When sociologists study youth sports, they focus on the experiences of participants and how those experiences vary depending on the social and cultural contexts in which they occur. However, the question persists – are organized youth sports worth the massive amount of time, money, and effort that people put into them?

One group dedicated to preserving the value of youth sports is TrueSport. TrueSport supports athletes, parents, and coaches to promote a positive youth sport experience. TrueSport is powered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which is a trusted guardian dedicated to preserving the integrity of competition at every level. TrueSport is founded on 3 cornerstones: sportsmanship, character building, and healthy performance. Lessons are presented from 3 perspectives: teach, learn, and play.

Your task for this discussion question is to examine the influence of TrueSport and its lessons and offerings on youth sport from the perspective of athletes, parents, and coaches. To what extent can curricula and resources, like those provided by TrueSport, contribute to positive youth sport experiences for young athletes?

Pick 1 resource provided on the website that you think is particularly valuable, and describe how you might use it as an athlete, parent, coach, or fan to positively influence young athletes.