Over the past decade, the stakes in youth sports have reached startling heights; the pressure to win often eclipses the desire to have fun. Sports injuries have increased tenfold; aggression on and off the field—between kids, parents, and coaches—is at a fever pitch; and drug and alcohol use among young athletes is on the rise. While there are plenty of books that help the best-intentioned parent, most of them are written by men, for men. They do not address concerns specific to mothers, nor empower them to confidently step onto the out-of-control playground to assume whatever role they choose—spectator, advocate, administrator, coach, fund-raiser, or team mom. Home Team Advantage is an essential resource manual that will inspire women to confidently tackle some of the issues preventing their kids from enjoying sports. Brooke de Lench authoritatively covers issues ranging from ensuring playing time and confronting out-of-control coaches to countering the "winning at all costs" mentality. Packed with real-life anecdotes and information from experts, Home Team Advantage provides constructive, practical, and forward-thinking advice to help mothers understand the critical role they can play in putting the words fun, game, and play back into youth sports. As the mother of triplet boys, de Lench knows plenty about being a spectator at youth sports events. What she offers here is a thoughtful account of how mothers can use the strengths they routinely engender in their children at home to help them succeed on the field, on the court, or in the pool. She makes a good case for more motherly involvement in youth sports, noting that while mothers are naturally intuitive, even-tempered, and caring, they don't necessarily have to sacrifice all the elements that make sports such a male-dominated endeavor, such as competition, drive, and tenacity. De Lench outlines her strategies for Mom-involvement clearly and includes helpful chapters on coaching girls, dealing with abuse, avoiding injuries, making sound nutritional choices, and other common topics sure to be helpful to parents of sports-playing kids. Some of her rules might be a little inflexible (such as allowing only three hours of practice per week for children under 12), but all families will find something useful in this valuable book. For parents and coaches of children of all ages. Mary Frances Wilkens Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved “Home Team Advantage: The Critical Role of Mothers in Youth Sports is a book every family needs to have and utilize to keep their children safe on and off the field.” - David Janda, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon, Director of the Institute of Preventative Sports Medicine. A book every family needs to have and utilize to keep their children safe and off the field. - David Janda, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon, Director of the Institute of Preventative Sports Medicine. “Brooke de Lench is a beacon for those of us working to change the landscape of today’s youth sport environment. At a time when our nation faces increasing problems related to obesity and lack of physical activity, we have evolved a youth sport scene which is both irrational and exclusionary. Ms. de Lench has dedicated herself to changing this myopic way of treating our children. She writes clearly and with purpose. For those with a stake in those children who are involved with sports, she is important reading.” - Paul Bearmon, M.D., Emergency Room Physician, President of "Keep 'em All Playing" For those with a stake in those children who are involved in sports, de Lench is important reading. - Paul Bearmon, M.D., Emergency Room Physician, President of "Keep 'em All Playing" Her stories refresh my hope for the future of youth sports. Her book is just what sports moms desperately need. - Shari Young Kuchenbecker, Ph.D., author of RAISING WINNERS This immensely readable book assembles brilliantly the most important lessons learned from parents, respected athletes, educators, physicians, trainers and coaches. - Eli Newberger, M.D., Professor at Harvard Medical School and author of THE MEN THEY WILL BECOME “An invaluable resource, Home Team Advantage, is superbly informative and educational, for not only every sports mom, but educator and parent as well.” - Robert C. Cantu, M.D., Neurosurgeon Co-Director Neurological Sports Injury Center Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston. Author of Neurological Head and Spine Injuries An invaluable resource...superbly informative and educational...for not only every sports mom, but educator and parent as well. - Robert C. Cantu, M.D., Neurosurgeon, Co-Director Neurological Sports Injury Center Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston. Author of Neurological Head and Spine Injuries. Over the past decade, the stakes in youth sports have reached startling heights; the pressure to win often eclipses the desire to have fun. Sports injuries have increased tenfold; aggression on and off the fi