Professor Published Youth Sports Parenting Guide
St. Cloud State University professor Scott Schmidt released a new workbook to help parents navigate youth sports.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Football
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Scott Schmidt, an assistant professor of sport management at St. Cloud State University, published a 134-page workbook titled Pause the Game in July 2026. The book aims to help parents improve communication with sports organizations.
Why it matters
Schmidt created the resource to address common communication breakdowns between youth sports organizations and parents. The guide provides practical tools for those navigating the stress of the competitive youth sports industry.
The workbook spans 134 pages and took nearly two years to write. Schmidt reached the milestone of 100 total copies sold in September 2026.
The players
Scott Schmidt
He is an assistant professor of sport management at St. Cloud State University who researches parental stress in youth sports.
St. Cloud State University
This public university located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, employs Schmidt in its sport management department.
University of Sioux Falls
This higher education institution in South Dakota is where Schmidt earned his doctorate in leadership.
The details
Derived from his doctoral dissertation on parental stress in youth club volleyball, the book includes various readings, prompts, and exercises. It serves as a resource for parents to better manage their interactions with youth athletic programs.
Timeline
Scott Schmidt earned a doctorate in leadership from the University of Sioux Falls in 2024.
The book Pause the Game was published in July 2026.
Schmidt reached his 100th book sale in September 2026.
Season Trajectory
This publication fits into the broader movement of professionalizing the management of youth athletics to combat burnout and negative parental experiences. The work reflects a growing academic trend of applying organizational leadership theory to the amateur sports sector.
Parents can utilize the included exercises and prompts to standardize their communication with team administrators. This approach may help reduce conflict by providing a clear framework for discussing organizational concerns.
The takeaway
Effective parental involvement requires structured communication to navigate the high-pressure environment of modern youth athletics. Implementing exercises from leadership-focused workbooks can help parents maintain a healthy perspective throughout the season.
Further reading
For more on local sports management initiatives, visit Football.
Live Poll
Do you feel youth sports programs in your area communicate effectively with parents?
