Why did I write this book?

Kids These Days, explores how communication breakdowns are at the heart of many of the issues surfacing in sports today. It offers timely, experience-backed insight into what’s happening inside teams when trust erodes, expectations shift, and leadership fails to meet the unique challenges of coaching Gen Z and beyond.

WHY IT MATTERS

• Built for coaches who feel stuck. Many veteran coaches struggle to connect in the same ways they used to. I tackle why old-school methods no longer work and how to adapt without sacrificing core values. 

• Focuses on two-way communication. Today’s athletes thrive when they understand the why and feel seen, valued, appreciated. Betsy’s strategies emphasize genuine care, listening, asynchronous communication, and structured feedback loops.

• Practical and applied. More than theory—each chapter ends with tools that are immediately applicable to team meetings, coaching sessions, parent conversations, and training environments.

WHAT’S IN THE BOOK?

“Kids These Days” equips coaches, parents, and leaders with practical tools to connect, engage, and inspire today’s athletes.

• Practice‑ready tools at the end of each chapter. Each chapter concludes with actionable, easy‑to‑apply exercises and tools designed to help readers translate lessons into immediate practice.

• Real stories from coaches and athletes. The book includes real-world anecdotes shared by current athletes and coaches that illustrate challenges and breakthroughs in Gen Z, and Gen Alpha communication and coaching.

• Field‑tested communication strategies. I outline proven strategies for delivering feedback, managing conflict, and building psychological safety with today’s athletes. Insights are drawn from years of workshops and consultations in locker rooms and boardrooms alike.

• Modern athlete research and insights. The book integrates researched insights into the mindset of today’s athlete, covering topics like shortened attention spans, sensitivity to failure (“I‘ve experienced a failure” vs. “I AM a failure.”), preference for co-creation, and need for authenticity, trust, and transparency in the coach-athlete relationship.

KEY CHALLENGES FOR TODAY’S COACHES

1. 1. Meeting expectations of players, fans, families, and organizational leadership.(Hired for for philosophy - fired for outcomes)

2. Building trust & setting boundaries in the increasingly transactional culture of sports. (NIL, transfer portal, athlete-brand identity)

3. Increased oversight, public critique, and the weaponization of language resulting in investigations and lawsuits. (Social media hot takes and comparisons)

4. 4. Managing important and difficult conversations with athletes, staff, and parents. (Holding people accountable without lowering standards or expectations)

5. Supporting the mental and emotional well-being of athletes dealing with stress, anxiety, or performance-related pressures.

6. “Kids these days...”, replacing judgment with understanding, and how to better communicate and connect with today’s athletes for a competitive advantage.