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Massachusetts Ranks As The Best State For Working Dads

Author Jeff Gorra

In a recent feature, WalletHub reported that 93.7% of married fathers work. They then analyzed data from all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia to detail such working conditions. As a result, WalletHub found that Massachusetts ranks as the best state for working dads.

“Many fathers have temporarily or permanently switched to working from home and have taken on more childcare duties,” they state.

In total, this report examined 23 indicators over four different categories. These include work-life balance, child care, health, economic and social well-being. A point total was assigned to each, and then by adding up the scores per state, a ranking was constructed.

What Does “Working Dad” Actually Mean?

It’s fair to say there are loose definitions to this label. However, a working dad typically has some standard qualities. In short, it simply relates to a father who carries a job and also has children. Then, here is where you can start to zone in on the surrounding environment to those working-parenting conditions. For example, how much time does commuting take? Does that eat into your work-life balance?

“Now, 71.1% of married mothers work,” WalletHub also stated. This contributes to childcare options becoming a standalone bucket. In addition, Forbes released a thorough review of childcare services in the country earlier this week.

How Massachusetts Finished Number One

The Bay State ranked as the best state for work-life balance. In addition, Massachusetts was second in the health and childcare bracket. In fact, all four of the criteria buckets saw high scores, with the state being third in economic and social well-being.

WalletHub also found that Massachusetts is just behind our New England neighbor of New Hampshire in terms of the percentage of kids aged 0 to 17 who live in poverty. Insurance was also a key indicator contributing to Massachusetts ranking as the best state for working dads. We registered as the state that has the lowest rate of men who do not have insurance.

5 Life Lessons From Coaching Youth Sports

There are many life lessons to be taken from coaching youth sports. Sometimes, they can be the same lessons your little players are also learning. Perhaps as an adult, you are simply learning these lessons again. Or you may just be interpreting them through a different lens.

“If You Ain’t 15 Minutes Early, You’re A Half An Hour Late”

This is the first memory I have as a kid playing basketball. It’s a sentence I will never forget. My coach was a former standout at the University of South Carolina. He treated us as if he was the actual Division One South Carolina coach, and we were his 5-star recruit players about to enter March Madness. We were ten years old. It sounds intense, I understand, but herein lies the first rule of coaching youth sports. There are some values that are non-negotiable.

When you break it down, these values are all centered around respect. Respect for yourself and those around you. Respect becomes a way of life. It’s how an athlete carries themselves and how they approach the game. Therefore, it’s important as a coach to ask yourself if respect is present in the environment you and your team are creating. It has a way of applying to everything while also being an evolving process.

Speaking of which, more often than not, youth coaches are volunteers. This means that they are not paid. Sometimes, they never even played the sport they are coaching. However, they care enough to dedicate their time and attention to help make the sporting experience memorable for the youth program. So keep that in mind and cut them some slack. This is true of referees and umpires, as well.

Coaching youth sports can be a year-round commitment. We often end one season and immediately transition to the next sport. Here are five life lessons learned from coaching youth sports.

  • The Meaning of Hard Work

    There’s no better feeling than working tirelessly for something you really want, and then accomplishing it. Especially if you are an underdog. You learn to enjoy the struggle. It makes the reward that much sweeter. The most valuable lesson from this piece is that once you dedicate yourself to putting in whatever it takes, this becomes a mindset. No win comes for free. You aren’t entitled to playing time. Both of those must be earned. There’s nothing wrong with reminding yourself of that while preaching to your kids about how to get playing time.

    Boys having a fun with their school coach. Teacher and students enjoying a physical education session in a school ground.

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  • The Importance of Exercise

    Your definition of exercise might be a sweaty cardio workout in the gym. But as a coach, exercise has a broad meaning. Certainly, getting yourself outside with a team and teaching them the importance of stretching and preparing your body is essential to physical success. Coaching a sport like football, for example, your two hours a day on the field are laser-focused on just that. There, you are giving yourself some mental exercise, taking a break from all the other work, stress, or life-circumstances. You can forget everything else when you hit the field, court, or rink.

    Field Hockey, coach and portrait of woman at stadium for training, fitness and cardio with group, happy and excited. Sports, trainer and female smile, confident and cheerful during game, match and sport

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  • Treat Everyone The Same, But Coach Them Differently

    Whether you manage a soccer team or a sales team, you’re leading a collection of individuals. What makes your top performer tick is not the same as what makes a lesser player (or employee) with potential, tick. This lesson centers around relationship-building and listening. How you run your team is about you, and how your players apply these guidelines is about them.

    Group Of Children In Soccer Team Celebrating With Coach

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  • Nobody Is Going Pro At 10 Years Old...

    …Nor are they getting a full scholarship offer to a top NCAA college at this age. You may see things in your kid or another on the team where your experience makes you think a certain player has a shot at the big time. But that time is not right now. Your coaching duty is to give the best experience possible to your players. How does creating an entire game plan around one super-talented 10-year old give the other 20 kids a fair chance? How does it give them a memorable experience? Or something to build off for next year. Or confidence. Again, those refereeing your games are most likely high school or college kids themselves. They’re just trying to work and earn some money. Again, cut them some slack.

    Basketball, hands and team of players high five for outdoor game.

    Stock Photo/Getty Images

  • You Matter

    Your tone in addressing your players, the refs, and the other team matters, too. Be cognizant of how you deliver your messages. You may have an incredibly impactful point to make, but if you don’t articulate it correctly, and cater to your audience, it can be useless. Coaching youth sports is about the overall experience, not the final score, and not the final record. Your stats don’t matter, your voice does.

    Boxing coach and kid training inside a boxing ring. Close up of a boxing kid in boxing gloves and headgear learning boxing from his coach.

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Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
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