ phase, another who’s a vegetarian, and a third who comes home famished after two-a-day practices. You may have your own food preferences as well.

Often, parents try to solve this problem by making different meals for different family members, but doing this costs you time and money, and it doesn’t teach your young athletes how to create tasty meals for themselves.

Student leadership is difficult. If you’re the captain of a team or in another leadership role, you’re probably tasked with making potentially unpopular decisions, which can lead to resistance from your teammates or your coach. Experiencing resistance as a leader is inevitable and it can actually be an opportunity to hone your leadership skills while creating team buy-in.

Board-certified family physician and TrueSport expert Deborah Gilboa has seven tips for best handling resistance as a student leader.

The following article is part of a content partnership with TrueSport, a positive youth sports movement powered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Many sport parents have likely heard their athletes talk about how much they need this or that supplement to perform better, stay healthier, or train harder. If your athlete is set on supplements, you can help them minimize the risks from those products by understanding red flags, identifying high-risk supplements, and using only third-party certified supplements.

As a coach, you’re often faced with implementing strategic decisions and making tough calls. And just as often, the athletes on your team may resist those decisions or the changes that you’re trying to make. Getting buy-in from athletes isn’t always easy, but it is often critical to the team’s success and your relationship with players.

Board-certified family physician and TrueSport Expert Deborah Gilboa shares eight strategies for reducing resistance and building athlete buy-in.