The 10 Essential Books Sports Parents Should Read
The 10 Essential Books Sports Parents Should Read. How you parent will determine what kind of athlete your child becomes. Your parenting approach not only influences your child’s resilience and determination but also determines their emotional landscape, including how they process fear, anxiety, and setbacks.
For those of us who want to inspire a love for sports in our children, investing time and thought into our parenting style is essential. Creating a supportive environment, emphasizing effort over outcome, and praising perseverance are vital strategies.
To aid you in this pivotal journey, we’ve curated an extensive reading list tailored specifically for sports parents. These books delve deeply into the psychology of youth athletics, offering proven strategies and research-based insights aimed at helping your child flourish both on and off the field. We believe these resources will empower you with the knowledge and tools to not only enhance your child’s sporting experience but also to nurture their overall development into well-rounded individuals.
The 10 Essential Books Sports Parents Should Read
If there is one thing an athlete needs to succeed, it might be grit. In Angela Duckworth’s best-selling book, the psychologist writes about how the secret to success isn’t about talent but has more to do with a special combination of persistence and passion. Leaning on research and interviews she did with CEOs, Spelling Bee finalists, cadets at West Point, and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, Grit is an insightful read. The good news is unlike god- given talent, grit can be learned….and parented. 🙂
If there is one thing an athlete needs to succeed, it might be grit. In Angela Duckworth’s best-selling book, the psychologist writes about how the secret to success isn’t about talent but has more to do with a special combination of persistence and passion. Leaning on research and interviews she did with CEOs, Spelling Bee finalists, cadets at West Point, and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, Grit is an insightful read. The good news is unlike god- given talent, grit can be learned….and parented. 🙂
The Talent Code
By Daniel Coyle
Coyle’s focus is on groundbreaking studies in neurology and his first-hand research from visits to some of the world’s greatest “talent hotbeds” in the world. This is a book that digs into how world-class talent is developed. I was grabbed by the research on how much time top talent observes other top talent and the role struggles play in success. The Talent Code breaks down the factors that lead to an athlete achieving greatness and also deconstructs pre-existing theories.
The Sports Gene
By David Epstein
David Epstein was one of ILTWYP’s first contributors, and his post on 5 crucial reasons kids should play multiple sports is still one of our most popular articles. In his captivating book, Epstein examines what genetic factors lead to great athletes. Science is the backbone of his theories, and in particular, he focuses on body types and traits that are predestined for a particular sport. For example, there is a formula of wingspan to height that favors NBA players, and keen eyesight is determined to be the separating factor for a group of MLB players.
Unlocked
By George Mumford
Author George Mumford is a mindfulness/meditation coach with extensive experience coaching Olympic athletes and collegiate teams. He’s known for his work with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers during their championship seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As part of Head Coach Phil Jackson’s support staff, Mumford helped lead the Bulls and Lakers to a total of 11 NBA championships, specifically by helping star players such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant refine their concentration through insight meditation training. “Everyone has a Masterpiece inside, just waiting to be Unlocked.” Mumford writes about the importance of mindfulness for athletes and non-athletes alike, the power of thoughts, self-talk, and beliefs in shaping our reality, and explores the concept of flow and using vulnerability as a source of power to allow us to accept the unknown and respond with dignity and clarity.
Raising Empowered Athletes
By Kirsten Jones
Raising Empowered Athletes has answers for every youth sports situation with an overarching goal of not only helping parents raise strong athletes but also nurturing great human beings who are empowered to succeed on and off the playing field. Kirsten Jones—a former Nike Executive and Division I athlete—covers wide-ranging topics, including the origins of today’s hyper-competitive environment, what to insist on for your child’s earliest sports experiences, club and travel teams, best approaches to family conversations and goal-setting, and the transition to high school sports.
Mindset – Updated Edition: Changing The Way You Think to Fulfil Your Potential
By Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.
This book is often referenced by coaches, sports psychologists, and specialists. The author, now considered a world-renowned psychologist, in part because of what she wrote about in this book, Dweck started studying how children cope with failure when she was a graduate student in the 1970s. In this game-changing book, she shares why the outcome of a problem can be affected based on how we think about it. Her concepts of the fixed mindset and the growth mindset have been embraced by educators, companies, CEO, and athletes around the world.
Concussions and Our Kids: America’s Leading Expert on How to Protect Young Athletes and Keep Sports Safe
By Robert Cantu, M.D. and Mark Hyman
You might not want to read this one, but if you have a child playing sports, you should. It is a cutting-edge book written by one of the leaders in the field of concussions. Part manifesto, part manual, is a guide for sports parents on how they can help reduce concussions in youth sports and prevent long-term brain trauma. Don’t be that parent who thinks their child is immune from head injuries and their long-term side effects.
Coach – 25 Writers Reflect On People Who Made A Difference
Edited by Andrew Blauner
Any parent involved in youth sports should read this to be reminded of the potential effect they could have on a kid. In this book, a diverse group of accomplished writers reflects on ways in which their coaches had an impact on their lives, both positive and negative. A must-read for anyone responsible for nurturing the growth of children. It’s easy to forget that in every interaction, we have the opportunity to effect change in the lives of those around us; this book will motivate you to make each one of those moments count.
Take Back The Game
By Linda Flanagan
Any parent involved in youth sports should read this to be reminded of the potential effect they could have on a kid. In this book, a diverse group of accomplished writers reflects on ways in which their coaches had an impact on their lives, both positive and negative. A must-read for anyone responsible for nurturing the growth of children. It’s easy to forget that in every interaction, we have the opportunity to effect change in the lives of those around us; this book will motivate you to make each one of those moments count.
