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Why It's Important To Play With Other Kids That Are The Same Age

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Mike Brown is the current Associate Head Coach of the Golden State Warriors (@warriors). With more than twenty years of coaching experience, including being named the 2009 NBA Coach of the Year, Brown brought his knowledge of the game to the Warriors in 2016 as an Assistant Coach. He brought his knowledge of the game and coaching experience when he stepped in as acting Head Coach in 2017 to lead the Warriors to a best postseason winning percentage in NBA history with a 16-1 record and NBA Championship.

As a parent, Mike Brown understands why parents want their student-athletes to play with older athletes and play against older competition. However, he urges parents against this idea. He explains how accelerating your student-athletes athletic career means the potential that they miss out on important life lessons that can be learned from playing with kids the same age; life lessons like leadership, teamwork, and work ethic can all be emphasized when you play with kids the same age. He encourages parents to allow their student-athletes the opportunity to learn these lessons by giving them the chance to compete with kids their own age.