This story appears in the January 2020 edition of US Lacrosse Magazine. Don't get the mag? Head to USLacrosse.org to subscribe.

I’m not sure if there is a more peaceful time than the days immediately preceding the turn of the new year. The many distractions of the holiday season are behind us, and the mind can consider the opportunity for a fresh start following a period of thoughtful reflection.

For those of us responsible for the development of young athletes, this relatively quiet period provides an opportunity to reset for the coming season.

As has been widely reported by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative, the average child spends less than three years playing a sport, and most quit by age 11. Why? By far, the primary reason given by young athletes is that the experience just isn’t fun.

Sadly, lacrosse is no exception. Tens of thousands of youth players leave our sport each year. It’s a disturbing fact that should motivate us to consider how to evolve the youth lacrosse experience so that it’s focused primarily on the goal of player retention.

A recent national survey conducted by the Aspen Institute and Utah State’s Families in Sports Lab found that most young athletes have at least a moderate level of stress, with field hockey and lacrosse cited as the most stressful sports for kids. The source of that stress most often mentioned? Coaches.

Questioning what we’ve always done is hard; committing to change is even harder. But being open to the question is the first step.

Do coaches have the resources they need to provide the best age-appropriate experience possible? Have program values and culture been established, communicated and enforced? Does the intended experience align with the physical and emotional development stages of children at each age level? Is regular feedback being sought from the families served?

A few questions to consider while contemplating the promise of a new season.