Hear What Others Say
One of the simplest ways to know the value of any work is to hear what others say about it.
Feedback validates the message.
I have fathers who thank me for the service that my philosophy rendered to their sons; the former athlete I am thinking of is now the student body president of a major university; mothers who applaud my contribution to their sons, the young man I am referring to was on my little league baseball team and is now paying for his college degree by playing volleyball at the Division I level; and little league coaches who won repeated league titles using my techniques and philosophy.
I have been fortunate to coach four of Stephen R. Covey’s grandsons. When I shared the manuscript for this book with him, he returned this warm comment. Dr. Covey said:
“Winning is only one of many goals set by a wise coach to develop a balanced young man or woman. What if coaches nurtured, inspired vision, and instilled character development into young athletes? In Michael Clapier’s groundbreaking work you will find an effective way to mentor young athletes.”
Stephen R. Covey, best selling author of “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”
The young coach continuing the tradition at my high school was one of my athletes when he was a student. We have had a wonderful experience over the past five years coaching my younger boys together while helping him transition into being a great head coach.
During our parent meeting at the beginning of the season, I sat back and listened while he greeted parents and said everything just the way I hoped he would. I kept wanting to stand and say something but he was doing everything so well that I sat silent, gratefully watching him set vision for the season and express interest in our shared priority of growth and safety for the boys.
I told him how much I appreciated the way that he handled the meeting. He just smiled and said, “I read your book.”
A parent sent me this note when his son graduated after six years in our programs.
“The opportunities in life to be touched by extraordinary concepts are few. Our son blossomed and grew under Coach Clapier’s coaching philosophy . Lessons learned and character built under Michael’s watchful care will bless our family for a lifetime. We cannot say ‘thank you’ enough.”
Kim B.
Here is a comment from a friend. I coached her son during junior high school.
“Michael Clapier has touched our family through youth sports. He truly is a gifted coach/parent and has a great family to prove it. I just ordered his book, can’t wait to get! Thanks Mike for all you have done for us and good luck.”
Pam H.
And this one.
“I have a copy and it is an amazing read. Should be in the hands of anyone that coaches youth sports, has children involved in youth sports or any parent that wants to know how to get the most out of the LIFE lessons learned through organized recreation. I am so proud that more kids can benefit from what you have learned through all the years of hard work. The lives that you have impacted, people can now make an impact in the same way. Talk about paying it forward. Love Love Love it!!!!”
Sue S.
Thanks to all for letting me know what you think.
(Sorry for being so self serving but we have to pay the rent.)
It has been a 25 year journey . . .
For the past 25 years, while Linda and I raised our children, we did what most families do, we enrolled our kids in little league sports. Since we are city dwellers rather than country farmers with a lot of physical chores to do, we looked to their involvement in soccer, t-ball, baseball, track, wrestling, football, and cross country as the place where our children could exercise and learn to work. Of course we wanted fun, group interactions, and exercise, but it was the “get them out of the house and let them breathe” part of youth sports that first drew us to the games. As time went on, and we added more children to our circle, not only our own but a constant line of friends and friends of friends, we learned a powerful lesson; little league is more than a game. When done correctly, it is a powerful point of passage from childhood to adolescence. When done wrong, it is a disaster.
For a growing number of children lack of exercise leads to poor health. The onslaught of video games and computers robs exercise time. Coaches with poor skills and worse attitudes complete the concern and need for a new solution. I never found a book on how to raise responsible children while they were playing little league games so I wrote one.
We have six children of our own. At this writing our youngest is a senior in high school. During their growing years we have done three things to focus them into who they have become:
- Teach them how to serve others
- Always be involved in everything they do.
- Work beside them until they know the value of hard work.
Teach Service.
Our children learned how to serve others because we first served them and included them in that process. Linda’s mother lived with us for the last five years of her life. My children watched their mother care for their grandmother. They learned to do that themselves. Holiday traditions include feeding the needy and hosting Santa parties for special needs children.
Always be Involved.
If our children are in it, we are at it. I cannot take any credit for the level of involvement that we have had with children. It is a Linda thing. She loves to know who our children’s friends, what they are doing, and where they are going. She lead the PTA, volunteered for field trips, holiday parties and everything else. We are at the school plays. I cannot remember a child’s event that she has not supported and attended. I believe it has made a huge difference in who our children are today because they knew that whatever they were doing was important to their mother.
Work beside them.
The little league part of the learning to work equation came easily for me. I would rather be engaged than observing. So when we were doing sports, if I was not coaching, I was at practice helping. While engaged in this activity my children learned to see that nothing happens without effort. We had to be to practice early, had to get the equipment ready, had to make calls when rain delayed games, had to think about everyone on the roster and rotate them into the activities. I never “phoned my parenting in” I was there as often as I could. I was there at whatever level I could be.
Because of our commitment to these three concepts, we are not rich and famous, but we have great kids.
In the process I wrote a book, more of a journal really, of what I saw, what I learned, and what I did to create a difference from the existing order of youth sports. You can own a copy and learn for yourself what I discovered here.
The Book is Complete! Order today.
It has been a long time coming, twenty five years to be precise, and I am pleased to say, go here to get your copy.
When I began this journey, I was just going to spend time with my own children. As I spent time around little league programs and saw how important the time was and how poorly we made that time valuable, I felt a need to create a new way of doing things. The book represents what I have seen, believe and understand. If there are errors they are mine, but I know that I can create a powerfully experience for children under my care. I also know that the need for coaching children to be powerful is more important today than ever.
The book is more personal journal than professional criticism. I have spent a lot of time, hours and hours, coaching and watching youth athletes. It is a glorious time for parents to connect with children. It is a critical time for children to connect with their own sense of worth, to exercise in a way that is safe and productive, and to discover the value of hard work and personal accomplishment.
Good luck as you enter the world of children and sports.
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Onward.
