American families have doubled down on their commitment to kids’ sports. More children are competing—nearly 50% more than 25 years ago and a tenfold increase in high school girls participation between 1970-2000!  More children start earlier. More kids focus year round on one sport. More is demanded of these athletes—more practices, more games, more travel. More is required of their parents-more money, more support, more time.

Many parents feel like they’re trapped in extra innings and wonder what to do about this flood of more. Bernie Schock has written this book to help parents raise kids whose passion and priority is to be God’s champions in this world of more. The apostle Paul reminds us that physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things. Children’s athletics provide many rich opportunities to help kids grow into men and women who love God whole-heartedly and  others selflessly.

This book isn’t simply Monday morning quarterbacking. Bernie Schock has lived this as a father, a fan, a coach, an athlete, a referee. He admits that, at times, his involvement in sports interfered with his own love for God and others. Thus, this book seeks to direct both children’s and parents’ hearts. Parents will not be able to help their kids grow through sports until they understand why sports have such a powerful grip on many of them.

Children’s sports can be a source of great delight—or great pain. But what makes for good and bad experiences? This book seeks to answer that question so that sports can provide rich blessings to children’s development—physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually.

Play ball!

Dr. Bernie Schock is an author (Parents, Kids, and Sports; Remodeling the Family), a professor (Biblical Studies at the University of Sioux Falls), a father (3 sons who competed in organized sports  through college), a husband (daily walks with his wife), a volunteer coach (soccer & basketball), a fan (Minnesota Twins & University of Illinois basketball)and an athlete (golf & pickup basketball at the “Y”!). Throughout his adult life he has sought to understand how sports and the sportsworld impact the development of children. This is his second book on that subject. He continues to explore the subject at http://bernieschock.blogspot.com/