Coach Pickles

09/24/2025

There is more to toddlers and preschoolers than most of us are ready to give them credit for when it comes to dictating sports success. Considering that 70% of children drop out of sports by age 13, preschool education research offers us hope for children's later success in sports. Just published, you can join the movement. You can read more about this at LinkedIn. Follow the link below.

Sports science made a catastrophic decision in the early 2000s that continues to harm childhood athletics today. Jean Côté and colleagues' (2007) research arbitrarily identified age six as the point at which "real" sports began.

09/03/2025

Hey Jelly Bean Parents past & present,

It's Coach Pickles 🙋🏻‍♂️ I know it's been a while since my last post. Many things are happening behind the scenes here at Jelly Bean Sports, and we hope to begin reporting on them soon. Nevertheless, you are still essential to us, regardless of the phase your athlete is now in. We were glad to have had a negligible impact on their journey.

As a parent, coach or sports organization, I thought you might be interested in an article I'm posting tomorrow about youth sports. It's based on my nearly 20 years of research into why so many kids quit sports (70% by age 13!) and what we can do differently.

It introduces some game-changing concepts about how we should approach youth athletics - especially for younger kids.
I think you'll find it eye-opening.

I'll share it tomorrow morning!

If you're on LinkedIn and would like to get the article directly. Here is the link to my profile. Let's connect, and you can read other articles I've written recently as well.

Educator @ Jelly Bean Sports | Masters in Human Relations · Experience: Jelly Bean Sports · Education: University of Oklahoma · Location: Chicago · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Dr Bradley Kayden’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.

03/31/2025

One of his last moments captured on camera before CP’s unfortunate trampoline park accident.

03/30/2025

Make learning novel. It’s one thing to know what children need to learn, it is quite another to know how children learn best.

09/07/2024

As a coach, it is my job to use sport as a medium to help build the important bonds between parents and children.

09/06/2024

It's easy to point out when someone we love hurts us, but it takes courage to ask why. Remember, they hurt too. Let's have a conversation and heal together. 🤗🥰

09/02/2024

What a cast I am surrounded by.

08/20/2024

I just purchased a couple of pairs of these for my upcoming Europe trip and am awaiting their arrival. They are about to be put to the test. If you have a pair, I'd enjoy hearing how they are working out. More of a tennis shoe guy as you know 😉but these are said to fit like tennis shoes. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, believing anything could go wrong is hard.

Free Shipping

08/06/2024

Live in the moment.

08/06/2024 MN vs CHI

07/09/2023

Airport announcement: “Ladies and gentlemen boarding, please step up to the podium with your cell phone, face it down towards the glass until you hear the beep. Then board. We kindly ask, you do not leave your cell phone on the glass and then try to enter the plane.” 🤦🏻‍♂️