Recommended article: What Separates Champions From ‘Almost Champions’?

I have always been a strong believer in long term athlete development. This article is a good, short summary of what that means. Essentially, for kids to excel in a sport, they need to follow their passion and interests, enjoy competing and practicing, be self-driven, and enjoy a supportive but not pushy environment (ie coaches and parents) which fosters their long-term development.