Lessons from Norwich, Vermont: By not overemphasizing sports, one small town nurtures the unlikeliest of Olympic pipelines

Norwich, located across the Connecticut River from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, has roughly 3,000 residents, and, since 1984, has put an athlete on all but one United States Winter Olympics team. It has also sent two athletes to the Summer Olympics. In all, Norwich has produced 11 Olympians who have won three medals. The town has become the unlikeliest of Olympic pipelines, but that is only part of what makes it so noteworthy.

Why Project Play recommends equal playing time for kids

There’s a time to sort the weak from the strong in sports. It’s not before kids grow into their bodies, minds and true interests. Through age 12, at least, the Aspen Institute’s Project Play recommends that sports programs invest in every kid equally. That includes playing time – a valuable developmental tool that too many coaches assign based on player skill level and the score of the game. You will see this recommendation reflected in our Parent Checklists and companion videos.

What Ashley Tysiac wants: Play multiple sports

Playing many different sports used to be the norm for kids many years ago. Athletes may have followed a routine such as playing football in the fall, followed by basketball in the winter and baseball during the spring.

Now, with the emergence of AAU and travel teams, young athletes can participate in any sport they choose year-round. This has led to an increase in competitiveness in the world of youth athletics, leading kids to train aggressively in certain sports to get ahead of the competition.