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viii Preface fields to provide authoritative overviews about a broad range of topics. Although sport is the central theme for this book, it features essays written by distinguished psychologists, medical professionals, therapists, and professors in addition to prac­ ti­tion­ers and parents. This book examines youth sport from a number of dif­fer­ent ­ angles, from the myriad potential benefits of youth sport to the injuries and harms that unfortunately also befall some participants. We sought to also approach youth sport from the per- spective of many of the ­ people involved in youth sport, from the athletes them- selves to the parents, coaches, officials, and trainers who all play unique and pivotal roles in shaping the character and tenor of youth sports in Amer­i­ca. We also have sought to address the many dif­fer­ent young ­ people who participate in youth sport, highlighting the unique experiences and challenges of boys, girls, LGBT athletes, and individuals with disabilities, for while we recognize sport is universal and pro- vides an ave­nue for connection and challenge, it is often viewed and embraced differently by dif­fer­ent populations. In addition, we have provided a variety of entries that can serve as information resources for athletes, parents, and coaches on issues such as helping the youth sport athlete cope with failure, finding a competitive balance between what is needed and what is most enjoyable, or weigh the benefits and drawbacks of specializing in a single sport rather than participating in multiple sports. Fi­nally, Youth Sports in Amer­i­ca addresses many of the hot topics in modern youth sport, such as the influ- ence of tele­vi­sion and social media on youth sport, the escalating financial cost of youth sports, and prob­lems such as concussions, hazing, bullying, and burnout that are all too common in the youth sport setting. Packed with information and insights that ­will be of interest to every­one involved in the world of youth sports—­athletes, parents, coaches, referees, and administrators—­this book ­will thus be a valuable resource for anyone seeking a better understanding of youth sport in Amer­i­ca.