Author Christine Hawkinson

Parents of young children may feel pressured to start their kids early in sports and have them play often, but how’s that working for us? Over 70% of kids drop out of sports before they get to high school. The cost of participating and the number of youth sports injuries continue to rise. Let’s talk about the youth sports culture and what we can do to keep more kids in the game, playing safely. Christine Hawkinson, local author of 50 Years in the Bleachers : What modern sports parents can learn from a Title IX Pioneer, will speak on these topics Wednesday, August 23 at 6:30pm. 

About the author: Christine Hawkinson has observed the evolution of youth sports and the changing expectations of players, parents, and coaches over five decades. She was a coach’s daughter, a Title IX pioneer of girls’ basketball, a coach’s wife, and a sports parent. Her daughter’s ACL tear led to more questions than answers about today’s youth sports culture and provided her thesis topic for a master’s degree in family and consumer journalism.

Hawkinson encourages parents and coaches to be informed and thoughtful about how and when kids play so they stay healthy, have fun, and benefit from playing sports.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Ruth Culver Community Library. Books will be available for purchase.