Uncoordinated? You Can Still Be an Athlete?
I was really bad at sports in high school. This study helps me understand why.
https://www.vox.com/2016/5/30/11767704/practice-doesnt-make-perfect

Fitness for Kids Who Don’t Like Sports (for Parents)
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hate-sports.html

Why Is Pickleball Good For You?

If you haven’t noticed, pickleball is picking up in popularity. And sure, it’s a pretty easy game that just about anyone can play, but it’s also getting people healthier. This TikTok doctor explains all the reasons pickleball is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It’s unclear whether or not he actually plays.

And, Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Pickleball
https://blog.cheapism.com/pickleball-facts/

Overtime

The Hidden Mathematics Behind Sports Strategies: A Deep Dive into Game Theory and Sports
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hidden-mathematics-behind-sports-strategies-deep-dive-rao/

Lawn Mower Racing and Other Strange Motorsports You Didn’t Know Existed
https://blog.cheapism.com/strange-motorsports/

Is Chess A Sport? – Chess.com
https://www.chess.com/article/view/is-chess-a-sport

Sports Betting Revenue Hit a New High in 2023
https://www.insidehook.com/sports/sports-betting-revenue-record

Opinion

Taylor Kennedy: Fathers are life’s best coaches

Taylor Kennedy Jun 16, 2024

Taylor Kennedy (right) stands with his father, Chris, after an awards ceremony at Winfield High School in 2018.
Submitted photo

Athletes are surrounded by multiple coaches throughout their lives, whether it’s a family member, close friend of the family or just a new person.

These coaches create connections with athletes in different ways that can last a lifetime.

I’ve been spoiled by having great coaches throughout my 24 years of life.
However, none of those coaches will compare to my dad. My dad, Chris, was my very first basketball coach growing up when I started falling in love with roundball.

He coached me up until my sophomore year of high school, when I did travel basketball.

Was it always easy? No. He’d also agree with me because, trust me, I was a wild card at certain points growing up.

Yet, he didn’t give up on me and still doesn’t.

My dad always gave important lessons, whether he was my coach at that moment or not, when I was growing up playing basketball.

One time that stands out when I was in the fifth grade.

I wanted to quit my youth league team because of how difficult it was.

I can remember talking with my dad about it and how I wasn’t having fun.

My dad told me, “Giving up doesn’t get you anywhere. Persevering and hard work helps you down the road.”

In that moment, I knew what he meant to an extent, but I didn’t want to be someone that gave up. That’s just not what he taught me and my brother, Ryan.

I finished the year, thanks to the support and knowledge of my dad.

He was also a hard teacher. Meaning, he was, and still is, hard on me to get the best out of me.

I didn’t play basketball my junior year of high school. However, I wanted to try and get one last crack at it my senior year and play with my friends.

I spoke with my dad about it, and he was very transparent about the work needed to possibly get an opportunity.

He told me that I needed to run every day leading up to tryouts, work extra hard in offseason workouts and practice footwork to play as a taller forward.

So, every day, I went out and ran a mile to a mile and a half in our neighborhood in Fraziers Bottom.

That success led to me running a personal-record six-and-a-half-minute mile during an early-morning workout session with the team.

I broke several personal records in the weight room during workouts.

I got better with my footwork by doing toe touches on our back deck for upwards of a minute.

All of that hard work got me a position on the basketball team my senior year.

My dad has always been a tough teacher and mentor for me and my brother.

However, I am starting to realize that he did what he did in the past to prepare me for my future.

Coaches can be on or off the court and still have influence in various ways.

Yes, they are tough, but those individuals want what’s best for their people.

Dad, thank you for continuing to be a coach in my life, regardless how difficult I can be.

I appreciate and love you for everything you have done and will continue doing in my life.

Happy Father’s Day and enjoy your day, because you are deserving of it.

And Happy Father’s Day to every dad out there celebrating this weekend.

Taylor Kennedy covers sports. He can be reached at 304-348-7935 or tkennedy@hdmediallc.com. Follow @Taylor_kennedy7 on Twitter.

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Concord University at the forefront of meteoric rise of Esports gaming and the STEM careers it promote

https://wvpress.org/wvpa-sharing/opinion-concord-university-at-the-forefront-of-meteoric-rise-of-esports-gaming-and-the-stem-careers-it-promotes/