A Playbook for Parents

A couple of months ago, I got a survey in the mail from Gatorade. If I remember, it asked about my child's sports participation, and I think I got a coupon or two for the sports drink and a magnet for my refrigerator with recommendations for fluid intake for an active child.

Last week, I got an envelope from Gatorade. Thinking it was junk mail, I began to toss it into the recycling bin before I remembered I had done that survey. This was probably some follow-up.

What I got this time was a booklet called Playbook for Parents: Great ideas to help your kids play and feel their best.

Okay, the bottom line is the book is an advertisement for the sports drink. But we drink Gatorade at my house, so that isn't a big deal. However, look beyond the advertising and what you have is a nifty booklet filled with tips for coaches and parents and young athletes. Some of it is advice repeated over and over again: "don't yell instructions to your kids"; "celebrate the child, not the success"; "five tips to being a better coach." And the book's layout is a little "busy": your eye has trouble focusing on one section because of all the other information and color competing for your attention.

Still, this does have some handy bits of information like a sports nutrition quiz, tips for preparing children physically for their sport and what injuries require doctor visits. There are pages especially for kids, for parents, and for coaches.

I've looked to see if this booklet can be ordered from the Gatorade site. I couldn't find it. On the other hand, http://www.gatorade.com and a sister site, http://www.gssiweb.com are full of information that I think could be helpful to parents, coaches, and young athletes. You might be able to ask for the booklet, too, from these sites.

Like I said, I'm not endorsing the product. I am promoting their philosophy on providing a safe, healthy, and fun atmosphere for youth sports.

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