It's Ugly Out There - What Can We Do About It? (next post 6/28)

The last few posts we've put up in this space have focused on the ugly side of sports.  Everything from terrorism to bully coaches to frustrated parents making their kids miserable on the ride home.  It all has such a negative feel to it, and understandably so.  Just this week I've had conversations about everything from teams that cut 6-year olds to a local post-game confrontation between parents that escalated to somebody pulling out a gun.
I've read articles about Australian youth soccer and its epidemic of poor parental behavior, and the racist backlash against the 11-year old boy who sang the national anthem at game 3 of the NBA Finals.  There's no doubt that it's ugly out there.  As a society, we have taken sports, something that brings together a larger and more diverse group of people than anything else, and filled it with selfishness, hatred and abuse.

I realize I'm painting a horrible picture with a very broad brush, and reality is that there are a whole lot of people out there doing wonderful things through sports.  In the next few months, I'm going to use this blog space to highlight many of those stories, hopefully inspiring us all to something greater.

But for right now, I can promise anyone in the KC area, or those who can get themselves to the KC area, that on June 26th and again on June 27th, you have a chance to hear some of these inspiring stories.  Coaches, you have a chance to define and refine your sense of purpose and your plans for living that out.  Parents, you have a chance to do the same, and also to see what you can and should expect out of the coaches that you are entrusting with your children.  All adults who are leading children, which is pretty near all of us, will benefit from the workshop "Coaching For Keeps - Coaching With Purpose".  We are offering it twice.  Same thing both nights, come to one or the other.  Make plans to be there, and bring other parents and coaches with you.

The workshop will take place at Olathe Bible Church at 151st and Pflumm in Olathe.  We will go from 7-8:30 both nights.  And while the workshop is hosted by the church, and we will be including Biblical references and passages, this is not a "trick you into coming to the church so that we can smack you over the head" kind of deal.  The focus is on giving coaches, parents and leaders valuable tools that will change lives.  Period.  I promise.

Additional information and online registration are here.  Hope you can make it.

80's Lyric

The heat is on, on the street
Inside your head, on every beat
And the beat's so loud, deep inside
The pressure's high, just to stay alive

- Glenn Frey (1985)