Youth $ports

Ally Tucker
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This podcast explores the changing landscape of Youth Sports (or Youth $ports, rather) in America and how it continues to shift away from its roots. What started out as a golden period in many children’s lives has become a cut throat industry, with various sides trying to find the advantage. As a former high level club soccer coach and collegiate athlete, Ally Tucker sits down for each episode in a 1 on 1 interview format with a variety of co-hosts from different realms of the youth sports world. Guests range from parents, to youth coaches, to referees/officials, to administrators, to college coaches, to business owners… and of course, to the athletes themselves (at some point, they still matter in this equation). Some topics will make you think critically. Some topics will make you cry. Other topics will infuriate you and leave you asking, “What are we really doing here?” Youth sports provide a lane for growth, life lessons, incredible memories and lifelong friendships. But at what cost?

  1. -4 ДН.

    Follow the Science

    Episode 68: Wade Gilbert (Award-winning professor, highly acclaimed author of “Coaching Better Every Season”) 🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Wade Gilbert, an internationally renowned coaching scientist, award-winning professor at Cal State University-Fresno and author of the highly acclaimed book “Coaching Better Every Season.”  🔹 The Science of Coaching Coaching isn’t just an art. It’s rooted in decades of research on athlete development. 🔹 Global Perspective Gilbert has traveled the world, studying how other countries organize and oversee sports. 🔹 The Wild, Wild West “Most countries have a centralized platform. We don’t have that in the United States. It’s really a free for all, wild wild west. Do whatever you want. You and I could start a soccer league tomorrow.” 🔹 Business vs. Development The U.S. sports model is driven by creative groups—but at the end of the day, most are businesses chasing profit, not long-term athlete well-being. 🔹 Best Principles > Best Practices Gilbert stresses that lasting impact comes from principles, not copy-and-paste “best practices.” 🔹 Coaching as Personality Coaching is highly personal…so how do we ensure standards are met without stifling individuality? 🔹 Scoreboard Blindness “Coaches are judged only by wins and losses. If that’s the only thing asked of me, then of course I’ll think my job is to win on Saturday.” 🔹 A Broken System “People are like water. You upskill them, but then you put them back into a broken container.” 🔹 Too Many Games, No Off-Season Every pro league has a mandated off-season. Youth athletes in the U.S.? They often play more games than the pros. 🔹 Ignored Science We’ve had 40+ years of data on what works…but at the local level, guidelines are ignored and kids pay the price. 🔹 The Specialization Myth Most elite athletes didn’t specialize early. The science and the stories both back it up. 🔹 Who’s Responsible? Coaches? Parents? Organizations? Communities? Or is change only possible when the market forces it…when burnout and cost finally make the system unsustainable? 🔹 Rapid-Fire Scenarios We close with a debate: what’s the right way to handle a parent approaching you after a game about their kid’s playing time?

    1 ч. 26 мин.

  2. 1 ОКТ.

    Conundrums

    Episode 67: Katie "Katrina" Moore (Former collegiate athlete turned youth sports parent) 🎙 In this episode: I sit down with my former college soccer teammate, Katie "Katrina" Moore, who is navigating the world of youth sports now as a parent. The constant conundrums that come up, putting her former athlete mind at odds with the reality of the interests of the kids she's raising. Lessons, regrets, hopes, etc... It's real talk from a youth sports parent in the midst of it all RIGHT NOW.  🔹 From Athlete to Parent How Katie’s mindset changed once she was on the sidelines instead of in the game. 🔹 The Activity Overload Katie shares how their kid had already tried nearly 10 organized activities by age 7—and why that might’ve been too much, too soon. 🔹 Are We Asking Too Much, Too Early? Do young kids even need structured sports? And why is it so hard to find low-pressure, affordable options? 🔹 Fool’s Gold? Just because a kid is coordinated or interested early does that mean we should double down? Or pump the brakes? 🔹 Parental Disappointment When your kid isn’t ready to engage in sports the way you hoped…what now? 🔹 Starting Too Soon, Quitting Too Soon Are we prematurely judging kids’ potential because they started before they were developmentally ready? 🔹 Where’s the Joy? Youth sports should be full of laughs, silliness, and snack breaks. Why are we treating 6-year-old soccer like it’s the World Cup? 🔹 Adults, Do Better It’s on coaches, clubs, and parents to make sure sports are age-appropriate. First graders shouldn’t be traveling every weekend. 🔹 Can You Say No? That internal guilt when parents try to protect balance but feel pressured to give in to the chaos of youth sports culture. 🔹 Too Many Voices When coaches and parents are shouting over each other during games, kids can’t learn or think for themselves. 🔹 Development vs. Outcome Coaches coach. Parents panic. Conflicting messages create confusion…what does that do to a kid’s confidence? 🔹 HOT TAKE: Kids at Breweries? Because if we’re talking about age-appropriate behavior… we had to go there.

    1 ч. 26 мин.

  3. 24 СЕНТ.

    The ACL Epidemic

    Episode 66: Vincent Minjares (Aspen Institute- ACL Pledge) 🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Vincent Minjares of the Aspen Institute to dig into a topic that’s personal for me: ACL injuries. I’ve lived through one myself, and I’ve coached far too many athletes—especially female soccer players—through this brutal setback. The phrase “It’s not if, but when” has become way too common. But after this conversation, I’m more convinced than ever that we don’t have to accept that reality. 🔹 Why This Hits Home My own ACL journey and the players I’ve coached who’ve gone through it. 🔹 The Fear Factor Why athletes (and parents) feel ACL injuries are inevitable, especially in girls’ sports. 🔹 The Game-Changer How 15–20 minutes of neuromuscular training, a few times a week, makes a measurable difference. 🔹 The Price Tag: $0 These prevention strategies are free. Literally. There’s no excuse not to use them. 🔹 A Coach’s Regret Why I wish I had made ACL prevention a priority earlier in my career. 🔹 Parents’ Big Questions Is it the turf? The menstrual cycle? Genetics? Sleep? Where the science actually points. 🔹 Culture Check Why youth sports spends endlessly on gear and travel but skips basic prevention. 🔹 Hope > Helplessness We’ll never erase the risk entirely, but we are not powerless. 🔹 A Call to Action Coaches, parents, athletes—no more excuses. We must do better. National ACL Injury Coalition (as.pn/aclcoalition)    Sign the ACL Pledge (as.pn/aclpledge) How you can take action to address the ACL injury crisis (after signing the pledge)  List of neuromuscular training programs (for finding the exercise program that's right for you)  Field Guide for Reducing Serious Knee Injuries (for club, school and program leaders looking to introduce NMT with teams)

    1 ч. 4 мин.

  4. 17 СЕНТ.

    Heating Up

    Episode 65: Jordan Parker (5-time pod guest, Hot Take expert) 🎙️Jordan Parker comes on the Youth $ports Podcast for an unprecedented 5th time and today’s episode is meant to lighten up the air a little bit… It’s time for a Hot Takes ONLY episode. Almost ALL of the hot takes had nothing to do with sports (with a few sprinkled in).  Teasers: 🔹How can club soccer teams justify the $ they charge and yet… Kids who have been playing for 10 years still can’t use their left foot???? Parents, demand a refund.  🔹"I've never met someone with as rubbery of a neck as my Mom…”  🔹"I can already feel people’s daggers coming into my soul…” 🔹The absolute grip weighted vests currently have on middle-aged white women.  🔹A creative solution/punishment for hitting “Reply All” on emails 🔹Loose stool in a pool…. I promise you’re not ready for this one.  🔹PDA in the line for roller coasters… 🔹Sunscreen pills…Justice for people with fat fingers…Opposite of justice for Android users  🔹My most embarrassing story that involves my ex’s family 🔹..And baby girl, enough with the holes in the jeans look.  The episode wraps up with a Rapid Fire Questions section that includes a life update and one really, really important question for Jordan Parker…

    1 ч. 18 мин.

  5. 10 СЕНТ.

    Truth Bombs

    Episode 64: Michael Lippert (Former soccer coach, current realist) 🎙 In this episode: Michael Lippert brings the unfiltered voice of truth to Youth $ports. Known for saying the hard things most people avoid, Lippert challenges long-held assumptions about pay-to-play, professional coaches, and the upside-down pyramid of youth sports. His central thesis? “Everything in youth sports today is better than it used to be… except the players.” 🔹 The Core Truth Despite more money, resources, and opportunities, players aren’t necessarily improving. 🔹 The Pay-to-Play Distraction Lippert argues the real problem isn’t pay-to-play…it’s parents avoiding accountability. 🔹 Parents Have No Excuse With today’s access to information, parents can’t claim ignorance about the youth sports landscape. 🔹 Coaches for a Living vs. Coaches in the Community Are full-time “professional” coaches better—or are they incentivized to keep parents happy at all costs? 🔹 The Exodus of Good Coaches Community-rooted coaches are leaving, replaced by those chasing club paychecks and multiple teams. 🔹 The 10,000-Hour Trap Malcolm Gladwell’s concept gave parents permission to overtrain kids with “no days off” pressure. 🔹 Cult-Like Club Culture Lippert likens clubs to cults: everyone doing the same thing, no one asking hard questions. 🔹 The Upside-Down Pyramid Youth sports should have the widest base in recreational play, but instead the elite tier has ballooned. 🔹 Talent Always Finds a Way If a kid is truly exceptional, politics won’t stop them from being noticed. It’s not rocket science…It’s obvious on the field. 🔹 Fun, Health, and Longevity Too often, if kids aren’t “college-track,” parents push them out instead of letting them simply enjoy sports. 🔹 The Productive Contrarian Lippert positions himself as the realistic voice among past guests. “I love you Ally, but there’s been some insane people who have come on your podcast…”

    1 ч. 40 мин.

  6. 3 СЕНТ.

    Wild Wild West

    Episode 63: Scott Spillman (Executive Director of Mudsock Youth Athletics) 🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Scott Spillman, executive director of Mudsock Youth Athletics in Fishers, Indiana. We unpack what happens when an entire town decides youth sports should be about community first instead of chasing wins and dollars. From volunteers powering the system, to Marvel-movie moments of survival, to a Jeff Goldblum reference you won’t forget, this one is a blueprint for what rec sports can look like when everyone rows in the same direction. 🔹 One Umbrella How Fishers brought all of its recreational sports together under one organization — and why that’s so rare. 🔹 Taming the Wild Wild West Scott’s take on how Mudsock counters the fractured, for-profit, “our kids, our money” model dominating youth sports. 🔹 Powered by Volunteers Why the true backbone of the program isn’t facilities or funding, but an army of people donating their time. 🔹 Community Over Championships The mission: raise kids, not just athletes. Winning takes a backseat to belonging. 🔹 Partnerships That Matter How aligning with the city and school district changed the game, especially when field space is scarce. 🔹 A Marvel Movie Plotline The pivotal forks in the road that could have gone wrong… and the right moves that kept things thriving. 🔹 Do Kids Really Need Turf? A candid look at the “state-of-the-art facility” arms race and whether it prices kids out of the game. 🔹 Why Fishers? Scott’s theory on why this model thrives in Indiana, complete with a Mean Girls nod: “We aren’t trying to make fetch happen.” 🔹 The Secret Ingredient Maybe it isn’t money at all… maybe it’s people investing themselves instead of just writing bigger checks. 🔹 The Enemy Within Scott’s concern that the biggest threat may be inside the community itself: image, ego, and money. 🔹 Jurassic Park Wisdom “Youth sports is Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park” — just because we can doesn’t mean we always should. 🔹 A Classroom, Not a Cage Match Scott’s vision: treat youth sports like school. If we want every student to learn, why don’t we want every kid to succeed in sports?

    1 ч. 6 мин.

  7. 27 АВГ.

    Bill of Goods

    Episode 62: Brandon Ramsey (KSR/Basketball Scout) 🎙 In this episode: Brandon Ramsey is ankle-deep in the high school and college basketball worlds: former college coach, high school scout, and basketball analyst for Kentucky Sports Radio. If he says it, you can trust it. Together we unpack the real recruiting process for 98% of players who aren’t top-20, 5-star prospects. From inflated promises to showcase madness to the trickle-down chaos of NIL and the transfer portal… this one’s a reality check every parent and player needs to hear. 🔹 The 98% Reality For the vast majority of high school players, recruiting is messy, confusing, and full of mixed messages (often through no fault of their own).  🔹 Scholarships Beyond the Power 5 Opportunities exist far outside the blueblood programs… but most families don’t know where or how to look. 🔹 The Bill of Goods Problem Parents and players are often sold unrealistic dreams, and there’s always another coach willing to feed the delusion. 🔹 The AAU Expansion The circuit has grown horizontally—more tournaments, more shoe brands, more travel—everyone wanting a slice of the pie. 🔹 The “N” Division Dilemma Families spend thousands traveling across the country to play in the lowest-tier bracket of a showcase. Is that really worth it? 🔹 Coaches Caught in the Middle Tell players the truth and risk losing them… or keep them happy and keep the roster full. 🔹 Development vs. Exposure Brandon says too many teams have become “Exposure Vehicles” instead of focusing on player growth. 🔹 The NIL & Transfer Portal Effect Fewer roster spots, shorter timelines, and more focus on proven transfers over untested high school talent. 🔹 The Vanishing Development Window College coaches want instant production. Development has become someone else’s job. 🔹 Follow the Money Even college coaches must pay steep entry fees just to watch these events. So who are they really serving? 🔹 Rapid-Fire Wrap-Up UK hoops tidbits, hot takes… and the shocking fact that Brandon hasn’t watched a movie in 15 years.

    1 ч. 18 мин.

  8. 20 АВГ.

    R-E-S-P-E-C-T... R-E-F-E-R-E-E

    Episode 61: Brenda Hilton (CEO of Officially Human) 🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Brenda Hilton, CEO and founder of Officially Human, to talk about the people in stripes who keep the games fair but often are the lightening rod for the most criticism. We dig into the emotional temperature of the stands, why fans lash out, and what it actually takes to humanize officials in youth sports. From financial stakes to technology to the unexpected ripple effects of sports gambling, this one pulls back the curtain on a world most of us only think about when we’re yelling at it. 🔹 Meet Officially Human How Brenda went from sports administration to launching a movement that advocates for officials at every level. 🔹 Without Them, There’s No Game Why officials aren’t just part of the machinery... they are the backbone of fair competition. 🔹 The Fan Factor How emotions, investment, and sideline culture can turn an ordinary game into a verbal gauntlet for officials. 🔹 Seeing the Person, Not the Stripes The small but powerful mindset shifts that make officials feel human again. 🔹 The Entitlement Equation When thousands spent on club teams leads parents to expect and demand way more than they should. 🔹 Programs That Make a Difference From public service announcements to league-wide resources, how Officially Human is changing fan behavior. 🔹 Recruitment on the Ropes Why the treatment of officials is making it harder to find  (and keep) good ones. 🔹 Tech: Friend or Foe? How video replay, apps, and social media both help and hurt the officiating profession. 🔹 The Gambling Effect Why the rise of sports betting is making the job harder, even for officials working youth and amateur games. 🔹 Everybody Has Bad Days A closing reminder that no one ...player, fan, or official... gets it perfect every time.

    1 ч. 5 мин.
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This podcast explores the changing landscape of Youth Sports (or Youth $ports, rather) in America and how it continues to shift away from its roots. What started out as a golden period in many children’s lives has become a cut throat industry, with various sides trying to find the advantage. As a former high level club soccer coach and collegiate athlete, Ally Tucker sits down for each episode in a 1 on 1 interview format with a variety of co-hosts from different realms of the youth sports world. Guests range from parents, to youth coaches, to referees/officials, to administrators, to college coaches, to business owners… and of course, to the athletes themselves (at some point, they still matter in this equation). Some topics will make you think critically. Some topics will make you cry. Other topics will infuriate you and leave you asking, “What are we really doing here?” Youth sports provide a lane for growth, life lessons, incredible memories and lifelong friendships. But at what cost?

Информация

  • Автор
    Ally Tucker
  • Годы выхода
    2024 - 2025
  • Выпуски
    69
  • Ограничения
    Без ненормативной лексики
  • Авторские права
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Сайт подкаста
    Youth $ports

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