Tag: CTG

During Tournament Season, Don’t Show up to Win. Show up to Compete!

Written By: John O’Sullivan, Founder of the Changing the Game Project As tournament season progresses, the pressure and stress can ramp up on our young players. Once All-Stars are selected, players competing for state, regional, and even a Little League World Series Championship all want to win their games and advance. Come tournament season, we all find […]

Two Magic Words for Coaching and Parenting Your Athletes

Written By: John O’Sullivan, Founder of the Changing the Game Project “What were you doing out there?” screamed an angry dad. “I told you to shoot!” yelled the coach to the shell shocked young boy who just passed to his teammate instead of fulfilling the coaches wishes. “He doesn’t know what he is doing” says […]

How to be a Great Sports Parent During and After COVID-19

Written By: John O’Sullivan, Founder of the Changing the Game Project Many years ago, when I first started Changing the Game Project, I traveled to Los Angeles to speak at a parent education day for The Brentwood School. The keynote speaker that day was psychologist and author Madeline Levine. She has written two NY Times bestsellers on […]

“I’m in it for the Kids!” How to Create a Player-Centered Little League® Experience

Written By: John O’Sullivan, Founder of the Changing the Game Project Head to any Little League® game and you will often hear the line “I’m in it for the kids.” Thankfully, so many of our parents, coaches, and board members are, as our leagues would not survive without the millions of volunteers and parents devoting their […]

When Cheering On Your Kids, Know Your Role!

Written By: John O’Sullivan, Founder of the Changing the Game Project Imagine the perfect summer day. The sun is out, the birds are chirping. And a bunch of 7-year-olds are scurrying about a ball field, trying to hit, run, throw, and catch, all the while smiling and giggling and doing what 7-year-olds do. But then the game […]

10 Things Wrong with Youth Baseball and Softball (And How We Can Fix Them)

Written By: John O’Sullivan, Founder of the Changing the Game Project My friend Jay Coakley is a sport sociologist at the University of Colorado, as well as the author of a book on the intersection between sports and society. In it, he has one of my favorite baseball/softball quotes of all time: “Kids in baseball say […]

Three Words That Will Help Your Young Player Overcome the Fear of Making a Mistake

Written By: John O’Sullivan, Founder of the Changing the Game Project One of the most unique things about the game of baseball and softball is that it is a game of failure. The best players, the ones headed to Cooperstown, are only successful in 3 out of 10 at bats. During those at bats, they might […]

Little League® Joins with Changing the Game Project Founder and CEO, John O’Sullivan, on Content Partnership

Little League® Baseball and Softball has joined together for an official content partnership with Changing the Game Project’s Founder and CEO, John O’Sullivan, to provide its parents and volunteer coaches with educational resources and guidance to create a better Little League experience for all children. “We are looking forward to working with John and his […]

Our Children Become the Messages They Hear the Most

By John O’Sullivan, Changing the Game Project Picture the young baseball player stepping onto the mound in the final inning of the championship game. What is he thinking in that moment? Visualize the soccer player, stepping up to take the deciding penalty kick. What is going through her head? Think of the basketball player, standing […]