John O'Sullivan is the founder of the Changing the Game Project, and currently coaches for the Portland Timbers Youth Academy of Major League Soccer. For the past two decades he has been a successful soccer coach on the youth, high school and collegiate level. He is a former NCAA Division I soccer player, and played professionally for the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL. John speaks nationwide to coaches, parents and young athletes about developing athletic excellence and leadership within positive sporting environments. He is a 1994 graduate of Fordham University, and received his Masters Degree from the University of Vermont in 2003. John holds an "A" License from the US Soccer Federation and a National Youth Coaching License from US Youth Soccer.
The future of our children in sports lies in the hands of parents,
coaches, and themselves. This book provides tools and tips to
accelerate positive youth development experiences, as well as
critical life lessons along the way.
Changing the Game serves as a powerful guide for both parents and
coaches who want kids to have fun, enjoyable, and meaningful youth
sporting experiences. The 7 Cs section is a must-read for every
coach and parent. Many of the lessons and values in this book are
timeless and will make a significant impact for everyone involved
in youth sports. I highly recommend it! ---John Ballantine,
president and co-founder, KIDS in the GAME, www.kitg.org
Changing the Game is, well, a game changer. It explores in both
depth and breadth the youth sports experience, its blood, sweat,
and tears. Any parent who wants their children to gain the
physical, psychological, emotional, and social benefits of what
sport has to offer (and isn’t that every parent!) better read this
book. It will make you a better sports parent, and it will ensure
that your children get all the good stuff and avoid most of the bad
stuff from participating in sports. ---Jim Taylor, Ph.D., author of
Positive Pushing: How to Raise a Successful and Happy Child
Nobody cares more about the integrity of youth sports than John
O’Sullivan. . .and that is reflected in his great new book,
Changing the Game. ---Dan Saferstein, Ph.D., author of Win or Lose:
A Guide to Sports Parenting and Strength in You: A
Student-Athlete’s Guide to Competition and Life
I would like to commend John O’Sullivan for this thoughtful and
detailed work. I firmly believe that the youth sport experience for
a child is shaped as powerfully by their parents or guardians
involvement. That involvement by definition is neither a good nor
bad thing. Rather the importance of that involvement needs to be
appreciated and then it needs to be intelligently managed. In this
book John gives practical and helpful guidance to elevating the
experience of the children in youth sports by directly addressing
the role of the parent or guardian. I think this book helps the
ongoing challenge of making youth sports fun and safe as well as
somewhere talent can be developed whatever the level. ---Ian
Barker, Director of Coaching of Education, National Soccer Coaches
Association of America
Changing the Game is full of practical, insightful information that
is good for parents and coaches alike. ---Tim Schulz, president and
CEO, Rush Soccer
Parenting an athlete is not as simple as it used to be. John
O’Sullivan has clearly and professionally illuminated this
challenging path with both research and common-sense advice. This
book will help your athlete reach their full potential and allow
you to be part of their good memories. ---Bruce Brown, founder of
Proactive Coaching LLC and author of Teaching Character through
Sport and Proactive Leadership
As the youth sports landscape has changed over the years, it has
left parents oftentimes grasping for air at what to do to help
their kids succeed. In my work with younger athletes, it is
necessary to devote some of the time to the parents so they can
help their kids to improve their mindset, focus, and confidence. As
I read John’s book, each chapter reminded me specifically of
several of my current and former athletes, what they were going
through, and their parents’ role in the process. Changing the Game
is a wonderful resource for parents to help their young athletes
succeed in sports and life, and I can’t recommend it enough
---Brian Baxter, director, Sport Psychology Institute Northwest,
and author of The Sports Mindset Gameplan: An Athlete’s Guide to
Building and Maintaining Confidence
John O’Sullivan’s approach to parenting high-performing athletes is
insightful, comprehensive, and effective. He provides practical and
relevant principles that can improve communication and
understanding between parent and child. His approach helps foster
growth and strengthen core family values; most importantly it
reminds parents that organized sports is supposed to be fun.
Changing the Game is a must read for parents who want to take an
interactive role in raising confident and well-rounded athletes.
---Albert Oppedisano, Psy.D, author of Education and Empowerment
for the 21st Century Parent
Changing the Game offers invaluable insights into the reality
of the youth sports world and the critical impact that parents have
to make or break their kids’ experience in sports. John
O’Sullivan’s thoughtful approach and guidance is spot on and just
what we parents and coaches need to help our kids thrive on a
field, on a team, and in the game of life! ---Brian Grossman,
co-founder of KIDS in the GAME
Thank you to John O’Sullivan for providing a wonderful resource to
parents of athletes. With such a changing climate of youth sports
today, this book provides a guide for parents that brings the focus
back on what is truly important for a child participating in
sports. ---Angela Hucles, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and
founder of the Empowerment Through Sport Leadership Series
Changing the Game should be required for all youth sports parents.
This guide offers ways for youth sports organizations to make sure
that no child walks around with a hole in their heart. If youth
sports organizations implemented this book within their educational
efforts we would perhaps see more children involved in athletics
beyond the age of fourteen! ---Vince Ganzberg, U.S. Soccer National
Staff Instructor and co-founder of GK Project
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