UNCOACHED

The Coaching Dad
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Sports

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. 4d ago

    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

  2. Oct 8

    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

  3. Oct 1

    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

  4. Sep 24

    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

  5. Sep 17

    Playing for Something More: Keeping Youth Sports in Perspective

    In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Jordan Elder, pastor, coach, sports parent, and author of Playing for Something More, to talk about what happens when youth sports start taking up too much space in our families’ lives. We explore the pressure around performance and achievement, how to help kids separate who they are from how they play, and the role parents and coaches can have in developing values that last long after the season ends. Jordan also brings a faith-based perspective to the conversation as we look at how kids can compete, chase big goals, and love sports without letting the scoreboard define the experience. Questions we cover in this episode: When did you first start thinking, “We may have taken this whole youth sports thing a little too far,” and what were you seeing that concerned you?Why is it so easy for well-intentioned parents to let scholarships, achievement, competition, and sports become a bigger part of their family’s identity than they intended?With rankings, stats, tryouts, playing time, wins, and losses everywhere, how can parents help kids separate “how I performed today” from “who I am”?As a pastor and coach, what Christian values do you believe sports can help develop in kids, and how can parents and coaches be intentional about building them?You write about gentleness in a culture of criticism, especially on the sidelines and during the car ride home. What do kids actually need from us in those emotional moments after a difficult game?Bonus Question:If you could convince every sports parent to stop chasing one thing and start prioritizing one thing, what would those two things be?

    Playing for Something More: Keeping Youth Sports in Perspective

  6. Sep 10

    Bringing the Joy Back to Youth Sports

    In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Jon Orr, founder of the Sports Reclamation Project, to talk about where youth sports may have lost its way and how parents and coaches can help bring the joy back. Drawing from decades of coaching and his experience as a military veteran, Jon shares a unique perspective on leadership, coach burnout, the pressure to chase better teams and bigger opportunities, and why development should matter more than simply collecting wins. It’s a conversation about taking an honest look at the youth sports experience and making sure the kids are still at the center of it. Questions we cover in this episode: Your mission with the Sports Reclamation Project is to "bring the joy back to youth sports." Where do you think we started losing that joy, and what are adults getting wrong?You describe the chase for better teams, exposure, rankings, and scholarships as the "race to nowhere." How can parents tell the difference between providing opportunities and getting caught up in that race?After 25 years of coaching, you've been open about experiencing burnout yourself. What are we asking of youth coaches that's making good people want to walk away, and what needs to change?What did your military experience teach you about leadership that has influenced the way you coach kids? And what parts of military-style leadership don't belong in youth sports?If winning isn't the best measure of a youth coach's success, what should parents actually look for when evaluating their child's season?Bonus Question:If we handed youth sports completely back to the kids for one season and let them redesign the experience, what do you think they'd keep, and what would they immediately get rid of?

    Bringing the Joy Back to Youth Sports

  7. Sep 3

    Building Better Youth Sports: Why Strong Local Leagues Still Matter

    In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Paul Dippolito of Clutch Sports, who turned his passion for improving youth sports into building a soccer league in his own community. We talk about what it means to build a youth sports program around a clear mission, why strong local and recreational leagues still matter, and what parents, coaches, and league leaders can do to create a better experience for kids. Paul also shares some practical perspective for anyone who has ever looked at their local sports program and thought, there has to be a better way. Questions we cover in this episode: You built a youth soccer league in your own community. What did you see in the existing youth sports system that made you think, "We can do this differently or better?"You talk about building leagues from the mission down. What does that mean, and how does a clear mission influence decisions around coaches, competition, playing time, and parents?With so much attention on club and travel sports, why are strong community-based and recreational leagues still so important to the future of youth sports?If a local youth league feels like it has lost its way, what are two or three realistic changes that could make the experience noticeably better for kids and families?For the parent or coach who's thought, "I could build a better youth sports program," what do they need to understand before actually trying to start one?Bonus Question:If you could redesign youth sports from scratch and weren't allowed to copy the system we have today, what would you build differently?

    Building Better Youth Sports: Why Strong Local Leagues Still Matter

  8. Aug 27

    Developing the Complete Athlete: What Youth Sports Can Learn from Lacrosse

    In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Jerimee Moses from True Lacrosse, one of the largest youth lacrosse organizations in the country, to talk about developing young athletes the right way. We explore what makes lacrosse such a unique sport, what real player development should look like beyond wins and team placement, and why patience matters when kids are still learning. Even if lacrosse isn't your sport, this conversation offers plenty of practical perspective for youth sports parents and volunteer coaches. Questions we cover in this episode: What makes lacrosse uniquely valuable for young athletes compared with some of the other sports they could be playing?True Lacrosse focuses on developing the complete athlete. What does great development actually look like for younger players, and what should parents pay attention to beyond goals, wins, and team placement?What's one trait you consistently see in kids who continue improving year after year that has nothing to do with talent?What's one thing youth coaches spend too much time worrying about, and what's something they don't spend nearly enough time on?What's something you see parents rushing young lacrosse players toward that you'd rather see them slow down and develop first?Bonus Question:If you were trying to convince a 9- or 10-year-old who's never picked up a lacrosse stick to give the sport a try, what would you tell them is the most fun thing about lacrosse?

    Developing the Complete Athlete: What Youth Sports Can Learn from Lacrosse
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

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
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Coaching Dad
  • Show Website
    UNCOACHED

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