Until It Hurts: America's Obsession with Youth Sports and How It Harms Our Kids

Mark has beautifully researched and shared exactly what uve been longing to hear. Very well researched and an incredibly important topic. He shared with humility and honesty. Bummed I didn't find this book sooner.

This book was suggested to me and a room full of board members of AYSO by our former Regional Commissioner. I ordered it the next daywas awakened to the myth that has been propagated by parents across America about why and how kids should participate in team sports.My older son is a 14 year old athlete that has participated in variety of sports and has been yelled at by coaches and parents since he was7 years old. I am not a sideline parent that coaches my kid, but have volunteered for many years in the programs. I asked him if he wantedto keep playing and he said no. I told him he didn't have to any more and he looked more relieved than I have ever seen him. He ran a triathlonat 13, played club soccer at 14 and has been on a competitive swim team and played football, basketball and soccer for his school.This book reveals the underlying pressure that kids feel and what kids sports have become. I am so grateful I read it and so is my son.Not sure what we're going to do on weekends any more, but it won't be at the expense of our son!!

This book should be a mandated book to read for any youth coach in any league or division. I have suggested this book to many and believe it or not, some Dads who have read this have admitted to being on the negative side of what this book reveals. Some have said they felt "Guilty" because it exposed what they were guilty of doing. People with negative reviews I believe are "Guilty" ones, also. He does have a new book out and I intend to purchase or recieve it for Father's Day. If you are involved in any way, shape or form in youth sports this is a MUST read. Let your kids be kids, they are not Mini-Professional Athletes. Their bodies are built differently than adults. They play sports to have fun in 98% of the cases and are not in it as an investment for future scholarships or pro careers. On the contrary, saturating them in this at such a young age does the complete opposite. I have the Kindle version, but am going to purchase two used hardcover copies so I can lend one out and have another in my bookcase.

Having no children of my own, I recently attended a friend's child's Little League game, and was taken aback at the intensity and unhappiness of the whole experience: Coaches yelling at players constantly, parents yelling and agonizing about their kids, kids outright bawling following a strikeout. Wow. I thought sports was supposed to be fun.My experiences with youth sports were largely similar. I can say that pickup games, backyard basketball, endless wiffleball games with other kids on my street, these are the best sports memories from my youth. Not organized games with annoying coaches and cloying parents.This is an outstanding book that all parents, umpires, and coaches of young kids need to read and think about. Sports are supposed to be fun. Ask yourself this question: does my son or daughter actually enjoy and look forward to playing basketball, baseball, soccer, etc? If not, maybe they, and you, should look to put their energies in another direction.Highly recommended.

Youth sports has become a complete distortion of what it should be in the past 20 years. Parental involvement is turning it into something devoid of life lessons. Both of my sons play club sports. I've quoted this book a hundred times since reading it. My husband and I have also removed ourselves as heavily involved parents to the silent observers section of the stands who do the jobs out of the spotlight like reserving fields and organizing team get togethers. Truth be known, your kid is either genetically predisposed to be an elite athlete or they are not. You want to increase your kid's chances of a college scholarship? Get them a tutor, not a hitting coach.

If you're looking for a book that helps you better understand your children, or something you can personally relate to as a previous athlete, this is your book. It's witty, very well written and informative. It did not feel like an educational book, more of a story but you learn a lot in the process. I'd suggest it to anyone.

I needed this book to help me see what I was becoming as a parent of a child who loves to play sports. Wow, what a slap of reality in my face. Thanks Mr. Hyman for the perspective I believe all parents should strive for. This book will be in the forefront of my mind for the remainder of my bleacher sitting years.

this is a great introductory book detailing some of the most salient problems with youth sports. it should be read by a wide audience. the writing is superb and the subject matter is very prescient. enjoy!

Good book, full of anecdotes, nicely written, with the right perspective on youth sports, but I missed more specifics regarding the references to scientific work.