With over 25 years of coaching youth, high school and college sports, and years of working with athletes and parents, my hope is that this book will enlighten and empower you to rethink how strong athletes and teams are created, organized, and run. Through real life stories and practical action items you can implement today, you will gain an understanding of where youth sports came from and where it is today; as common youth sports myths are exposed, debunked, and de-mystified. Whether you are a parent, or youth coach in the trenches, the knowledge you will gain here will support your decision-making process, and offer valuable evidence-based insights while providing no-nonsense, actionable steps toward creating thriving, and dynamic athletes/teams.

Karl Nienhuis has worked with some of the winningest coaches in Wisconsin history. With coaching experience at the youth, high school, and college levels, Karl brings a unique skill set to coaches and parents on and off the field. As a 2020 Kohl Fellowship award winner for teaching excellence, 2016 Beaver Dam High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, college football and baseball player, his passion for teaching our youth and athletics come together in this book. In Relax: Stories and Advice for Youth Sports Parents and Coaches, he shares wisdom and advice from hall of fame coaches, retired professional athletes, former high and college athletes, as well as families of athletes at all levels.