I would like to thank all the parents and parent coaches who understand what youth sports are about.  I would like to thank you moms and dads alike for harnessing a passions for the game and allowing it to grow in your children and the children you coach.  You do more than you will ever realize.  You turn kids onto the games instead of turning them away from the game.  Coaches and parents who do it right are the best thing for youth sports, because you allow the sports to grow and continue instead of making kids quit.  You help cultivate life lessons without even realizing it.  You go to your practice to teach kids a sport but you end up teaching them teamwork and how to interact in a positive way with other kids.  You teach them how to have fun and that it is ok to make mistakes as long as they learn from them.  Good coaches and good parents are the lifeblood of youth activities.  To all you who are out there still plugging away and doing your part to help the youth and stave off the Overbearing Parent I would like to thank you.  To those of you still out there coaching because you love to coach and not just so your kid can play all the time, thank you.  To those of you out there giving up your evening and some weekends so kids can enjoy themselves and play the games they love to play, thank you.  Because without you we would not have youth sports and we would not have parks bubbling over with children laughing and playing.  To me you are the best thing going and you have a tough job, because you have to handle other parent’s children and more importantly other parents who do not want to coach but want to throw their two cents in.  You have to deal with the parents I refer to as the Overbearing Parent and for that you deserve a thank you.  I would like to take the time to give you a well deserved and sincere thank you.  You are the best.  Please do not let anyone get you down or tell you other wise.  Keep on doing what you are doing and keep doing it for the kids and you will be forever wealthy and forever thanked.  Your job is tough but it is surely worth it, so keep the good going.