UNCOACHED

The Coaching Dad
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The game isn't just happening on the field, court or rink. Uncoached is a podcast for parents and coaches trying to figure youth sports out. Through honest conversations with experts, coaches, parents, and athletes, we explore things that shape the youth sports experience. Every episode delivers practical insights and actionable ideas you can immediately use to create a better experience for the athletes you coach, support, and love

  1. 16 hr ago

    What Great Youth Coaches Do Differently

    In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Holly Hoelting, former Division I softball player, successful high school coach, and founder of 90/10 Mentality, to talk about what makes a great youth sports coach. We explore how coaches can connect with athletes who learn differently, create practices that lead to real improvement, and help kids rediscover their motivation when their interest starts to fade. Holly also shares her perspective on building strong relationships with players while maintaining high expectations, and why a truly successful team should be measured by more than wins and losses. Questions we cover in this episode: What does the 90/10 Mentality philosophy mean, and how can it help coaches develop young athletes?How can coaches adapt to individual players' needs while maintaining consistency across the team?What separates an effective youth sports practice from one where athletes are simply going through the motions?How can coaches recognize when young athletes are losing motivation and help them reconnect with their sport?How can coaches build strong player relationships while maintaining accountability and high expectations?Bonus Question:What's the difference between building a team that wins games and building a team that's truly successful for the kids?

    What Great Youth Coaches Do Differently

  2. 5 Nov

    Lessons from the NHL: Hard Work, Great Teammates, and Overcoming Adversity

    In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Reed Low, former NHL player and St. Louis Blues fan favorite, to talk about what it takes to compete at hockey's highest level and the lessons young athletes can learn along the way. Reed shares his perspective on the importance of being a great teammate, why every player has value beyond the scoreboard, and what separates good coaches from those who leave a lasting impact. We also explore how parents and volunteer coaches can help kids develop resilience, handle adversity, and understand that success in youth sports is about much more than individual performance. Questions we cover in this episode: What does it really take to reach the NHL, and how has the path changed for young athletes today?How can we teach young athletes that their value to a team goes beyond goals, points, and highlight-reel moments?What did the best leaders and teammates in NHL locker rooms do that fans never saw?What separated the coaches who made the biggest impact on your career, and what can volunteer youth coaches learn from them?What were some of the toughest setbacks you faced in your hockey career, and how can we better prepare young athletes to overcome adversity?Bonus Questions: What led you to create Reed Low 34 Events, and how have your NHL experiences influenced what you're doing today?Looking back, what do you value most about your hockey career that has nothing to do with the games you played or the level you reached

    Lessons from the NHL: Hard Work, Great Teammates, and Overcoming Adversity

  3. 29 Oct

    Building Better Teammates: Leadership, Accountability, and Team Culture

    In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Donald "Donnie" Johnson, former two-sport collegiate All-American, leadership speaker, and author of The Plus One Culture, to talk about what it really means to build a team where everyone makes each other better. We explore how youth sports coaches can develop leadership in every athlete, create a culture of accountability, and give kids more ownership of their team. Donnie also shares how parents and volunteer coaches can help young athletes understand that being a great teammate goes far beyond talent or performance on the field. Questions we cover in this episode: What does a Plus One Culture look like in youth sports, and how can coaches start building one?How can coaches develop leadership in every player, including those who aren't the most talented or outspoken?What are some practical ways coaches can give young athletes more ownership without losing structure or accountability?As a two-sport collegiate All-American, what separated talented athletes from teammates who genuinely made everyone around them better?How can coaches teach accountability without creating conflict, blame, or negativity within the team?Bonus Question:What's one small change every youth coach could make tomorrow that would have a lasting impact on their players?

    Building Better Teammates: Leadership, Accountability, and Team Culture

  4. 22 Oct

    Winning, Team Culture, and Becoming the Coach Kids Remember

    In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Josh Butler, youth soccer coach, sports dad, and author of The Youth Coach's Playbook: 21 Ways to BE the Coach Every Kid Remembers. We talk about finding the right balance between winning and having fun, the challenges of coaching your own children, and what it takes to build a team culture where every player feels valued. Josh also shares his perspective on how volunteer coaches can encourage competition without losing sight of what makes youth sports meaningful in the first place. Questions we cover in this episode: How can coaches celebrate winning and championships without making trophies the main goal?How do you keep practices fun for competitive young athletes without lowering expectations?How do you know when it's time to stop coaching your own child?How can coaches reward effort and positive attitudes without creating favoritism?What are two or three ways volunteer coaches can quickly build a strong, player-driven team culture?Bonus Question:If you could give yourself one piece of advice before coaching your first youth team, what would it be?

    Winning, Team Culture, and Becoming the Coach Kids Remember

  5. 15 Oct

    The Mental Side of Baseball: Building Confident Young Pitchers

    In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Chris Bradley, former collegiate pitcher and founder of Bradley Pitching Lab, to talk about one of the toughest parts of youth baseball: the mental side of pitching. We explore how young pitchers can handle pressure, recover from mistakes, and develop the confidence needed to compete when things aren't going their way. Chris also shares practical advice on preparation, building good habits, and what parents and volunteer coaches can do to support young athletes through the ups and downs of the game. Questions we cover in this episode: How can young pitchers handle pressure and stay composed when things aren't going their way?What can a pitcher do on the mound to mentally reset after a bad pitch or tough inning?Where does real pitching confidence come from, and how can coaches help athletes who struggle to believe in themselves?What routines and preparation habits should young pitchers start developing early?What should parents and volunteer coaches say, or avoid saying, when a young pitcher is struggling?Bonus Question:What separates young pitchers who continue improving over time from talented athletes who eventually plateau?

    The Mental Side of Baseball: Building Confident Young Pitchers

  6. 8 Oct

    Flag Football, Fatherhood, and Raising Good Kids

    In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Jesse Carstairs, a men's relationship coach and competitive youth flag football coach, to talk about how the lessons kids learn through sports can shape who they become off the field. We explore the growing popularity of flag football, the challenges of coaching your own children, and why developing character should be just as important as developing athletic skills. Jesse also shares his perspective on fatherhood, teaching accountability, and how parents and volunteer coaches can use everyday moments in youth sports to help raise confident, responsible young people. Questions we cover in this episode: Flag football is growing quickly. What makes the sport so appealing to kids, and what valuable lessons are young athletes learning that people might underestimate?Your work focuses on helping men become better husbands, fathers, and leaders. How does that influence what you're trying to develop in young athletes beyond their football skills?Coaching your own kids can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also blur the lines between being Dad and being Coach. How do you balance those two roles?If we're ultimately trying to raise good people, what character traits should youth coaches intentionally develop, and how can we teach those qualities through sports?Youth athletes have plenty of opportunities to blame referees, coaches, teammates, or circumstances when things go wrong. How can we teach kids to take ownership and develop real accountability?Bonus Question:If one of the kids you coach runs into you 20 years from now, what would make you feel like you succeeded as their coach?

    Flag Football, Fatherhood, and Raising Good Kids

  7. 1 Oct

    What Youth Sports Can Learn from Rugby

    In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Nate Dalena, Executive Director of Rugby NorCal, to explore a youth sport that many parents and coaches may not know much about. We talk about how kids are safely introduced to rugby, why the game puts so much decision-making in the hands of the athletes, and how its culture teaches respect alongside physical competition. Nate also shares what rugby can teach the broader youth sports world about developing independent athletes, creating appropriate competition, and giving kids another way to fall in love with sports. Questions we cover in this episode: What makes rugby different from other major youth sports, and what can kids get from playing it that they might not experience elsewhere?What does a first rugby practice look like for a 9- or 10-year-old, and how are contact and tackling introduced in an age-appropriate way?Rugby requires athletes to make a lot of decisions without a coach directing every play. How does that influence the way young players are trained, and does it help develop more independent athletes?How does Rugby NorCal create meaningful competition across different ages and ability levels without making everything about finding the "best" team or highest level?Rugby is incredibly physical, but it's also known for its culture of respect and sportsmanship. Where does that culture come from, and how do you intentionally teach it to young athletes?Bonus Question:If a kid already loves football, soccer, hockey, basketball, or another sport, what's your pitch to their parents for giving rugby a try for one season?

    What Youth Sports Can Learn from Rugby

  8. 24 Sept

    What Real Player Development Looks Like

    In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Anthony Brenner, who brings more than 30 years of experience coaching and developing athletes from youth soccer through the professional level. We talk about what real player development should look like, why the environment around a young athlete matters so much, and what experienced coaches and scouts notice that parents might miss from the sideline. Anthony also shares perspective on balancing big athletic goals with the reality that most kids won’t play professionally, and how parents and volunteer coaches can support development without adding unnecessary pressure. Questions we cover in this episode: After working with athletes from the youth level through the pros, what do you think we’re getting right and wrong about “player development” in youth sports?You say developing better players starts with developing better environments. What does a great environment actually look and feel like for the kids on a volunteer coach’s team?What do experienced scouts and coaches notice in young athletes that the average parent might miss? Are there certain traits you wish parents and coaches supported more?Coaches are working with a small percentage of athletes who may reach an elite level and a much larger group who won’t. How should that reality change the way we coach and develop kids?Parents naturally want to help their kids succeed, but sometimes that help becomes pressure. Where should parents be involved, and where should they get better at stepping back?Bonus Question:After more than 30 years around the game, what’s something you once believed about developing young athletes that you no longer believe today?

    What Real Player Development Looks Like
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About

The game isn't just happening on the field, court or rink. Uncoached is a podcast for parents and coaches trying to figure youth sports out. Through honest conversations with experts, coaches, parents, and athletes, we explore things that shape the youth sports experience. Every episode delivers practical insights and actionable ideas you can immediately use to create a better experience for the athletes you coach, support, and love

Information

  • Creator
    The Coaching Dad
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Coaching Dad
  • Show Website
    UNCOACHED
  • Provider

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