Vance Nielsen

“So much of the secular data men have accumulated is accurate, but ultimately unimportant. Even learning useful things has often diverted mankind from learning crucial things.” —Neal A. Maxwell

In our day, with social media, artificial intelligence, and all the technology of our modern age, it is very easy to be misrepresented or to misrepresent the intent of others. Let us be determined to be completely honest and most generous as we speak of others.

Most high school teams focus on scoring. The ones that win championships obsess over: - Defensive rotations, - Proper box-outs, - Crisp screens, - AND passing up a good shot for a great one. The little things aren't little. They're everything.

Youth sports isn’t ruined by kids, it’s adults chasing trophies, rankings, and highlight reels over growth. We’ve traded development for exposure, joy for pressure, and teamwork for ego. Fix the adults, and you fix the game. It’s that simple.

Things that will make your day worse:  Negativity Doubt Worry Insecurity Complaining Comparison Things that will make your day better:  Positivity Hope Belief Humility Joy Gratitude How you show up is a choice. Own it.

Listening to self: “It’s too difficult.” “I’m not good enough.” “I always fail.” Talking to self: “I can do hard things.” “I always find a way.” “Even if there are setbacks, I’ll learn and get better.” Talk to self > Listen to self

Youth sports are getting it backwards. The best development environments give kids freedom, creativity & room to make decisions, but we over-coach, over-control & over-correct. Real growth comes from autonomy, mistakes & joy, not pressure & perfection. Development isn’t control!

Let your kid pack their own bag, fill their own water bottle, and carry their own equipment. You're teaching responsibility, not just playing a sport.

The goal of youth sports is not to create college athletes. It's to create great human beings. Don't lose sight of the real prize.

He is risen! And because Christ rose again, we will too. Thanks to Him, no pain, fear, failure, or unfairness is permanent. This is greater love. This is Easter.

6 Rules for Sports Parents: 1. It’s not about you 2. Struggle is part of the deal 3. Don’t ruin the car ride home 4. Your kid is watching you 5. Cheer for the team 6. Enjoy every moment One day, the games will end. Make sure the memories don’t.

Chances of your child becoming a pro-athlete: less than .02% Chances of your child standing before the Lord one day: 100% Make sure you prioritize the right things with your kids.

Come sing, pray, and feel the Savior's #GreaterLove. Worship with us this Easter season. You're invited to a chapel near you on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026. To find your nearest meeting place and time, visit the link below: maps.ChurchOfJesusChrist.org

Effort is the one skill that requires zero talent but pays the highest dividends. Coaches notice it. Teammates respect it. Opponents fear it.

Parents trying to play God in their kids’ sports careers rarely help them. The best athletes I have seen had parents who supported them, held them accountable, and let the game teach the lessons.

"Today everybody wants to talk about their rights and their privileges. 50 years ago, people talked about their obligation and responsibility. You have obligations to other people. If you want to fail, you have the right to fail. You do not have the right to cause other people to fail because you do not do everything to the very best of your ability."

Youth sports isn’t dying from lack of talent. It’s dying from overload. No free play, rest, recovery, off-seasons. Too many showcases & tournaments. Not enough development. Parent ego + social media pressure fuel the fire. We don’t need more exposure. We need better environments.

Nearly 30 years ago, President Henry B. Eyring, who was then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, said something in general conference that I have not forgotten. I shared his insight this past Sunday as I spoke to the students of BYU–Idaho. “One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time” (“Finding Safety in Counsel,” Apr. 1997). Two weeks ago, President Dallin H. Oaks repeated the warning issued by President Russell M. Nelson from general conference in April 2018: “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” So, what do you do to rivet your attention, to assure that you survive spiritually by having the constant influence of the Holy Ghost? You look carefully at your daily activities. Am I praying? Am I thoughtfully partaking of the sacrament? What am I putting into my mind? Am I associating with others who seek the constant influence of the Holy Ghost? What could be my distractions, my obstacles, or my deceptions? You pray for inspiration and courage to make any changes you need to make. Let us be true disciples of Jesus Christ. The Redeemer of Israel knows you, loves you, and will strengthen you as you seek to draw closer to Him.

America has a delusion when it comes to Youth Sports. We think we have a master plan but in reality we are creating a future mess! In basketball more kids at a younger age are specializing in only basketball. Kids play way too many games! Kids are playing over a 100 games a year(more than NBA). We are treating youth sports like professional sports. The fun is being taken out of it and we are doing way too much!! I think the outcome is Skill development decreasing Kids getting burned out More injuries from too many games and specialization Not a good long-term plan imo

"Trusting God in what we know and what we don’t know is a great protection against doubts based on mistaken ideas instead of what God has chosen to reveal." - President @OaksDallinH at @BYU #BYUdevo