I tell coaches, sports parents and sports administrators - when...
Wayne Goldsmith@waynegoldcoach
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Dec 09, 2025
~1 min read
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I tell coaches, sports parents and sports administrators - when they ask me about increasing sports participation and decreasing teenage drop out - this one critically important message - Remember when you were the same age!
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Think back to when you were 10. Or 15. What did you want? What was important to you? What got you engaged? Think honestly about these questions and you'll figure out how to increase participation and decrease your teenage drop out rate.
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The challenge is my friends, we're trying to solve kids' and teenager problems with adult solutions. We THINK we know what they want - but we're thinking like adults. Sit quietly. Remember what it was like to be 10 and 15 - then I promise you - the solutions will come to you.
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Example: Teenagers. They want time with friends. They want to be listened to. They want to feel respected. They want quality relationships which are relevant to them. They want recognition and acknowledgement of their maturity. Buying them more expensive trophies does NOTHING.
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I see so many sports getting it wrong because they're trying to solve the kids participation and teenage drop out problems with marketing campaigns, more expensive trophies, high-energy competitions with music and free WIFI-none of it works. Just remember when you were their age!
