If you have kids in sports, you know that some of the best tips come from other parents while you watch games on the sidelines. In the countless hours that I have spent with other parents while our children played, I have learned and shared information about things like: how to get stains out of football jerseys, where to find a protective cup that fits an adolescent boy, how to deal with food allergies, which coaches you want your kid to have, which teachers to avoid, and what my kids' friends are up to (which became more and more valuable as they got into high school). Sometimes it's just been valuable moral support as we struggle to do our best to raise healthy, balanced kids.

I have been a sports parent since the day my older son, who is turning 21 this week, picked up the green peas on his high chair tray, yelled, "Ball!" and proceeded to throw them onto the floor. Since then, it has been one sports experience after another as my life has followed the passions and athletic pursuits of my four children. In my desire to encourage their participation in physical activities that challenge them to develop their gifts and potential, I have found myself on the sidelines of youth basketball, volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, dance, football, swim team, water polo, and baseball. I have to admit that baseball is our favorite from player to coach to spectator, we have a passion for the game.

One of the first things that attracted me to my husband was that he enjoyed baseball. Little did I know what that would end up meaning in my life! We now own BioForce Baseball Academy in Beaverton, Oregon, where he supports baseball players with training and conditioning. Although my role in the business is more on the administrative side, I enjoy learning about fitness too. In 2001, Bill and I attended a Functional Fitness course and received our certification from our good friend and mentor, Tom House (former MLB pitcher and coach and current D-1 coach). The idea that success in sports requires preparation in four areas (physical conditioning, mechanics, nutrition, and mental-emotional) really resonated with me. As a mom, I was especially interested in how I could support my children through better nutrition and mental-emotional strength. Through our experiences as sports parent, teacher, and coach, we have learned the value of another factor in the equation: communication. Open, supportive communication between coach, parent, and player can have an incredible impact on performance.

So here I am today, writing online in an effort to support other sports families. If you are involved in the youth sports world, I invite you to join me in the E-Bleachers. There are so many conversations out there that have been taking place on the sidelines, in parking lots after games, at the grocery store, over the telephone and in emails. It's time to bring them to life on the Internet. Please let me know what you'd like to talk about. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all as we get this online conversation started.

www.dearsportsmom.com

Laura