Surviving Youth Sports

Surviving Youth Sports
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Health & Fitness

Surviving Youth Sports is a podcast and platform where athletes, parents, and coaches share real stories and honest perspectives from every level of the game. Our guests include the influential voices behind the superstars, parents, mentors, coaches, and former athletes who have lived the experiences that shape today’s sports culture. Expect real conversations about the journey behind the scenes, mental health, motivation, recruiting, parenting, and personal growth. Subscribe for weekly episodes that reveal the truth about what it really takes to survive youth sports.

  1. 1d ago

    Morgan Schill: Expectations Can Steal the Joy of Youth Sports

    Expectations can inspire young athletes. They can also quietly steal the joy that made them fall in love with sports in the first place. Most parents don’t set out to create pressure. They simply want what’s best for their kids. But when winning, rankings, playing time, scholarships, or even the money we invest begin to shape every conversation, the experience can shift from the child’s journey to the parent’s expectations. In this episode, Rhett Parker sits down with Morgan Schill, founder of @positiveplayproject, to explore how parents and coaches can create environments where kids can compete, develop, and still love the game. They discuss why winning and positive development can coexist, how financial investment often changes expectations, and why the life lessons learned through sports will always outlast the final score. Whether you’re raising a young athlete, coaching a team, or simply trying to create a healthier sports experience for your family, this conversation offers a thoughtful reminder that youth sports should build more than athletes. They should build confident kids, lasting relationships, and a lifelong love of competition.

    Morgan Schill: Expectations Can Steal the Joy of Youth Sports

  2. Aug 12

    Craig Bishop: What Parents Say They Want vs. What They Actually Chase

    Craig Bishop: What Parents Say They Want vs. What They Actually Chase What do parents really want from youth sports? Most of us would say development. But when the pressure of competition sets in, do our decisions tell a different story? In this episode, Rhett Parker sits down with longtime coach, parent, instructor, and facility owner Craig Bishop for an honest conversation about the realities of youth sports. After decades of coaching elite athletes, Craig shares how becoming a parent completely changed his perspective and made him a better coach. Together, they explore the tension between winning and development, why ages 11 to 14 are some of the most misunderstood years in sports, and how parents and coaches can better support young athletes through those critical seasons. This conversation isn’t about choosing one “right” path. It’s about understanding our motivations, setting realistic expectations, and remembering that the relationships we build along the way often matter more than the scoreboard. In this episode: • Why many parents say they value development but end up chasing wins • How becoming a parent changed Craig’s approach to coaching • Why puberty, not the opposing team, is often the biggest challenge between ages 11 and 14 • The difference between providing value and simply winning games • Why empathy and self-awareness can transform the youth sports experience Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the pressures, expectations, and perspective shifts that come with surviving youth sports.

    Craig Bishop: What Parents Say They Want vs. What They Actually Chase

  3. Jul 29

    Breanne Smedley: The Pressure of Being a Girl in Sports

    Girls are quitting sports at twice the rate of boys by age 13, and it’s not because they don’t love the game. In this episode of Surviving Youth Sports, Rhett Parker sits down with Coach Breanne Smedley, former collegiate volleyball player, high school coach, mental performance coach, and founder of The Elite Competitor, to explore the unique pressures girls face in youth sports. From perfectionism and confidence to identity, puberty, and the expectations placed on female athletes, Breanne shares why so many girls walk away from sports and what parents and coaches can do to help them stay. The conversation also dives into the car ride home, the subtle ways parents unintentionally create pressure, and one simple question every parent should ask themselves while watching their child compete: Can you watch without desire? Whether you’re raising a daughter, coaching young athletes, or simply want to build a healthier sports experience, this episode is a thoughtful reminder that sports are about far more than wins and losses. In this episode: Why girls leave sports at twice the rate of boysThe pressure to be perfect, confident, and “good enough”How parents unintentionally add pressure through praiseWhy every athlete needs something different after competitionHelping young athletes separate their identity from their performanceHow confidence can keep girls in sports through their most vulnerable years If this conversation resonates with you, subscribe to Surviving Youth Sports and share this episode with a parent, coach, or athlete navigating the pressures of youth sports.

    Breanne Smedley: The Pressure of Being a Girl in Sports

  4. Jul 22

    Jonathan Carone: Are Your Kid’s Sports Really About Them?

    What if the pressure we feel in youth sports has less to do with our kids and more to do with ourselves? In this episode, Rhett Parker sits down with Jonathan Carone, founder of Healthy Sports Parents, for an honest conversation about the hidden emotions that shape so many youth sports decisions. From parent validation and identity to burnout, overtraining, and the pressure to chase opportunities, Jonathan explores why adults often tie their self-worth to their child’s performance without even realizing it. Together, they discuss why fun matters more than we think, how the mental side of sports is often overlooked, the reality of playing at higher levels, and why one day every athlete will stop playing. More importantly, they explore how parents can support their kids without making the journey about themselves. Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode offers a thoughtful reminder that the relationships built through sports often matter far more than the results. This version is optimized for Spotify while staying aligned with the reflective tone of the episode.

    Jonathan Carone: Are Your Kid’s Sports Really About Them?

  5. Jul 15

    Lindsey Nadler: Why Kids Need More Freedom and Less Monitoring

    Lindsey Nadler knows what it’s like when sports become your entire identity. A former Division I softball player turned mental performance coach, Lindsey joins Rhett Parker for a conversation about the pressures facing today’s athletes and why many kids are carrying more stress than ever before. From social media rankings and constant comparison to helicopter parenting and the fear of failure, they explore how youth sports culture has changed and what it’s doing to young athletes. The discussion dives into emotional regulation, confidence, resilience, and the mental skills that often separate good athletes from great ones. Lindsey also challenges parents to consider a difficult question: Are we raising athletes, or are we raising humans? Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode offers an honest look at what kids actually need to thrive both on and off the field.

    Lindsey Nadler: Why Kids Need More Freedom and Less Monitoring

  6. Jul 8

    Bobby Minor: The Cost of Chasing the Dream

    What is the youth sports dream really costing families? In this episode of Surviving Youth Sports, Rhett Parker sits down with Bobby Minor, a former Division I player, coach, recruiting evaluator, organization director, and father who has spent decades around the game of baseball. Together, they unpack the rising costs of travel sports, the pressure created by rankings and invitations, the reality behind scholarships, and why being a standout athlete at 12 doesn’t guarantee success later on. Bobby shares lessons learned from coaching, recruiting, and navigating the journey with his own sons, including mistakes he made early and what he would do differently today. The conversation also explores how social media fuels comparison, why transparency matters in youth sports organizations, and how parents can make decisions that align with their child’s long-term development rather than short-term recognition. One of the most powerful takeaways comes from a simple mindset shift: learning to celebrate other athletes’ success instead of measuring it against your own child’s journey. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re spending too much, worrying too much, or chasing the wrong things, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective on what really matters. In This EpisodeThe true cost of travel baseballWhy rankings and invitations can be misleadingQuestions every parent should ask before joining a teamThe difference between winning and developmentSocial media, comparison, and youth sports pressureSupporting young athletes’ mental and emotional well-beingHow to enjoy the journey without constantly looking sideways🎙️ Subscribe to Surviving Youth Sports on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for weekly conversations helping parents, coaches, and athletes navigate the realities of modern youth sports.

    Bobby Minor: The Cost of Chasing the Dream

  7. Jun 24

    Justin Furtado: Are Parents Protecting Kids Too Much? Lessons, Failure, and Playing Time

    Justin Furtado, founder of BTG Basketball and host of Beyond the Scoreboard, joins Rhett for an honest conversation about one of the most uncomfortable parts of youth sports: not playing. From playing time battles to overinvolved parents, Justin and Rhett explore how the lessons kids learn through disappointment often matter more than the scoreboard. They discuss why being on the bench isn’t always a problem to solve, how parents can support without rescuing, and why youth sports should prepare kids for life beyond the game. This episode challenges some of the assumptions that drive modern youth sports culture. What happens when we stop chasing the highest level and start looking for the right level? What if development isn’t about exposure, rankings, or circuits, but about resilience, confidence, and learning how to advocate for yourself?

    Justin Furtado: Are Parents Protecting Kids Too Much? Lessons, Failure, and Playing Time

  8. Jun 17

    Michael Saunders: The Pressure to Make It Is Changing How Kids Play

    Former MLB All-Star Michael Saunders knows what it’s like to chase the dream. From representing Canada in the Little League World Series to spending nearly a decade in the Major Leagues, baseball has been a huge part of his life. But today, he’s navigating youth sports from a different perspective: as a dad. In this episode of Surviving Youth Sports, Michael shares why none of his kids play baseball, why he’s a strong believer in multi-sport athletes, and how the fear of falling behind is influencing the decisions many families make. He and Rhett discuss identity, specialization, pressure, and what youth sports can teach kids beyond wins, losses, and statistics. Michael also shares the philosophy behind Saundo Athletics, a new venture focused on helping young athletes grow as people first and players second. If you’ve ever wondered whether youth sports are becoming too focused on performance and not focused enough on development, this conversation is worth a listen.

    Michael Saunders: The Pressure to Make It Is Changing How Kids Play
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Surviving Youth Sports is a podcast and platform where athletes, parents, and coaches share real stories and honest perspectives from every level of the game. Our guests include the influential voices behind the superstars, parents, mentors, coaches, and former athletes who have lived the experiences that shape today’s sports culture. Expect real conversations about the journey behind the scenes, mental health, motivation, recruiting, parenting, and personal growth. Subscribe for weekly episodes that reveal the truth about what it really takes to survive youth sports.

Information

  • Creator
    Surviving Youth Sports
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Surviving Youth Sports