Saving grace for sports parents. Stay longer, enjoy the bleachers.
937023
These are a swim parents saving grace! Or anyone that has to endure flat metal bleachers. Very comfortable to sit on, great width for us larger folks (6'3" - 250lbs) Even at that size, I didn't sag into the bench or pinch on the side rails. Also, I did NOT find that the rear bar intruded on my sitting position. Even the back is not bolt upright and is at a good angle.

Very pleased and would highly recommend.
2811906
The Happy Athlete is a resource guide for any athletes and their parents who are serious about sports. If a student athlete decides in junior high (or earlier) that they have the talent and drive to pursue sports after high school this is the book for them. It covers all aspects of the athletic process from the early years right through to college days.

The first half of the book is devoted to four different college athletes' stories. They include personal anecdotes and suggestions for students, parents and coaches. Each section ends with a bulleted set of advice from the athletes to parents and from athletes to coaches. They give a realistic look at the issues and challenges faced by youth to reach their dreams and how others can help or hinder them.

The second half is a breakdown of the steps that should be taken at each grade level in high school to ensure the athlete the best chance of making a college team. The process begins the freshman year and proceeds throughout their high school year. It explains how and when to contact college coaches, when to provide which kind of video and recruitment regulations. It includes the information on how to sign up for NCAA pin number, how to choose the right college and ideas to consider.

DiStefano''s honest story of his own attitudes and behavior is one of the strengths of this book. It acts also as a primer for what not to do for parents, coaches and school administrators. It is a realistic look at the stress the entire family can suffer when under the pressure of assisting a loved one in  becoming a star athlete and pursuing an athletic career in college. His daughter Laura and her story to pursue a softball is the in depth look at the college process, starting in her freshman year.

This book is only for the serious athlete. It emphasizes participation in programs such as AAU and summer sports in addition to school teams. If a student does not wish to continue with sports on the post secondary level this is not the book for them. It does not address issues of being a "happy athlete" without it becoming an all consuming passion. A different, more exact title would help with the marketing of the niche book. The guide's  format is easy to follow; bullets, lists and bold section titles allow the reader to absorb important information without detracting from the readable stories.
1286936
Jeremy Boone's new book, Parent Your Best is magnetic. Why?  The author reaches out to parents in a positive, realistic and engaging manner, providing a "self-coaching guide for parents."
What? Jeremy teaches and illustrates the difference between merely communicating with your child (let's compare it to hitting a singe) to actually connecting with your child (hitting a home run) - and the difference between the two!
How? "Parent Your Best" is designed to take one strategy at a time - and build a true game plan within the sports family. Easy reading, questions, games, links for additional exercises, and opportunities to share online are only a few methods used to help build a better relationship between the parent(s) and the child.
Who? Based on the book's approach, style and size, the material can easily be utilized by working parents as well - whether on a plane, in a hotel room or together in the family dining room.
"Parent Your Best" illustrates how to create a supportive, life-long relationship with your child that extends far beyond the playing field. In fact, this book can reach far beyond the sports arena; these strategies are useful for parents in any competitive arena.
2873137
50 Rules is not just something kids should be required to read, but something every new parent could benefit from.  While being part of the Baby Boom Generation, I was raised with these rules but somehow my generation wanted to do things differently than their parents.  We were going to coddle our children, we were going to treasure them to make up for what we felt was neglect on our parents parts (we couldn't see that our parents were busy making a living).

Now, a generation of children are growing up to a world that not only won't coddle them, but will be determined to knock them down a few notches just for sport.  The kids will never know what hit them.  After a life time of trophies just for showing up, bad attitude or not, and now they're thrown into a world of uncaring adults who came up the hard way and have no sympathy for little Johnny or Jennifer's 'feelings'.

Bravo for Charles Sykes for spelling it out so clearly for kids new to the world of hard knocks.  If young people understand these simple rules they can know what they're up against and have a successful life if they choose to.

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/When-I-Dream/dp/1608605809/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">When I Dream</a>
1643026
As a teacher and parent I would recommend this book for any parent who has a child active in sports. The stories are interesting and pertinent as they are told by professional athletes. I especially enjoyed the psychological take on what children need to succeed in sports.
3234604
Should be required reading for all youth sports parents, coaches and administrators. Has the proper perspective on the right way to have kids enjoy sports.
162542
After buying some cheaper stadium seats, we decided to invest in these. They cost more, but they are so worth it if you are sitting for hours on a bleacher. The bottom part of the seat has just enough lift between the two supporting bars that it keeps your bottom from touching the hard surface of a bench or bleacher. The back support is great. It doesn't move. In addition, these fold up nicely and are easy to carry. Totally worth the investment. I believe we'll be using these for years to come.
3900537
most comfortable chair for watching kids sporting events  great for long baseball games....a bit bulky to move around but well worth it for those 2 hour games.
4303674
I purchased this for our baseball games.  It seems whenever we'd arrive at a game, we're lugging out at least 5 chairs for us to watch one of our son's play their game.  This is so much easier.  Great for larger family.
3428495
"Whose game is it anyway, A guide to helping your child get the sports organized by age and stage" is true to it's name and an excellent, well written, practical book that deals with youth athletes of all abilities, from the reluctant, side-line athlete, to the high-performing college athlete.  The book is infused with realistic scenarios - a compilation of experience from all three authors who are each a sports psychologist, parent and competitive athlete from high school and college, making the guide an exceptional resource for parents, coaches and athletic program directors.

The book is organized by descriptively titled chapters, allowing the reader to hone in on what's relevant, though the book is a worthwhile read in its entirety.  Useful and  applicable,  the real-life vignettes give insight into how parents can deal with complex athlete/child situations and challenges.  I found a scenario that fit each of my three children , giving me insight into the best way to help my kids, though I'd wish I'd read this book earlier rather than later.  Sensitive topics are brought forward in some chapters, which may make it an uncomfortable read at times for parents, such as how  some young athletes are afraid to tell their parents they want to try a different sport or quit altogether, or that a child may be suffering from burnout, which is difficult to comes to terms with both for parents and coach.  All in all, an outstanding book  that I would highly recommend for any parent with children involved in sports.
1970078
This straightforward book lays it on the line. As adults, role models & educators, it is our job to prepare children for the "real" (adult) world.  For example: As an adult, I've never had anyone "let" me win a game so that my fragile sense of self would not be damaged. I do my best. I expect the other player to do the same. The "glow" of winning is so short lived, but the humiliation of knowing someone didn't do their best so I could "win" would stay with me a lot longer. If I come out ahead, I don't gloat. I expect the same civilized behavior if my opponent wins. If s/he behaves poorly, that's not a reflection on me. If I win, I don't want or need a trophy or blue ribbon. Happiness doesn't stem from awards, it comes from the satisfaction that I did my best and today that was pretty damn good! If I don't win, don't insult me with some sort of "Participant" ribbon. If I didn't do my best, I'll know that was reflected in my performance. If I did my best and still lost, maybe it wasn't good enough today, but it might be tomorrow or in another area.
Charles J. Sykes takes the realities of (adult) life and encourages us, depending on the child's age, to begin introducing them in childhood. As the child grows they should be expected to accept more responsibility for themselves, their behavior and their belongings. They will begin to see that what they do affects others in their "group", be it family, classroom, softball team or neighborhood friends.
There's a reason the term "helicopter parent" was coined. Don't let adult reality be a shock to your child.
3824862
I have two kids that both play year-round basketball. These seats are a life saver! Bleachers are unforgiving on your backside, especially when you sit through 2-3 games in a row. I would not bother with the regular size seats. Do yourself a favor and pay the extra for the deluxe model. It's great for saving your seat when you make a trip to the concession stand or restroom, and provides much needed back support. Quality is great as its good and sturdy. It doesn't try to tip over or fall backward.

My only complaint with this product is the back canvas material. If you carry it by its handle, the canvas has a bad habit of sliding down - and sometimes off. It seems as thought Markwort could have put a few extra stitches in it or something to prevent this from happening. It still saves my bottom from going numb, so I guess I can deal with it.

I liked these so much, I bought them as Christmas gifts for my parents and my in laws so they can watch their grandchildren play in a little more comfort. The in laws are very heavy-set and they are pleased with these seats as well.

I would recommend this product to any sports family!
744199
Short read.  Good points on how to go that extra degree and win. Good sports examples. Would have liked more business related examples.
51751
If you are a coach, a parent of an athlete, or a student interested in a career in sports psychology, then you should definitely consider reading this book.  After reading, coaches will learn how to properly motivate and build confidence in athletes.  In addition, parents can gain great tips on how to encourage kids instead of pushing them.  The book suggests to put your kid's needs first and to be generous with positive feedback.  Finally, this book is a great resource for students, like me, who are interested in learning more about sports psychology; it covers a variety of topics, including ways to be a better competitor and ways to manage stress, that are related to sports psychology.  Certainly, after reading this book you will have a better understanding of how to coach and parent athletes.
1447910
Well written and engaging, this book should be required for parents of youth athletes. Tauer provides evidence-based insights into where well-meaning parents go off the rails, analyzes potential consequences of parental over-involvement in youth sports, and provides recommendations that can help kids get real benefits from sports participation. One of the ironies is that those who need to read this book the most probably won't think they need to read it, but for the rest of us navigating youth sports culture, Tauer's advice is very helpful
1384927
this book was helpful in the college sports recuritment process.  remember to look at training programs and enjoy the ride
2978820
I just bought these for both my kids...my daughter is 12 and my son is going to be 15. Both are multi-sport athletes but soccer is their major sport. They both gave me a very hard time about it but we personally know kids around both their ages who suffered concussions while playing soccer and I don't want to take any chances with their brains. I asked them, "Would you rather look a little silly wearing this thing while you play or have to sit out for at least two weeks because you didn't?" That was enough to quell the uprising. I told them they might even start a safety trend among their teammates and that isn't a bad thing. So far only my daughter has used it because my son is off-season. It's taking a little getting used to for her but she's doing okay so far. I like the ponytail port as an added anchor...we just have to get it in just the right spot or she's fussing with it all game long. I've noticed that a lot more girls use them than boys, but I'm kind of glad to see them being worn period. I've heard the concern that using the headgear might make kids overly aggressive because of the "extra layer of protection" but I haven't really seen too much of a change in the kids I know. The kids that were aggressive before they wore headgear don't seem any more aggressive than usual. My daughter has decent form but isn't real aggressive with headers and that hasn't changed either.

I know some people buy it to protect kids when taking headers but that's not my main concern. I bought the headgear to protect my kids' heads from head to head collisions with other players or head to elbow/knee/ground/post collisions. My daughter took a hard fall during her last game and said to me, "It still hurt my head when I fell," to which I replied, "Think of how much MORE it would've hurt if you hadn't been wearing your headgear!" As a coach, I would recommend any player wear it but especially my shorties who tend to get knocked to the ground a lot. Our pediatrician even she asked where she could get some for her daughter. I'm interested to see how my son fares wearing his when his season rolls around again. Who knows, I might even have them wear it during basketball!