Norwich

October 16, 2017
Norwich, Vt., emerges as an enviable town out of time in New York Times sports reporter Crouse’s charming first book. The wealthy southern Vermont town has produced 11 Olympians since 1956, and Crouse reveals the town’s secret to raising successful athletes early on—“a deep aversion to pushing its children too hard too soon”—and offers a loose blueprint for other communities to follow. Norwich’s agrarian culture, Crouse writes, encourages parents to provide hands-off support for their children in a variety of athletic pursuits, and coaches consider themselves to be educators rather than “emissaries assigned to deliver children to the ranks of professional sports.” The kids, meanwhile, value participation, sportsmanship, and fun above winning. Crouse unpacks all this in chapters that read like individuals profiles of the town’s successful athletes, such as mogul skier Hannah Kearney, who credits her Olympic success to the small town, and distance runner Andrew Wheating, who didn’t even take up the sport until high school. Short and sweet, this important book highlights what’s wrong with youth sports by focusing on a community that gets it right.

November 15, 2017
In her debut, a New York Times sportswriter explores why a small town in Vermont has become the "perfect incubator for developing the ideal Olympic athlete."Norwich has the distinction of being a town in which "one out of every 322 residents is an Olympian." Crouse examines the story behind this remarkable record of athletic excellence, beginning with a profile of sisters Sunny and Betsy Snite. In the 1950s, their relentlessly competitive father pushed both girls to become ski champions. His "parent-driven medal-or-bust model" drove a permanent wedge between the sisters, made them unhappy, and kept both isolated from members of the Norwich community. The author then examines how more contemporary Norwich families have helped nurture well-adjusted champions. Nonjudgmental parental support allowed Mike Holland and Jeff Hastings to pursue their quirky, sometimes-dangerous passion of ski jumping in the 1970s and '80s. An emphasis on becoming a well-rounded athlete able to play soccer and run track helped mogul skier Hannah Kearney keep a hypercompetitive drive in check while laying the foundation for the medals she won in 2010 and 2014. Growing up without expectations that he would ever be an athlete, Andrew Wheating was able to find a joy in running that led him to become a member of the U.S. Olympic track and field team in 2008 and 2012. Loving parents and a supportive community helped Winter X Games snowboard champion and Olympic team prospect Kevin Pearce move beyond the traumatic brain injury that ended his career. Crouse's common-sense findings--that Norwich parents "praise effort, not results" and give their children "ownership of their lives"--all within a tightly knit community that values healthy living--are refreshing. Her book is a reminder that in an age that stresses winning at all costs, the true champions of the Olympic world are those who transition into lives as happy and productive adults.An inspiring story of a unique town.

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December 1, 2017

Nestled deep in the heart of New England, the tiny town of Norwich, VT, has one remarkable export: Olympic athletes. From ski jumpers to runners, swimmers, and downhill skiers, the number of Olympians who call Norwich home is off the charts, statistically. Sportswriter Crouse (New York Times), weary of Olympic scandal and hype, moved to the town and got to know its 3,000 residents, their values and culture. Her authorial debut profiles six prominent athletes from the area; each chapter illustrating the balance of competition and compassion achieved by this small, exemplary community. The Norwich template is more than an athletic ideal; it's a refreshing reappraisal of parenting and connection. Crouse's personal immersion and fine eye for a good story help to make this a strong choice for parents, teachers, and coaches who want to redefine success and see young athletes become responsible, engaged adults. VERDICT Brimming with community-building ideas that transcend sports, this book challenges the current overextended, high-pressure world of youth athletics and provides the tools to help foster a positive, hometown-based alternative. Highly recommended.--Janet Davis, Darien P.L., CT

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