CarShield’s Post

What annually brings me back to creating projects and content for Hockey Day Minnesota? Simple. Community. It might sound counter-intuitive, but a major event this weekend celebrating Minnesota hockey succeeds because it focuses elsewhere. Over the years, the projects I’ve put together for this event follow that focus. Hockey Day Minnesota showcases a state that takes pride in running a unique, community-based hockey model. The day ends being about the people in the community, with some nostalgic outdoor hockey thrown in for good measure. Most projects I’ve done help touch on unique traditions and educate others to understand what makes this community special. Sometimes it’s letting the Serratore brothers go on (and on and on) about growing up with their outdoor town teams. Oftentimes, it comes back to the volunteers in the community and coming together. This year is no different. With “Hockeytown USA” Warroad being the host, I was fortunate to shine a light on the importance of the town’s Native American culture. Thanks, Heather Rule for the opportunity to showcase a unique community model that includes a unique community in Warroad. If you're up there this weekend, go ahead and check it out. Over the years, this event has been one of my favorites. I don’t live in Minnesota anymore. I actively am looking to take on more projects outside of hockey and the sports world. (If you’ve read this far and want to discuss that further, let’s connect.) And yet, I cannot get enough of digging into what drives the bigger picture to grab attention. It’s what I take away from working in any subject. In this case, it’s not sports. It’s community. #sports #writing #projects #community #minnesota

Great article. I agree youth sports needs a total overhaul. I think the European club system offers a great model. We need to focus on player development rather than winning at young levels. We need to cut the cost down. And we need to get back to the basics of what youth sports is supposed to be about, the development of the young people into healthy well balanced humans…

Great article on the promise of a more accessible and level basketball playing field in the GTA and beyond. Good works Chris (and thanks for the share Marika)!

Did playing youth sports as a kid help instill leadership and character traits that have been useful in your career? This has been the case for me. Between 8th and 9th grade, I wanted to take my basketball shooting to the next level. I wrote on a paper various goals and made myself shoot and make different types of shots every day. Over time, I improved. To this day, I write out different work goals as a communications consultant. How about you? I worry many kids won't experience the leadership and character benefits that can be gleaned through youth sports because of ADULTS! Over the years, I've loved watching my kids compete in youth sports. Coaching their different teams has been a blast. But so many adults are ruining youth sports by overly focusing on short-term success (i.e. – the score of an eight year old’s Little League game) over the long-term character and leadership development that can propel a kid throughout their life. I set up a new Substack website that includes: 𝟏. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬. 𝟐. 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬.  𝟑. 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬. Check this out and consider subscribing. #YouthSports #CharacterDevelopment https://lnkd.in/eehnsvpN

Here is a fantastic article by Christopher Penrose on basketball accessibility, published this week by Sport Information Resource Centre - Le Centre de documentation pour le sport (SIRC). He covers all the angles: why basketball matters, the national context, the issues, what needs to change, and Lay-Up's inspiring programming model. Big up yourselves Lay-Up!

Check out the new blog post. Chapter 5: The Impact of Collaboration in Sports: Who Loses When Select and High School Teams Collide. https://wp.me/pfKs7X-O

As a sports parent, you have the opportunity to positively influence your child’s experience in sports. Here are 5 ways to be the best sports parent and encourage your kids to fall in love with sports! https://bit.ly/3Rvg91a

Last night I was privileged to spend time with Billy Nixon’s Sports Management class (thanks for having me!), presenting on one of my absolute favorite topics: youth sports. We talked about the industry as a whole, but here is my main point that I hope gets remembered. Yes, sports inherently come with competition. But when I asked the class why youth sports exist, nobody mentioned anything about trying to win. Yes, there is money in youth sports, but nobody mentioned to make money. Yes, kids develop athletic skill and a very small handful will go on to play at the highest levels of sport, but nobody mentioned developing professional athletes either. What they did mention were the physical, mental, emotional, social, and community benefits that come from youth sports. Whatever your involvement in the youth sports arena - parent, uncle, coach, administrator, etc. - don’t forget: it’s about the child! And parents most especially, always remember the five magic words to say after every game - win or loss, good performance or bad… “I love watching you play.” #youthsports

New Kellett Sports YouTube Channel. 🔴 Subscribe now: https://lnkd.in/eu2zg3UM In today's digital age, social media platforms have emerged as powerful tools to motivate and encourage students in their sporting endeavours. Here are some key benefits we hope to gain at Kellett School, Hong Kong with our new Kellett Sports YouTube Channel. 1️⃣ Increased Engagement: Social media provides a platform for parents, friends, and family to actively engage with sporting events and teams. It fosters a sense of belonging and community, motivating students to participate and showcasing their talent to a wider audience.  2️⃣ Driving student progress: Match highlights allow students to review their sporting performance. This not only boosts their confidence but also creates a positive cycle of reflection, self-assessment and improvement.  3️⃣ Collaboration and Team Building: Social media platforms enable students to collaborate, share ideas, and coordinate activities related to sports. It facilitates teamwork and fosters a positive and inclusive sporting culture.    Sporting highlights, exclusive interviews, and more. At Kellett School, we recognize the immense potential of social media in enhancing student motivation and participation in sports. Our new Kellett Sports YouTube channel, along with our Kellett_Sport Instagram account, aims to leverage these benefits and create a vibrant community of sports enthusiasts. 

I need your help! As I am working to improve our youth sports programs, your experiences and insights are invaluable. Please take a moment to share your thoughts: 1. What are your biggest gripes with youth sports? o What challenges or frustrations have you faced? o Are there areas where you feel youth sports fall short? 2. What are your biggest wishes? o What do you hope to see more of in youth sports? o Are there specific improvements or additions you think would make a significant difference? 3. What would make your life better as a parent of a youth in sports? o How can programs better support you and your child? o What resources or changes would ease your involvement and enhance your child's experience? Your feedback will help me to build better, more inclusive, and supportive youth sports programs. Together, we can create an environment where every child thrives, learns, and grows both on and off the court. Thank you for your time and insights!