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. 10h ago

    David Durand: Expectations can Steal The Joy of Youth Sports

    Expectations Can Steal the Joy of Youth Sports When does “I want to get better” become “I have to get better or I’m falling behind”? Mental performance consultant David Durand joins Rhett Parker to talk about the pressure surrounding young athletes and how quickly sports can become tied to identity, expectations, comparison, and fear of failure. David shares his own experience specializing early, training obsessively, dealing with burnout, and eventually realizing that hard work alone couldn’t guarantee where basketball would take him. They discuss perfectionism, physical and mental development, social media, genetics, the D1 chase, and why what matters at 12 years old might look very different a few years later. This conversation isn’t about telling kids not to dream big. It’s about recognizing when the pursuit of that dream starts taking something away from them. How do we help kids chase what they want without making them feel like who they become depends on where sports take them?

    David Durand: Expectations can Steal The Joy of Youth Sports

  2. Sep 16

    Eddie Smith: You Can’t Buy Your Kid Opportunities

    What does a Division I head coach actually look for when recruiting your kid? University of Washington Head Baseball Coach Eddie Smith has recruited and coached players across nearly every level of college baseball, including stops at LSU, Notre Dame, Virginia, Tulane, Utah Valley, and Lower Columbia. And his message to families navigating today’s youth sports landscape is simple: you can’t buy your kid opportunities. Eddie joins Rhett Parker to talk about what college coaches actually value, why being a good “ballplayer” still matters, and how the transfer portal and older college rosters have changed the path for high school athletes. They also dig into the pressure families feel to find the right team, tournament, trainer, and exposure. At what point does supporting your kid’s dream turn into chasing it for them? Because eventually, the money, rankings, and exposure only go so far. The player still has to perform, compete, and most importantly, still want to play.

    Eddie Smith: You Can’t Buy Your Kid Opportunities

  3. Sep 9

    Alyson Stemas: Parents Aren’t Crazy. They’re Uninformed.

    Parents get called “crazy” in youth sports all the time. But what if a lot of that behavior comes from parents trying to navigate a system they don’t fully understand? Former competitive figure skater and youth sports parent Alyson Stemas joins Rhett to talk about raising a competitive young golfer, the pressure parents feel to keep up, and what happens when families invest significant time and money without a clear understanding of development or their role in it. They discuss parents cheating for their kids, early specialization, comparison, the difference between supporting and coaching your own child, and why sometimes your kid will listen to a coach say the exact same thing they refuse to hear from you. A conversation about giving parents better information, creating healthier communication between coaches and families, and remembering that the return on youth sports doesn’t always have to be a scholarship. Sometimes it’s having a kid who still loves their sport when they’re 75.

    Alyson Stemas: Parents Aren’t Crazy. They’re Uninformed.

  4. Aug 26

    Bill Hoopes: Parents Are Losing Themselves in Youth Sports

    Parents spend years driving to practices, sitting through tournaments, paying for lessons, and helping their kids chase their dreams. But somewhere along the way, how many parents start losing themselves in the process? Bill Hoopes, longtime softball coach, tournament director, author, and founder of Lead Your Journey, joins Rhett to talk about the pressure surrounding youth sports from both sides of the fence. They discuss why comparison creates false urgency, how constant instruction can strain the parent-athlete relationship, and why more games, more exposure, and more training don't always mean better development. Bill also shares what he's seen happen to parents who spend years making youth sports their entire world. Because eventually the games end. The question is whether we can support our kids fully without losing our own health, relationships, and identity along the way. Connect with Bill Hoopes: Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @60ForMe Lead Your Journey: leadyourjourney.com

    Bill Hoopes: Parents Are Losing Themselves in Youth Sports

  5. Aug 19

    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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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?
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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
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Surviving Youth Sports