More than 45 million children are engaged in youth sports, but an estimated 70 percent will drop out by the time they are 13 years old. Not 5 percent, not 15 percent, but 70 percent.

This is a critical issue because of the benefits of sport participation. A 2010 Centers for Disease Control study found that physically active youth have better weight control, academic achievement and mental health as well as a decreased risk of heart disease and lower likelihood of diabetes than those who are not.

So why are so many kids dropping out? One of the most pervasive problems is that coaches are doing it wrong.

I have played for, coached with and watched great coaches. At every level, there are capable sports instructors providing positive experiences for our children. The problem is, such coaches are greatly outnumbered by those who don’t seem to know what they are doing. This is true of programs both inside and outside of schools.