Youth Sports: 'Focus on the End User'

August 24, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

As we at the MHSAA work toward promoting the benefits of a multi-sport experience at the high school level, we – with our Multi-Sport Task Force – realize these messages will be most valuable when they reach parents of children at the youth levels.

Below is an 18-minute TEDx talk by Travis Dorsch, a former kicker and punter at Purdue University and with multiple NFL teams who went on to receive his doctorate from Purdue and currently serves as an assistant professor at Utah State. He has conducted significant study on children’s youth sport participation and its impacts particularly on family relationships. 

In this talk, he speaks on proper expectations for young athletes and how financial costs of youth sports have twisted those expectations.

Dorsch will speak at the 6th Annual Kristen Marie Gould Endowed Lecture on Sport for Children and Youth on Sept. 6 at Michigan State University. He will be lecturing on “From Sandlot to Stadium: What We Know, What We Don't, and Best Practices for Parent Involvement in Youth Sport.”

This Week In High School Sports: 10/18/19

October 17, 2019

This week’s show features Mendon volleyball's pursuit of returning to the MHSAA Finals, awards Game Balls to Hudsonville volleyball setter Kaylee Maat and Big Rapids golfer Lauren Posey, explains football's catch momentum rule in "Be the Referee" and recognizes longtime MHSAA public address announcer Erik O. Furseth.

The 5-minute program, powered by MI Student Aid, leads off each week with feature stories from around the state from the MHSAA’s Second Half or network affiliates. "Be The Referee," a 60-second look at the fine art of officiating, comes in the middle of the show and is followed by a closing MHSAA "Perspective."

Listen to this week's show by Clicking Here.

Past editions

Oct. 11: Negaunee cross country's Emily Paupore, MHSAA mental health awareness efforts - Listen
Oct. 4: South Lyon soccer's Josh Mason, improving youth football - Listen
Sept: 27:
Utica Eisenhower golfer Ariel Chang, adult fan behavior - Listen
Sept: 20: Pinckney football inspiration, decisions made at the local level - Listen
Sept. 13:
Muskegon's offensive line, soccer substitution rule change - Listen
Sept. 6: Jenison girls golf's inspiration, new football practice contact restrictions - Listen
Aug. 30:
 St. Johns quarterback-now-coach Andy Schmitt, benefits of a multi-sport experience - Listen