Author: Emily Cohen

I was livid. My son, the back-up second baseman, had been told by the coach that, if the team had a sizable lead, he would come into the game in…

As many Americans who love soccer did on Thursday, I eagerly awaited the announcement of this year’s 23-player roster for this summer’s World Cup. And, along with so many others,…

You are at your 8-year-old daughter’s recreational soccer game and you are livid. Why? Because your daughter isn’t getting the playing time you think she deserves. You seethe and stomp…

I love the Olympics. Truth be told, I’m more of a sucker for the Summer Games, especially swimming, but what I really love most of all are the amazing stories…

I recently had the opportunity to speak with John O’Sullivan, a former college and professional soccer player, current youth club soccer coach, and author of Changing the Game: The Parents…

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog about coaches who play favorites, giving some kids more playing time than others for various valid — and not so valid —…

It’s summer and temperatures across the country are soaring into the triple digits. Most of us are doing everything we can to stay cool and indoors, out of the scorching…

Did you know that young athletes are at a higher risk for heat-related illnesses than adults? This is because kids don’t sweat as much as and absorb heat faster than…

Last week, I was invited to participate in the NFL Health + Safety Conference in New York City along with more than 40 other bloggers and writers. Sitting at a…

Since writing my last two blogs on concussions, the first focusing on youth football and then on soccer (based on reader requests), I don’t think a day has passed where…

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog on the heightened awareness of concussions and brain injuries (“A Concussion Epidemic?” November 5, 2012), focusing on youth football. In the blog,…

Over the past few weeks, my Facebook news feed has lit up with news of friends’ children suffering concussions due to football, including these highlights: “Just back from Children’s Hospital….

I, along with several million other football fans, watched in disbelief on Monday night as the Seattle Seahawks were awarded a game-winning, last-second touchdown after Golden Tate clearly pushed the…

Summer is winding down and many kids are already back to school–and back to fall sports–especially soccer. Some estimates state that nearly 14 million children under the age of 18…

Walking to our car with my 12-year-old daughter after her soccer game last week, I was in the middle of telling her how proud I was of her entire team…

Even if you’re not a tennis fan, the fairytale that was American Brian Baker at the French Open this week was riveting, exciting, and offers many lessons for young athletes…

Flying home from Spring Training a few weeks ago, our flight was packed with 7- and 8- year-old boys. Had they gone to see their beloved San Francisco Giants or…

Since I started blogging on this site about a year ago, I’ve written extensively about parents who behave badly at tryouts, practices and games. Those yellers, screamers, and tantrum-throwers who…

Every year at tryouts, no matter for which sport the tryout is held, hyper-competitive parents can be heard boasting to their friends that their child is going to ‘play up’…

Who doesn’t love the Jeremy Lin story? Whether or not you are a basketball fan, it’s pretty hard to escape the catchy, punny headlines: Linsanity! Another Win for Lin! Lincredible!…

For several years, I was a division commissioner and later player agent for our area’s Little League baseball organization. The most stressful time each year was the team formation (for…

When I started high school, there was nothing I wanted more than to join the swim team — really, any team, but my best friend was joining the swim team…

A few weeks ago, a girlfriend from college invited me to go sailing on her boat on the San Francisco Bay with some other women. I eagerly accepted. The day…

The fall sports season is coming to an end and winter sports are around the corner. Most football, soccer and volleyball teams are winding down, with just the final few…

Once a week, my family of four drops everything for 30 minutes of ritual ‘gathering around the hearth’. The moment? Wednesdays at 9pm watching the hit TV show, “Modern Family”….

As I began writing my Thanksgiving shopping list today, I listened to the sounds of my children arguing in the other room. No school. No soccer practice. No tennis lesson….

I recently had the opportunity to interview Alex Morgan, the 22-year-old U.S Women’s National Team forward who made a huge splash at this past summer’s Women’s World Cup, for Soccer…

Long after a season is over, the team photo brings back all the great memories made during rainy — or even snowy — practices, weekend tournaments, and come-from-behind wins. Sure,…