By Rebecca Meyer My family has participated in soccer for many years now, with three boys playing since the young age of five. My oldest, now 16, is on the high school soccer team roster. We haven’t missed a season. And it’s nearly a year-long sport between fall season, indoor winter league and the spring/summer club. For my oldest, soccer is etched as part of his identity, and how could it not be with so much time devoted to playing soccer? For my two younger boys, both 12, soccer is a part of their lives but less enwrapped in their personal identities. As a parent and a youth development professional, it has been both fascinating to watch their personal development and challenging to navigate the competitiveness of organized sports and coaching dynamics. As you may already be familiar, youth sports can be a great context for positive youth development (PYD). But, sports can also be detrimental for youth if careful attention is not made by coaches and others responsible in shap...
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