Healthy Sports Parents

Jonathan Carone
  • 5.0 (6)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Youth sports are not about winning games. They’re about raising great humans who are prepared for life beyond the field. Healthy Sports Parents is a youth sports podcast for parents who care more about the kid than the outcome. Hosted by Jonathan Carone, the show explores how sports can be used to teach character, resilience, and emotional health without turning the experience into pressure for kids or parents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Raising Healthy Humans Through Youth Sports (with Dr. Jeremy Alland, Chicago Bulls + White Sox)

    4D AGO

    Raising Healthy Humans Through Youth Sports (with Dr. Jeremy Alland, Chicago Bulls + White Sox)

    Youth sports are not about winning. They’re about helping our kids become the best version of themselves possible. In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan sits down with Dr. Jeremy Alland, team doctor for the Chicago Bulls and White Sox, for a practical and honest conversation about injuries, overuse, and what parents need to understand about their child’s long-term health. They discuss why kids are getting hurt at younger ages, how fatigue and year-round play are driving many of these injuries, and what that means not just for this season, but for the next 30 to 60 years of a child’s life. The conversation also covers how to think about training volume, the role of free play, when to introduce strength training, and why most families should focus on nutrition before supplements. The goal isn’t short-term success this season. It’s raising a kid who leaves sports healthy, confident, and equipped for life. -------- More from Dr. Alland: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyallandmd/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyallandmd -------- FROM OUR SPONSORS: Eleven11 https://eleven11teamsports.com/ Hey Coach https://heycoach.team/ -------- New episodes every Wednesday. --------- Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop --------- Get your Weekend Playbook: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook ----------- Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents https://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparents https://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparents https://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 9m
  2. Club Sports 101: What Parents Need to Know Before Leaving Rec League (with Karen Scholl)

    APR 29

    Club Sports 101: What Parents Need to Know Before Leaving Rec League (with Karen Scholl)

    A lot of families hit a point where rec league doesn’t feel like enough anymore, and the next step seems obvious: move to club (travel) sports where kids will get more games, more training, and more opportunity. But before making that jump, it’s worth slowing down and understanding what actually changes when you leave rec behind. In this episode, Jonathan is joined by author Karen Scholl – a mom who navigated the club sports journey with both her sons and wrote a book about it called Surving Soccer. In the conversation, they walk through what club sports really are, why so many families feel pulled in that direction, and what parents should be thinking about before committing. They talk about the time, the cost, the pressure, and the tradeoffs that don’t always get talked about upfront.  This isn’t about saying club sports are good or bad. For some kids and families, they can be a great fit. But club sports are not the only path, and it’s not always the right next step just because it feels like the natural one. If your family is starting to wrestle with the rec vs. club decision, this conversation will help you take a step back, think it through, and make a choice that actually fits your kid and your life. -------- More from Karen: Buy Surviving Soccer Substack: https://karenscholl.substack.com/ -------- FROM OUR SPONSORS: Hour-a-thon http://www.hour-a-thon.com -------- New episodes every Wednesday. --------- Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop --------- Get your Weekend Playbook: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook ----------- Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents https://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparents https://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparents https://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
  3. What a D1 Dad Wants Parents to Know About the Youth Sports Journey (with Britt Lee, Co-Founder Pure Athlete)

    APR 22

    What a D1 Dad Wants Parents to Know About the Youth Sports Journey (with Britt Lee, Co-Founder Pure Athlete)

    A lot of families start the youth sports journey with the same goal in mind: play at the highest level possible and see where it goes. But what happens when you actually get there… and realize it wasn’t what you thought it would be? In this conversation, Jonathan sat down with Britt Lee, co-founder of Pure Athlete and a dad who’s walked the full path. His son reached Division I tennis. He also had another son burn out. And somewhere along the way, he learned what actually matters and what doesn’t. They talk about the pressure parents feel to specialize early, why so many well-meaning families get pulled into decisions they never intended to make, and how easy it is for sports to slowly take over more of our lives than we realize. Britt shares what he wishes he knew at the beginning, what he’d do differently, and how parents can take a step back and lead their kids through sports in a healthier way. They also get into identity, both for kids and for parents, and why it can be so hard to let go when a sport ends even if we’ve kept the right perspective the whole time. And maybe most importantly, we talk about how to keep sports in the right place so they add to your family instead of taking it over. If you’re in the middle of it right now, trying to figure out what’s best for your kid while managing all the noise and pressure around you, this one will hit close to home. -------- More from Britt + Pure Athlete: https://www.pureathlete.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pureathleteinc/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086392548798 https://www.tiktok.com/@pureathleteinc -------- FROM OUR SPONSORS: Hour-a-thon http://www.hour-a-thon.com -------- READ MY ARTICLE IN MOCKINGBIRD: https://mbird.com/sports/the-gospel-according-to-youth-sports/ -------- New episodes every Wednesday. --------- Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop --------- Get your Weekend Playbook: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook ----------- Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents https://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparents https://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparents https://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  4. Taking Youth Sports Back One Family at a Time (with ESPN College Football Reporter Heather Dinich)

    APR 15

    Taking Youth Sports Back One Family at a Time (with ESPN College Football Reporter Heather Dinich)

    Youth sports can quickly take over family life, leaving parents feeling pressure to specialize early, chase opportunities, and keep up with everyone else. But what if taking youth sports back starts with one simple shift at home? In this episode of the Healthy Sports Parents podcast, ESPN college football reporter and sports mom Heather Dinich joins the conversation to talk about balancing youth sports, family life, and ambition. As a parent of three boys navigating multiple sports, Heather shares what she’s learned about helping kids find the right fit, avoiding unnecessary pressure, and keeping sports in their proper place. We discuss the realities of club sports, the pressure families feel to specialize early, and how parents can support their kids without letting sports take over their identity or family time. This conversation also explores how to let kids take ownership of their sports journey while still providing guidance and perspective along the way. If you're a sports parent trying to balance busy schedules, rising expectations, and what’s actually best for your kid, this episode offers a practical and encouraging perspective on taking youth sports back one family at a time. In this episode, we discuss: • Balancing youth sports and family life • The pressure to specialize early • Letting kids find the sport that fits them • How parents can avoid comparison and urgency • Taking youth sports back one family at a time -------- More from Heather: https://www.instagram.com/cfbheather/ -------- FROM OUR SPONSORS: ESPN's Take Back Sports https://www.takebacksports.org Hour-a-thon http://www.hour-a-thon.com -------- New episodes every Wednesday. --------- Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop --------- Get your Weekend Playbook: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook ----------- Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents https://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparents https://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparents https://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
  5. Giving Kids Ownership of Their Youth Sports Journey (with Leslie Osborne, retired USWNT)

    APR 8

    Giving Kids Ownership of Their Youth Sports Journey (with Leslie Osborne, retired USWNT)

    What happens when we stop trying to control our kids' sports experience and start helping them own it? In this episode, retired USWNT player and current youth coach / pro team owner Leslie Osborne shares why the healthiest sports journeys are the ones driven by kids, not adults. From playing multiple sports growing up to navigating injuries and life after soccer, Leslie reflects on how ownership, passion, and perspective shaped her career and now shape how she parents and coaches. We also explore what it looks like to support kids without pushing them, how parents can balance competitiveness with emotional development, and why youth sports should be about developing confident, capable humans more than elite athletes. Our job isn’t to control the journey. It’s to give kids the tools, space, and confidence to own it themselves. This conversation is about stepping back, trusting our kids, and remembering that sports are simply the vehicle. The real goal is helping them grow into resilient, confident adults who can handle whatever comes next, both on and off the field. That long term development mindset sits at the heart of Healthy Sports Parents and the idea that youth sports are ultimately about raising healthy adults, not just athletes. -------- FROM OUR SPONSORS: Hour-a-thon http://www.hour-a-thon.com Smallside http://www.smallside.co New episodes every Wednesday. --------- Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop --------- Get your Weekend Playbook: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook ----------- Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents https://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparents https://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparents https://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  6. Youth sports are serious. Just not *that* serious. (with comedian and sports dad Dustin Nickerson)

    APR 1

    Youth sports are serious. Just not *that* serious. (with comedian and sports dad Dustin Nickerson)

    Youth sports matter. We care because our kids care. But somewhere along the way, it’s easy for that care to turn into pressure, stress, and taking things way more seriously than we ever intended. In this episode, Jonathan sits down with comedian and sports dad Dustin Nickerson to talk about the realities of being a sports parent – the long tournaments, the awkward sideline dynamics, the pressure we feel to show up to everything and get it all right, and the moments when we realize we might need to take a breath and laugh a little. Dustin shares what youth sports look like through the lens of an introvert, how he balances being on the road with being present for his kids, and why effort matters more than perfect attendance. They also get into failure, perspective, participation trophies, arguing with refs, and why kids notice our effort more than our perfection. This is a conversation for parents who care deeply about their kids, want to support them well, and are trying to keep youth sports healthy for their family. Youth sports are serious. Just not that serious. -------- FROM OUR SPONSORS: Hour-a-thon http://www.hour-a-thon.com New episodes every Wednesday. --------- Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop --------- Get your Weekend Playbook: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook ----------- Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents https://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparents https://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparents https://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min
  7. Why Good Parents Feel So Much Pressure in Youth Sports (with Jordan Rogers)

    MAR 25

    Why Good Parents Feel So Much Pressure in Youth Sports (with Jordan Rogers)

    Youth sports can feel heavier than it’s supposed to. Not because parents don’t care. But because they care so much. In this episode, Jonathan sits down with former Nike sports marketer Jordan to pull back the curtain on what’s really shaping the youth sports experience today. From the way brands speak to us, to the rise of travel teams, to the pressure to keep up with other families, there’s more going on beneath the surface than most of us realize. We talk about why so many good parents feel like they’re constantly second-guessing their decisions, how comparison and fear quietly drive a lot of what we do, and why the system feels harder to navigate than it used to. We also get into: The difference between being served and being sold toWhy youth sports keeps getting more expensiveWhat happens when kids don’t make the teamThe loss of free play and what that means for kidsThe truth about NIL and youth sports social media This conversation is not about blaming parents but rather understanding the environment we’re parenting in. When we can name the pressures we're facing, we can start to lead through it in healthier ways. And that’s where things start to change. -------- FROM OUR SPONSORS: Hour-a-thon http://www.hour-a-thon.com Phenom Elite https://phenomelitebrand.com/ -------- New episodes every Wednesday. --------- Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop --------- Get your Weekend Playbook: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook ----------- Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents https://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparents https://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparents https://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 1m
  8. The Biggest Thing Youth Sports Needs Right Now (with Dr. Katlin Okamoto, US Soccer Foundation)

    MAR 18

    The Biggest Thing Youth Sports Needs Right Now (with Dr. Katlin Okamoto, US Soccer Foundation)

    Youth sports need more trustworthy adults in kids’ lives. In this episode, Jonathan talks with Dr. Katlin Okamoto of the U.S. Soccer Foundation about the single biggest thing youth sports needs right now. It’s not better drills, more tournaments, or earlier specialization. It’s adults who understand that their influence goes far beyond the scoreboard. They explore why coaches often become one of the most influential adults in a young person’s life, how the role of a coach is shifting from instructor to mentor, and why relationships are the foundation of healthy sports experiences for kids. Dr. Okamoto also shares the thinking behind the Yes, Coach! campaign, a national effort to recruit, support, and celebrate the adults who step up to lead kids through sports in a healthy way. If youth sports are going to change, it won’t start with policies or platforms. It will start with the adults who show up for kids every week. In this episode we cover: Why kids need multiple trustworthy adults in their livesThe hidden influence youth coaches have on young peopleWhy coaching is as much an art as it is a scienceHow youth sports have changed and why families feel more pressureWhat the Yes, Coach! campaign hopes to change in youth sports -------- FROM OUR SPONSORS: Brite Legacy https://britelegacy.com/ -------- New episodes every Wednesday. --------- Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop --------- Get your Weekend Playbook: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook ----------- Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents https://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparents https://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparents https://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
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5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Youth sports are not about winning games. They’re about raising great humans who are prepared for life beyond the field. Healthy Sports Parents is a youth sports podcast for parents who care more about the kid than the outcome. Hosted by Jonathan Carone, the show explores how sports can be used to teach character, resilience, and emotional health without turning the experience into pressure for kids or parents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Carone
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jonathan Carone
  • Show Website
    Healthy Sports Parents

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