Workshop Description
In the United States and in many parts of the world, the experience of being a young athlete has been marked by increasing demands and pressures at younger and younger ages. Broader structural and market forces conspire to create sports contexts that produce suboptimal experiences and outcomes for young athletes, which can be difficult to navigate while trying to maintain a more holistic focus on an athlete's broader well-being. In this workshop, Dr. Bowers will argue that the trade-offs we make between elite development and holistic well-being don't have to be made: we can develop high-performance athletes in ways that protect and support the athlete during that development process. He will share his research-based philosophies designed to put the athlete first without sacrificing their long-term potential for success on the field and beyond.
What You'll Learn
Understanding the pressures and structural forces shaping youth sports.
Debunking the myth that performance and well-being are mutually exclusive.
Learning athlete-centered, research-based development strategies.
Supporting long-term success in sports and life.
Meet Our Expert Speaker
Dr. Matt Bowers
Sports Psychologist and Researcher
Dr. Matt Bowers is an Associate Professor of Instruction and Director of the Sport Management program at the University of Texas at Austin. He studies the role of sport in generating positive experiences and outcomes, with a particular emphasis on youth development in and through sports. His work has been featured in Sports Illustrated, Wired, The Atlantic, Wall Street Journal, SXSW, and the Aspen Institute’s Sport for All, Play For Life: A Playbook to Get Every Kid in the Game. He has served as an advisor to SXSW, Nike's Project Move, the Aspen Institute’s Healthy Sport Index and Reimagining School Sports projects, and recently concluded his appointed term on the Science Board for the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
Transform Your Youth Athlete Development Approach Today
Unlock the path to success while prioritizing your athletes' well-being
$20.00