Overplayed: A Parent's Guide to Sanity in the World of Youth Sports - Paperback

by David King (Author), Margot Starbuck (Author)

As seen in Focus on the Family magazine.

Should I sign up our seven-year-old son for the travel team? What should we do about our daughter's Sunday morning games? Am I the only one longing for a sane balance between children's sports, family time, and church commitments?

David King and Margot Starbuck offer good news for Christian parents stressed out by these questions and stretched thin by the demands of competitive youth sports. Join King, athletic director at a Christian university, and Starbuck, an award-winning author and speaker, as they investigate seven myths about what's best for young athletes. Discover with them what it means to not be conformed to the patterns of the youth sports world. Listen in as they talk to other parents, pastors, and coaches about the peril and promise of children's sports. Learn practical ways to set boundaries and help kids gain healthy identities as beloved children of God--both on and off the field, and whether they win or lose.

Equips parents with concrete tips such as:

• Eight questions to discuss on the way home from the game
• Five ways to ruin your child's sports experience
• Dinnertime conversation starters about your family's values
• The one question you can't not ask your child about youth sports

Key Features:

• Challenges seven common myths about youth sports
• Offers wisdom for families on decisions such as choosing leagues and how many seasons to play
• Author Q&As address parents' common concerns about youth sports
• Bonus tips and resources for parents, coaches, and pastors

Free downloadable study guide available here.

Back Jacket

Remember pickup games in the backyard? Times have changed. Should I sign up our seven-year-old son for the travel team? What should we do about our daughter's Sunday morning games? Am I the only one longing for a sane balance between children's sports, family time, and church commitments?

Remember pickup games in the backyard? Times have changed.

Should I sign up our seven-year-old son for the travel team? What should we do about our daughter's Sunday morning games? Am I the only one longing for a sane balance between children's sports, family time, and church commitments?

In Overplayed, David King and Margot Starbuck offer good news for Christian parents stressed out by these questions and stretched thin by the demands of competitive youth sports. Team up with King and Starbuck as they investigate seven myths about what's best for young athletes. Discover what it means to not be conformed to the patterns of elite youth leagues. Listen in as they talk with other parents, pastors, and coaches about the peril and promise of children's sports. Learn practical ways to set good boundaries and help kids gain healthy identities as beloved children of God--both on and off the field, whether they win or lose.

"Every page of this book screams common sense. It's like a portable parent telling me that I'm not nuts for having questions 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 abundance of activities our culture offers (demands of!) our kids. Overplayed offers biblical and developmental wisdom to help our children grow appropriately into the people God made them to be."--Caryn Rivadeneira, author of Broke

"This book is a must-read for parents, as it 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

David King is director of athletics at Eastern Mennonite University. He has taught and coached at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Margot Starbuck is the award-winning author of six books. She is a widely sought-after speaker and columnist at Today's Christian Woman.

Author Biography

David King is director of athletics and associate director of development at Eastern Mennonite University and has coached at the high school and college levels. He is president of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and the Shenandoah Valley Athletic Club, and he is licensed for ministry specifically for itinerant speaking on faith and athletics.