One of the biggest problems in youth and high school athletics today is young athletes being led to believe that success should come easy and if it doesn't come easy, then excuses, false success and unwarranted acclaim are perfectly acceptable substitutes. Programs that fall into this philosophical trap often spin their wheels and go nowhere for decades. Worse yet, young athletes in these programs are praised and rewarded for accomplishing and achieving little or nothing and set on a path in life leading toward underachievement and lack of meaningful accomplishment. This book exposes and confronts the problems of excuses, hollow praise and comfortable underachievement in youth and high school athletics. It also argues and explains why and how teaching young athletes the role of hard work, commitment and unselfishness in the pursuit of winning is not contrary to, but in harmony with the social goals of youth athletics. A Few Words in Defense of Excellence is for those who care enough about young athletes to help them be their very best, to teach them to work hard and smart, and assist them in maximizing their potential both as athletes and members of society.