Melissa Jacobs
@melissajacobs.bsky.social
Subscribe (Free or $) to my youth sports newsletter, Good Game. https://goodgamekid.substack.com
Check out my NFL work on The Guardian. Stay for my hot takes on Brock Purdy.
Check out my NFL work on The Guardian. Stay for my hot takes on Brock Purdy.
Who thought this was a good idea to share with the world?
this is the way rich people think about health insurance
It’s ever a good idea to see what’s going on at the NYT, but
August 5, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Who thought this was a good idea to share with the world?
Reposted by Melissa Jacobs
According to this Supreme Court, President Biden's Department of Education was exceeding its power by trying to forgive peoples' student loans.
President Trump, on the other hand, has the power to just completely dismantle the entire Education Department.
President Trump, on the other hand, has the power to just completely dismantle the entire Education Department.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court allows the Trump administration to move forward with the abolition of the Department of Education. It gives no explanation for its order. All three liberals dissent. www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
From Sotomayor's dissent:
From Sotomayor's dissent:
July 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM
According to this Supreme Court, President Biden's Department of Education was exceeding its power by trying to forgive peoples' student loans.
President Trump, on the other hand, has the power to just completely dismantle the entire Education Department.
President Trump, on the other hand, has the power to just completely dismantle the entire Education Department.
Sadly, the Buy Canadian movement has extended to Canadian youth sports where some clubs are boycotting Trump's America.
Story in my youth sports newsletter, Good Game...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/canadian-y...
Story in my youth sports newsletter, Good Game...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/canadian-y...
Canadian Youth Sports Clubs Reconsidering Travel to Trump's America
Trump's policies led to one volleyball club eschewing U.S. travel this year. Will others follow suit?
goodgamekid.substack.com
July 14, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Sadly, the Buy Canadian movement has extended to Canadian youth sports where some clubs are boycotting Trump's America.
Story in my youth sports newsletter, Good Game...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/canadian-y...
Story in my youth sports newsletter, Good Game...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/canadian-y...
One Canadian volleyball club call just announced it would forgo travel to the U.S. this year. Other clubs are thinking the same.
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/canadian-y...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/canadian-y...
Canadian Youth Sports Clubs Reconsidering Travel to Trump's America
Trump's policies led to one volleyball club eschewing U.S. travel this year. Will others follow suit?
goodgamekid.substack.com
July 11, 2025 at 5:43 PM
One Canadian volleyball club call just announced it would forgo travel to the U.S. this year. Other clubs are thinking the same.
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/canadian-y...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/canadian-y...
Navigating a behemoth like youth sports takes a village. Come subscribe and be part of mine!
goodgamekid.substack.com
goodgamekid.substack.com
Good Game | Melissa Jacobs | Substack
Helping parents navigate the ills of youth sports. Click to read Good Game, by Melissa Jacobs, a Substack publication.
goodgamekid.substack.com
June 19, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Navigating a behemoth like youth sports takes a village. Come subscribe and be part of mine!
goodgamekid.substack.com
goodgamekid.substack.com
Reposted by Melissa Jacobs
When I referee, the amount of times I hear youth players say quietly: "Shut up Dad" or "Shut up Mom" when they yell things form the sidelines is almost every time the parent yells.
The players absolutely hate it, don't do it.
The players absolutely hate it, don't do it.
A young athlete anxiously glancing at their parent in the stands. Lost confidence and joy.
These are just a few of the ramifications of sideline coaching.
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/stop-with-...
These are just a few of the ramifications of sideline coaching.
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/stop-with-...
Stop with the Sideline Coaching Already
The long-term damage is real.
goodgamekid.substack.com
June 11, 2025 at 5:55 PM
When I referee, the amount of times I hear youth players say quietly: "Shut up Dad" or "Shut up Mom" when they yell things form the sidelines is almost every time the parent yells.
The players absolutely hate it, don't do it.
The players absolutely hate it, don't do it.
A young athlete anxiously glancing at their parent in the stands. Lost confidence and joy.
These are just a few of the ramifications of sideline coaching.
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/stop-with-...
These are just a few of the ramifications of sideline coaching.
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/stop-with-...
Stop with the Sideline Coaching Already
The long-term damage is real.
goodgamekid.substack.com
June 11, 2025 at 4:26 PM
A young athlete anxiously glancing at their parent in the stands. Lost confidence and joy.
These are just a few of the ramifications of sideline coaching.
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/stop-with-...
These are just a few of the ramifications of sideline coaching.
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/stop-with-...
Latest Good Game on the cruelty of youth sports tryouts...and how to fix them
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/can-we-ple...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/can-we-ple...
Can We Please Humanize Youth Sports Tryouts?
Another unnecessarily professionalized slice of youth sports. Sigh.
goodgamekid.substack.com
May 7, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Latest Good Game on the cruelty of youth sports tryouts...and how to fix them
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/can-we-ple...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/can-we-ple...
Ok, football decision. How lame.
Here is the full statement from Ravens GM Eric DeCosta on releasing Justin Tucker, who is accused of inappropriate behavior by Baltimore massage parlors. The team — which drafted Tyler Loop — says it’s a football decision.
May 5, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Ok, football decision. How lame.
Reposted by Melissa Jacobs
Trump is now meddling in the NFL draft
April 25, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Trump is now meddling in the NFL draft
Richard Sherman just doesn’t look right repping the Seahawks.
April 25, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Richard Sherman just doesn’t look right repping the Seahawks.
Enjoying all the Travis Hunter deep dives today.
April 24, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Enjoying all the Travis Hunter deep dives today.
Haven't promoted Good Game in a while so here I am asking you to check out Good Game and subscribe. 🙏
Lots of good youth sports convos to be had.
goodgamekid.substack.com
Lots of good youth sports convos to be had.
goodgamekid.substack.com
Good Game | Melissa Jacobs | Substack
Helping parents navigate the ills of youth sports. Click to read Good Game, by Melissa Jacobs, a Substack publication.
goodgamekid.substack.com
April 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Haven't promoted Good Game in a while so here I am asking you to check out Good Game and subscribe. 🙏
Lots of good youth sports convos to be had.
goodgamekid.substack.com
Lots of good youth sports convos to be had.
goodgamekid.substack.com
Kids and parents are increasingly defined by youth sports. What happens when they burn out? Or don't grow?
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/my-kid-the...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/my-kid-the...
My Kid, the Athlete and What Else ?
A warning.
goodgamekid.substack.com
April 15, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Kids and parents are increasingly defined by youth sports. What happens when they burn out? Or don't grow?
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/my-kid-the...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/my-kid-the...
The ridiculousness of youth sports can be summed up by the fact that we pay gate fees on top of tournament fees without wincing.
Who else is guilty?
Who else is guilty?
April 14, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The ridiculousness of youth sports can be summed up by the fact that we pay gate fees on top of tournament fees without wincing.
Who else is guilty?
Who else is guilty?
The fact that 11.4% of parents believe their kid has the ability to go pro underscores so many issues in youth sports.
I wrote on this and more from last week's @aspeninstitute.bsky.social Project Play Summit.
I wrote on this and more from last week's @aspeninstitute.bsky.social Project Play Summit.
Survey Says: Stunning Number of Parents Believe Their Kid Might Go Pro
Takeaways from Project Play Summit 2025 and the new sports parenting survey.
substack.com
April 4, 2025 at 7:13 PM
The fact that 11.4% of parents believe their kid has the ability to go pro underscores so many issues in youth sports.
I wrote on this and more from last week's @aspeninstitute.bsky.social Project Play Summit.
I wrote on this and more from last week's @aspeninstitute.bsky.social Project Play Summit.
Per the just released State of Play Sport Parenting survey, parents spend an average of 3:23 daily on youth sports. Be it laundry, communication, team parent duties, etc.
March 24, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Per the just released State of Play Sport Parenting survey, parents spend an average of 3:23 daily on youth sports. Be it laundry, communication, team parent duties, etc.
Club-hopping is super common in youth sports. I wrote on the few reasons to leave and the numerous reasons to stay.
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/the-perils...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/the-perils...
The Perils of Club-Hopping in Youth Sports
Why jumping ship isn't always the answer even when it seems obvious.
goodgamekid.substack.com
March 20, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Club-hopping is super common in youth sports. I wrote on the few reasons to leave and the numerous reasons to stay.
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/the-perils...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/the-perils...
My 3 favorite Patrick/Pats.
1) Patrick Willis
2) Pat Benatar
3) Patrick Dempsey
Who are yours?
1) Patrick Willis
2) Pat Benatar
3) Patrick Dempsey
Who are yours?
March 17, 2025 at 5:23 PM
My 3 favorite Patrick/Pats.
1) Patrick Willis
2) Pat Benatar
3) Patrick Dempsey
Who are yours?
1) Patrick Willis
2) Pat Benatar
3) Patrick Dempsey
Who are yours?
Name a better opening theme than The Sopranos (Woke Up This Morning).
Yeah, you can’t.
Yeah, you can’t.
March 16, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Name a better opening theme than The Sopranos (Woke Up This Morning).
Yeah, you can’t.
Yeah, you can’t.
None of the private lessons or gunning for top teams means anything if your kid doesn’t love the sport.
Crazy how many youth sports parents don't get this.
Crazy how many youth sports parents don't get this.
March 13, 2025 at 9:05 PM
None of the private lessons or gunning for top teams means anything if your kid doesn’t love the sport.
Crazy how many youth sports parents don't get this.
Crazy how many youth sports parents don't get this.
Change is hard but I prefer the rip the bandaid method of the 49ers vs. one piece at a time.
March 11, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Change is hard but I prefer the rip the bandaid method of the 49ers vs. one piece at a time.
So glad this is finally happening.
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/us-soccers...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/us-soccers...
U.S. Soccer's Missed Goal: The Case for School-Year Age Groups
U.S. Soccer deserves a red card for its mishandling of the youth soccer age vote.
goodgamekid.substack.com
March 7, 2025 at 6:49 PM
So glad this is finally happening.
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/us-soccers...
goodgamekid.substack.com/p/us-soccers...
Can't WAIT to be part of Project Play Summit 2025 from @aspeninstitute.bsky.social at Cal. This year's lineup is stacked with thought leaders & innovators in youth sports. And excuse me while I fangirl out, but the keynote speaker is THE Michael Lewis. 🌟
More info here: projectplay.org/summit/2025
More info here: projectplay.org/summit/2025
March 7, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Can't WAIT to be part of Project Play Summit 2025 from @aspeninstitute.bsky.social at Cal. This year's lineup is stacked with thought leaders & innovators in youth sports. And excuse me while I fangirl out, but the keynote speaker is THE Michael Lewis. 🌟
More info here: projectplay.org/summit/2025
More info here: projectplay.org/summit/2025