The Cheers and the Tears: A Healthy Alternative to the Dark Side of Youth Sports Today

This is a truly remarkable book which gives a balanced view of youth sports today. Dr. Murphy is exactly right, in my opinion, in laying the blame for what problems exist squarely at the feet of the adults. He does an excellent job of analyzing what's good and bad about the roles of coaches and parents. He recommends specific and reasonable ways to keep what's good and minimize what isn't. I'm a coach and league director and chair national meetings on youth sports. I repeated recommend this book to everyone I know in youth sports.

Shane did an excellent job at recognizing and capturing the effects that misguided adults(more often than not they're unintended) are having on youth sports programs today. His recommendations on what youth sports organizations can do to improve their programs and what parents can do to improve their children's sports experience are excellent. Shane's book is a MUST READ for youth sports administrators, coaches, and parents of competitive athletes.