For The Love Of The Game: How Parents Can Promote Successful Athletes On And Off The Field

Press release from the Town of Westport:

WESTPORT, CT — Westport Together and Westport Public Schools are pleased to invite parents, coaches, and community members to a powerful presentation by Leadership and Performance Coach Sebastion Little on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 7 pm at the Bedford Middle School Auditorium.

This workshop addresses the increasing pressures young athletes face in competitive sports environments and parents' pivotal role in shaping their children's sports experiences. With a focus on fostering a love for the game, personal growth, and the importance of play, this session aims to guide parents and coaches in creating supportive, athlete-centered environments. Through expert insights, practical strategies, and interactive discussions, participants will learn how to encourage young athletes to thrive on and off the field, balancing competition with compassion and growth with enjoyment.

The program is a follow-up to Westport Human Services' fall Westport Together Mental Health Forum with author Jennifer Wallace, whose book "Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic - and What We Can Do About It" offered research and insight into actions we can take as a community to combat the stress and anxiety associated with societal definitions of success.

According to Kevin Godburn, Westport's Youth Services Program Coordinator, "In our school and community follow-up conversations about achievement culture, the resounding theme for parents pointed to exploring the challenges through a competitive sports lens. We are pleased to continue our Town/School partnership to develop programming that helps families recognize and manage the stress and anxiety in high-pressure settings."

To register for this program, please visit www.Westporttogether.org.

To stay informed with additional resources and upcoming events, follow @westporttogether and @stapleshighschool_counseling on Instagram. For questions and more information about Westport Together or upcoming programs, please contact Youth Services Program Director Kevin Godburn at 203-341-1155 or westporttogether@westportct.gov.

About Sebastian Little: Sebastian Little is a Leadership & Performance Coach who partners with high-performing leaders and teams to optimize culture, close performance gaps, and unlock leadership potential. He has worked with clients across professional sports (NHL, MLB, NBA, etc), collegiate sports, and corporate spaces.

He is currently in his third year as the Performance Coach for Yale University Varsity Football, where he leads instruction of all mental skills and leadership development, and in his second year partnering with Westport Public Schools, he leads leadership programming with administrators around decision-making and navigating crucial conversations. Since 2020, he has partnered with several public school administrations across CT, including Brookfield Public Schools, Cheshire Public Schools, Amity Regional Schools, and Wolcott Public Schools.

A CT native and a former Yale University football standout, Seb brings a unique blend of athletic prowess, leadership acumen, and performance coaching experience aimed at supporting young athletes and their families. Through years of working with high school, collegiate, and professional teams, Seb has developed an insight into the pressures young athletes face and the pivotal role parents play in shaping their sports journey. Seb advocates for a balanced approach to youth sports, emphasizing the joy of play, the importance of a growth mindset, and creating an athlete-centered learning environment.

Join Seb for an inspiring and educational session on fostering an empowered relationship with sports, where competition meets compassion and every athlete is supported to WIN on and off the field.

This press release was produced by the Town of Westport. The views expressed here are the author’s own.