Karen Ronney On National Television
FOX & FRIENDS NEWS to Debate
Genetic Testing Kids for the Sports Gene
December 13, 2008
New York- Coach Karen, an expert in parenting and coaching kids, was asked to participate on a live FOX NEWS debate on FOX & FRIENDS to discuss the ethics of genetic sports testiing kids for the sports gene.
Go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffCsR2TGlKE
The Great Sports-Science Debate:
Should Parents Screen Kids for Olympic Potential at Birth?
If you could buy a simple genetic test to determine if your child had the Olympic-quality sports genes, would you? Or better yet, should you? A great ethical debate is brewing between science and the worldwide sports community because early detection for athletic talent could definitely be an advantage for many children.
Atlas Sports Genetics is offering parents a $149 test that could possibly predict a child’s natural athletic tendencies for strength, quickness, speed, endurance and power by identifying a specific DNA gene called ACTN3. The non-invasive procedure is done by swabbing the inside of a child’s cheek near the gum area for DNA material. The sample is returned to the lab for analysis, and the results are obtained in a few weeks.
The question remains, however, should the test results alter a parent’s method of raising children? Meaning the children who test positive will receive a lot attention and coaching, while those missing the sports gene could be redirected to pursue other talents. “Many times it is not the most talented kids that rise to the top of any field, but the most determined and hard working individuals who also have a moderate degree of ability,” says parenting expert and author Karen Ronney.”
“There is much to be said for having the eart of a champion” In Proud Parents’ Guide to Raising Athletic, Balanced, and Coordinated Kids, Ronney suggests making assumptions about a child’s future based on genetics can be a disservice to many. Other critical factors to success in athletics include focus, desire, determination, work ethic, opportunity, family support, a positive mental attitude and a balanced childhood.
Perhaps the best course of action is to give all children early exposure to fitness activities and fine and gross motor skills. The more mental, physical and emotional stimulation that a child receives in the first six years of life, the greater chance for success to be realized in all of life’s pursuits.
“It’s true that kids who start ahead will stay ahead, but in most cases it is impossible to predetermine which kids will end up at the finish line first,” Ronney said. “I think it is far better to create a generation of multi-talented kids, as opposed to focusing only on a few individuals with the right genetic stuff.”
____________________________________
Karen Ronney Joins San Diego Channel 6
News in the Morning to talk about
Proud Parents' Guide Unique Program
December 2008:
Go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?=ddRz3lqJPOI&feature=channel_page
_____________________________________
Catch Coach Karen and Proud Parents' Guide on National Radio
November 25, 2008: "Mom Talk Radio" with radio host Maria T. Bailey who is dedicated to the concerns of real-life momthers. Coach Karen visited with Maria and they talked about how to get kids more active and fit while having fun and developing athleticism and coordination. Maria's show connects with over 250,000 moms each week and is archived online as well podcasted through iTunes. The show was named “Best Mom Radio” by American Baby and Parents magazine and has been featured in “O” magazine and USA Today.
http://www.momtalkradio.com/shows/. Click on free podcast at iTunes. Coach Karen and Maria discuss the benefits of getting parents and their children to play sports activities together.
November 23, 2008: "Positive Parenting" radio talk show host Armin Brott, nationally known as "Mr. Dad", speaks with Karen Ronney on the benefits of introducing kids to physical activity starting from birth. Brott is the author of a nationally syndicated column "Ask Mr. Dad" as well as books including The Expectant Father, The New Father, and Fathering Your Toddler. Click on the link to listen to the interview.
http://www.mrdad.com/radio/2008/11/23/a-dads-perspective-on-infertility-and-assisted-reproduction-raising-athletic-balanced-coordinated-kids/
October 15, 2008: Radio Host Marc Bernier invited Coach Karen to speak on his live radio program "Book Marc" from Daytona Beach, Fla.
______________________________________________________________________
September 2008- Karen coaches and speaks at the LA84 Foundation National Junior Tennis League Community workshop at the UCLA Tennis Center. Story and photos on page 5 of the SCTA Newsletter.
http://dps.usta.com/usta_master/sitecore_ustasections/scta/Document%20Assets/2008/09/15/doc_46_500.pdf
_______________________________________________________________________
Coach Karen Speaks to Rec Sports Coaches at Commmunity Development Workshop
October 25, 2008: Coach Karen speaks on the many aspects of overall coordination to recreational youth coaches including brain growth, fine and gross motor skills, eye-hand and eye-foot development, sensory integration, eye-tracking movement, visual depth perception, spatial awareness, strength, quickness, sidedness, balance and right and left-handed tendencies.
Many of the coaches then took their skills to the courts to work on improving their teaching, parenting and coaching methods.
http://dps.usta.com/usta_master/sitecore_ustasections/scta/Document%20Assets/2008/09/15/doc_46_500.pdf
See story on Page 13 of the SCTA Newsletter
______________________________________________________________
Ronney Joins the Coaching Staff
USTA National QuickStart Launch at
Disney World for ESPN's The Weekend
March - 2008 Coach Karen with tennis Olympic Gold Medalist and Television Commentator Mary Jo Fernandez at Disney World to kick of the USTA's new QuickStart tennis program as a part of ESPN The Weekend sports extravaganza.
Orlando, Fl: Untold thousands of sports fans of all ages poured into the Disney Hollywood backlot in March to experience a taste of football, tennis, baseball, golf, basketball and BMX bike racing. It was a chance to pick up a few pointers from experts and sports stars from across the country. Mary Jo Fernandez and Martina Navratilova headline the tennis program with help from Coach Karen and about two dozen hand-picked tennis pros.
_____________________________________________________________
Coach Karen Joins the Elite National
Special Olympic Coaching Staff
Author and Coach Karen with tennis legend Dennis Van der Meer at a National Special Olympics workshop and tournament.
Hilton Head Island, SC - Coach Karen was invited to be part of an elite group of about of about 20 tennis pros, who taught, umpired and helped out at the National Special Olympics in February. This prestigious event was a national tournament for the top Special Olympic tennis players across the country along with their their parents and coaches at the Van der Meer Tennis Academy. The four-day event started with a parade of athletes and an intense QuickStart training of 100 volunteer college students, who partnered with the athletes in a fun and competitve doubles tournament. Coach Karen also trained with tennis legend Dennis Van der Meer (pictured above), who is also the President and Founder of the Professional Tennis Registry. Ronney, also an official USTA Southern California Sectional Umpire (below) officiated matches and helped the athletes.
___________________________________________________________________
Ronney Holds Court at Community Sports Festival
TOP 10 TIPS FOR COACHING YOUNG ATHLETES 1. Keep it fun: The most important element of youth sports is to have fun during practice, scrimmages and games. If kids are enjoying themselves, then they will most likely to continue to play sports, which will eventually lead to improvement and success .2. Make it positive: Use encouraging words and gestures when coaching children. Positive experiences will produce self-confidence and self-esteem in a young child’s life. 3. Emphasize effort over results: Try to recognize effort over results in children through concentration, hustle and focus. Use words of praise to reinforce that good behavior. 4. Define an athlete’s individual goal, as well as team objectives to gauge success: Give each child a personal goal to strive for in sports play. Also identify a team plan as a measuring stick for success. Remember, the score does not tell the whole story. 5. Allow kids to play as kids: Create a pressure-free zone for kids to feel free to explore their athletic talent. Avoid criticism and end each competition with the phrase, “Did you have fun today?” as opposed to, “ Did you win?” 6. Cheer (not coach) from the sidelines: Parents try limit your vocal support to words of praise and encouragement for your athlete and the team. Avoid shouting any comment that feels like instruction or coaching tip. 7. Teach your athlete how to develop positive self-talk: The inner voice that lives inside your child’s head during competition should sound like this: “I can do this.” “I am the kind of player who makes it happen under pressure.” 8. Encourage independent thinking: Allow your child to make decisions on the playing field or court without outside parental or coaching intervention. 9. Consistent practice builds confidence: Try to keep your athlete on a consistent practice schedule that will allow for the gradual building of fundamental skills. 10. Understand the learning curve: Athletic skills take years to develop so be patient during the process. Celebrate each small success along the way. |
