David King - Overplayed: A Parents Guide to Sanity in the World of Youth Sports

A PARENTS GUIDE TO SANITY
IN THE WORLD OF YOUTH SPORTS

Every page of this book screams common sense. Its like a portable parent telling me that Im not nuts for having ques-tions about youth sports, and that I actually have the power to reclaim my sanity and the sanity of my entire family.

Scott Dannemiller, author of The Year without a Purchase

This is the book for parents of any kids involved in the abun-dance of activities our culture offers (demands of!) our kids. Overplayed offers biblical and developmental wisdom to en-able and equip parents to buck cultural demands and instead help our children grow appropriately into the people God made them to be.

Caryn Rivadeneira, author of Broke and Known and Loved

I have been every one of the possible roles discussed in this book: professional, amateur, kid who got cut from the team, and parent of children currently in youth sports. Overplayed will help parents currently involved in youth sports and par-ents soon to begin the journey.

Erik Kratz, MLB catcher

There are so many myths associated with youth sports that we simply accept without thought or analysis as to whether they are actually true. This book is a must-read for parents as it takes a thoughtful, clear-eyed look at those myths and offers solid, helpful suggestions as to how we can, once again, make youth sports about the kids.

John R. Gerdy, author of Ball or Bands

Good parents who are questioning how sports can build Christlike character in their children will find practical sug-gestions within the pages of this book. The authors have done their homework in bringing to light the many challenges that confront families today. I for one am grateful that they give biblical answers as to how to navigate the sports arena in a healthy, selfless way.

Jim Ryun, Olympic medalist in track and field, retired U.S. representative

Practical and inspirational, Overplayed reminds and reorients us as parents and caregivers to what truly matters: not our childrens scholarships, trophies, or records but the fact that they are Gods beloved children.

Rachel S. Gerber, minister for youth and young adults for Mennonite Church USA and author, Ordinary Miracles

As a pastor, I have been looking for a resource on sports, faith, and families. In Overplayed, I have found it. The discus-sion questions for families and coaches in the context of sports and the church are excellent, and I plan to use it as a conversa-tion starter with parents, youth, and coaches.

Ruth Boehm, pastor of Faith Mennonite Church

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: King, David, 1953

Title: Overplayed: a parents guide to sanity in the world of youth sports / David King & Margot Starbuck.

Description: Harrisonburg: Herald Press, 2016. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015037464 | ISBN 9780836199727 (pbk.: alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: ParentingReligious aspectsChristianity. | Child rearingReligious aspectsChristianity. | SportsReligious aspects Christianity.

Classification: LCC BV4529 .K557 2016 | DDC 248.8/45--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/201503746

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com TheNIVandNew International Versionare trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

OVERPLAYED

2016 by Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802

Released simultaneously in Canada by Herald Press,

Kitchener, Ontario N2G 3R1. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015037464

International Standard Book Number: 978-0-8361-9047-5

Printed in United States of America

Cover and interior design by Merrill Miller

Photo of sky by Janni Wet/iStockphoto/Thinkstock

All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise with-out prior permission of the copyright owners.

To order or request information, please call 1-800-245-7894 or visit www.heraldpress.com.

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To Deb, Derek, Ryan, and Lisa: my favorite team.
Dave

For my three little athletes: may you always enjoy the game.
Margot

I (Dave) have been accused of biting the hand that feeds me. Athletics directors arent supposed to speak out about the perils of sports.

Having worked for thirty-four years in coaching and athleticsat the elementary, middle school, high school, and university levelsIm committed to the physical, social, and emotional benefits of sport. For the last decade I have worked as director of athletics at a Christian university in Virginia. Sports have been a huge part of not only my professional life but also my familys life. I played soccer, basketball, and baseball in college, and my wife, Deb, played volleyball. Our three kids, now young adults, have played volleyball, basketball, and field hockey.

During my almost thirty-five years in sports and education, however, I have seen the landscape of youth sports change dramatically. And like many parents I speak with, Ive become increasingly concerned about the toll that current youth sports culture is taking on children, young people, and families. Families dollars and time are stretched and stressed. Children are suffering overuse injuries and burning out at younger and younger ages. Theyre being asked to perform beyond appropriate developmental stages. Theyre failing to develop some of the intrinsic values that adults assume sports will teach them. Parents are damaging their relationships with their kids and with each other. And far too often, as we struggle to navigate this new terrain, were driven not by love but by fear.

About ten years ago I set out on a journey of studying, reading, and listening to understand what I was observing. I read nearly all the mainstream books that have been written about the challenges of youth sports and whether parents are serving their children well by overcommitting them at younger and younger ages. The book I wanted to read would help families reflect on how their childrens athletic involvements are or are not forming them into kingdom people. The book would empower parents to make great choices about balancing their kids athletic pursuits with other commitments to family, church, and community.

I couldnt find that book.

So with the encouragement of many people, I began putting my ideas on paper. I soon realized, however, that an aging athletics directorwho didnt play a lot of youth sports when he was young (they didnt exist!) and whose kids were well past the youth sports agewould do well to team up with someonein the trenches.I needed the perspective of a parent navigating the world of youth sports, someone who would both support and challenge my ideas and add relevant stories of her own. I found that person in Margot Starbuck.