Healthy Sports Parents

How do you know when your kid needs a break and when they need encouragement to work through something uncomfortable?

Finding that balance is one of the hardest parts of being a sports parent. We want our kids to develop resilience, learn to do hard things, and discover what they're capable of but we also want to make sure they're not overwhelmed by schedules, expectations, and activities they no longer enjoy.

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan Carone talks with Libby Trickett, four-time Olympic gold medalist and mother of five, about...

How do we hold kids accountable while making sure they know we care about them?

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan Carone sits down with Amen “Principal Rahh” Rahh, an award-winning principal and founder of Knowlej, to talk about why kids need connection before correction. Drawing from his experience as a principal in Compton, California, Amen explains why understanding what’s happening beneath a child’s behavior can change the way we parent, coach, and lead.

Jonathan and Amen discuss how to balance accountability with connection, why adults need to spend more tim...

Kids need time to figure out what they love. But in a youth sports culture that pushes kids toward travel teams, year-round training, and specialization earlier and earlier, it can feel like there’s no time to wait.

Natasha Watley became one of the best softball players in the world, winning an NCAA National Championship at UCLA, an Olympic gold medal, and an Olympic silver medal. But her journey didn’t start with dreams of becoming an Olympian. She played recreational softball until middle school, played only in the spring, and says she didn’t realize how fa...

What happens when helping your kid reach their potential starts hurting your relationship with them?

Craig Young is the father of Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, but he’s also spent more than 25 years working in mental health and family systems. Even with all that training, Craig admits he got it wrong with Bryce. At times, he became so focused on helping his son reach his potential that he pushed him to the point where Bryce didn’t want to be around him anymore.

In this conversation with Jonathan Carone, Craig shares how that...

What if the way we’ve been trying to build toughness in young athletes is actually making it harder for them to grow?

Megan Bartlett, Founder of the Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport, joins Jonathan Carone to talk about what kids actually need to handle pressure, take risks, recover from mistakes, and become more resilient. They talk about why feeling safe doesn’t mean lowering standards, how resilience is actually built, why different kids may need different paths to reach the same expectations, and how the emotions of parents and coaches affect the athletes arou...

Two-time MLB All-Star Carlos Quentin joins Healthy Sports Parents for a conversation about youth sports parenting, athlete development and why kids don’t need to be great at sports right now.

After nine seasons in Major League Baseball, Carlos is now experiencing youth sports as a parent and coach. He shares how being an elite athlete affected the way he initially approached coaching his own kids, why he learned to give them more space to develop, and why parents shouldn’t be in such a hurry to find out how good their young athlete can be.

Youth sports are getting more expensive, more competitive, and more structured at younger ages. So what happens to the kids and families who simply want a chance to play?

In this episode, Healthy Sports Parents founder Jonathan Carone talks with retired professional hockey player and Swift Hockey founder Zechariah Thomas about the growing barriers to youth sports. They discuss kids entering travel hockey as early as kindergarten, why taking a summer off can make it harder to make a winter team, the difference between formal training and simply playing, the rising cost of ice time, and...

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan Carone sits down with psychiatrist and author Dr. Curt Thompson to explore why sports parenting can feel so personal and why a child’s performance can bring out emotions parents never expected.

Dr. Thompson explains how parents carry their own family history, insecurities, shame, and unfinished business into their children’s sports experiences, often without realizing it. They discuss why parents can deeply love their kids and still respond in unhealthy ways, how generational patterns show up on the sidelines, why praising effort matters, and how curiosity can help...

Youth sports have become increasingly all-or-nothing. Make the team. Commit more time. Play at a higher level. Keep up, or eventually there may not be a place for you anymore.

Amanda Carey believes there’s another way.

Amanda is the President of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) and a multi-time professional mountain biking champion. In this conversation, she talks with Jonathan Carone about what happens when youth sports make belonging the starting point instead of something kids have to earn.

They get into why kids need safe chances to ma...

Coach Travis Hudson has spent 32 years building Western Kentucky volleyball into one of the best mid-major programs in the country. Along the way, he’s learned a lot about what actually matters in developing athletes and raising kids through sports.

In this episode, Coach Hudson and Jonathan Carone talk about why parents feel so much pressure to rush their kids to the next team or level, why development matters more than tournaments, how to know when to push your kid and when to back off, and why every child needs a different path. Coach Hudson also sh...

Every kid develops on their own timeline. The challenge for parents is believing that when it feels like everyone else's kid is getting ahead.

Former NFL quarterback and longtime quarterback coach Jordan Palmer has worked with some of the best quarterbacks in football, including Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Trevor Lawrence. But as a dad of four, he's also navigating the same questions the rest of us are: When should we push? When should we back off? How do we help our kids build real confidence? And what happens when they just aren't ready to take...

David Epstein has spent years making the case for range, exploration, and giving kids time to discover what fits. His new book, Inside the Box, makes what initially sounds like the opposite argument: sometimes we need more constraints, not more options.

David joins Jonathan Carone to explore what happens when you put those two ideas together in youth sports and parenting. They wrestle with some of the messier questions parents face:

When does persistence become a sunk cost?

How do you know when it's okay to let your kid quit?

What does it actually take for a kid to love sports for the long haul?

World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Abby Wambach joins Jonathan Carone for a conversation about what happens when adults stop trying to manufacture motivation and give kids the space to discover what they actually love. They talk about the pressure inside modern youth sports, why a kid's desire has to come from within, and why reaching the highest levels isn't the only way sports can matter in a child's life.

Abby also opens up about realizing...

Youth sports is one of the most influential institutions in childhood.

It teaches teamwork, resilience, leadership, confidence, and community. Millions of families invest thousands of dollars and countless hours into it every year.

Yet unlike schools, parks, or public health, no one is really in charge.

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Renata Simril, president and CEO of LA84 Foundation and founder of the Play Equity Fund, to discuss California's groundbreaking Youth Sports for All Act, a bipartisan effort that passed with 97% support and could reshape how youth sports are...

Some of the healthiest things we can do as sports parents feel completely wrong in the moment.

We want to correct every mistake. We want to protect our kids from failure. We want to solve their problems, give them feedback after every game, and keep them from feeling disappointed.

But what if those instincts are actually getting in the way of what our kids need most?

In this episode, sports psychologist Dr. Joey Case returns to discuss seven things that feel like bad sports parenting but aren't. We explore why...

Youth sports are supposed to help kids grow, compete, fail, learn, and have fun. But somewhere along the way, a lot of adults started acting like fun and hard can’t both exist at the same time.

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan Carone sits down with former player, coach, and creator Jake Savickifor a conversation about what kids actually need from the adults around them in sports.

Jake shares stories from coaching high school baseball, raising his own daughter through youth sports, and learning firsthand how much weight parents’ words, reactions, and expect...

Congressman Chris Deluzio and Senator Cory Booker join Healthy Sports Parents creator Jonathan Carone for a conversation about the newly introduced Let Kids Play Act and why they believe youth sports in America are becoming inaccessible for too many families.

Instead of focusing only on the details of the legislation, this conversation explores the bigger questions underneath it all: Why do youth sports matter so much? What happens when sports become a luxury item instead of a community experience? And what role, if any, should the federal government play when families are being priced out?

Youth sports can feel like they’re all about the next game, the next season, or the next level. But what if the bigger opportunity has nothing to do with any of that?

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan Carone sits down with Lisa Willis to talk about what sports are really meant to give our kids. From her journey through UCLA and the WNBA to her work as a coach today with Texas Sports Academy, Lisa shares how the lessons that mattered most had nothing to do with stats or accolades, and everything to do wi...

Youth sports are not about winning. They’re about helping our kids become the best version of themselves possible.

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan sits down with Dr. Jeremy Alland, team doctor for the Chicago Bulls and White Sox, for a practical and honest conversation about injuries, overuse, and what parents need to understand about their child’s long-term health.

They discuss why kids are getting hurt at younger ages, how fatigue and year-round play are driving many of these injuries, and what that means not just for this season, but fo...

A lot of families hit a point where rec league doesn’t feel like enough anymore, and the next step seems obvious: move to club (travel) sports where kids will get more games, more training, and more opportunity.

But before making that jump, it’s worth slowing down and understanding what actually changes when you leave rec behind.

In this episode, Jonathan is joined by author Karen Scholl – a mom who navigated the club sports journey with both her sons and wrote a book about it called Surving Soccer.

In the co...

A lot of families start the youth sports journey with the same goal in mind: play at the highest level possible and see where it goes.

But what happens when you actually get there… and realize it wasn’t what you thought it would be?

In this conversation, Jonathan sat down with Britt Lee, co-founder of Pure Athlete and a dad who’s walked the full path. His son reached Division I tennis. He also had another son burn out. And somewhere along the way, he learned what actually matters and what doesn’t.

Youth sports can quickly take over family life, leaving parents feeling pressure to specialize early, chase opportunities, and keep up with everyone else. But what if taking youth sports back starts with one simple shift at home?

In this episode of the Healthy Sports Parents podcast, ESPN college football reporter and sports mom Heather Dinich joins the conversation to talk about balancing youth sports, family life, and ambition. As a parent of three boys navigating multiple sports, Heather shares what she’s learned about helping kids find the right fit, avoiding unnecessary pressure, and keeping sports in...

What happens when we stop trying to control our kids' sports experience and start helping them own it?

In this episode, retired USWNT player and current youth coach / pro team owner Leslie Osborne shares why the healthiest sports journeys are the ones driven by kids, not adults. From playing multiple sports growing up to navigating injuries and life after soccer, Leslie reflects on how ownership, passion, and perspective shaped her career and now shape how she parents and coaches.

We also explore what it looks like to support kids without pushing them, how...

Youth sports matter. We care because our kids care.

But somewhere along the way, it’s easy for that care to turn into pressure, stress, and taking things way more seriously than we ever intended.

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with comedian and sports dad Dustin Nickerson to talk about the realities of being a sports parent – the long tournaments, the awkward sideline dynamics, the pressure we feel to show up to everything and get it all right, and the moments when we realize we might need to take a breath and laugh...

Youth sports can feel heavier than it’s supposed to.

Not because parents don’t care.

But because they care so much.

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with former Nike sports marketer Jordan to pull back the curtain on what’s really shaping the youth sports experience today. From the way brands speak to us, to the rise of travel teams, to the pressure to keep up with other families, there’s more going on beneath the surface than most of us realize.

We talk about why so m...

Youth sports need more trustworthy adults in kids’ lives.

In this episode, Jonathan talks with Dr. Katlin Okamoto of the U.S. Soccer Foundation about the single biggest thing youth sports needs right now. It’s not better drills, more tournaments, or earlier specialization. It’s adults who understand that their influence goes far beyond the scoreboard.

They explore why coaches often become one of the most influential adults in a young person’s life, how the role of a coach is shifting from instructor to mentor, and why relationships are the foundation of healthy...

Youth sports development often focuses on skills, reps, and results. But there’s a missing piece that determines whether kids actually grow, last, and enjoy the journey.

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Dr. Jonathan Jenkins, Team Clinical and Performance Psychologist for the New England Patriots and Behavioral Sport Psychologist for the Boston Red Sox, to talk about the mental side of youth sports that too often gets overlooked.

They dig into what kids really need to thrive, motivation versus willpower, why independence at practice matters, how fundamentals lead to confidence and flow, why re...

This conversation is an extended version of my interview with Mike Schultz for Parents’ 100-Year Digital Issue, where he’s being spotlighted as one of today’s most inspiring parents.

What actually lasts when the season ends? What happens once you step off the podium and go back to real life?

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Paralympic gold medalist, inventor, and dad Mike Schultz to talk about what it really looks like to chase something big while raising a 12-year-old athlete.

Mike has competed at the highest level in the...

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan sits down with Jason D’Rocha from Sportball to talk about what youth sports are actually for and how early experiences shape kids long after the final whistle.

Jason shares why sport can be one of the safest places for kids to do hard things, fail, recover, and grow. They unpack why fun and confidence have to come before competition, what parents should really be looking for in a coach, and how sports function as a powerful social and emotional classroom, not just a physical one.

Th...

Youth sports head injuries explained for parents who want to stay informed without being afraid.

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan sits down with Dr. Christopher Nowinski, co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation and one of the leading voices on concussions and CTE, for a calm, honest, and practical conversation about brain health in youth sports.

Together, they unpack what we’ve learned about head injuries since we were kids and how that information should shape the way we guide our own children through sports today. This is not a conversation mea...

College sports recruiting can feel overwhelming, expensive, and confusing - especially when everyone online seems to have a different answer.

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan Carone sits down with three Division I head coaches from softball (Helen Peña, Ball State), women’s volleyball (Dan Meske, University of Louisville), and men’s soccer (Bobby Muuss, Wake Forest) for an honest roundtable conversation about what recruiting actually looks like from the college side.

They talk about the real difference between a good high school player and a college athlete, how much work...

Most parents want the same thing: to support their kids well and help them grow through sports.

But somewhere along the way, support can quietly turn into pressure, often without us realizing it.

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Stacey Nuveman-Deniz, a Division I head coach, Olympian, and sports parent, to talk honestly about where that line actually is and how easy it is to cross it. They dig into ego, expectations, competitiveness, and why so many kids end up burned out or disconnected from the game they once loved.

Youth sports were never meant to feel like an all in decision with no off ramp. But for a lot of families, that is exactly where things end up. The pressure ramps up, the schedules get overwhelmed, and the choices for where to play start to disappear.

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Jennifer Paulett, Director of Corporate Citizenship at ESPN, to talk about the Take Back Sports campaign and what they are learning about why kids are walking away from sports. They discuss the importance of rec leagues, the dangers of early specialization, the...

Youth sports were never meant to feel like an all in decision with no off ramp. But for a lot of families, that is exactly where things end up. The pressure ramps up, the schedules get overwhelmed, and the choices for where to play start to disappear.

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Jennifer Paulett, Director of Corporate Citizenship at ESPN, to talk about the Take Back Sports campaign and what they are learning about why kids are walking away from sports. They discuss the importance of rec leagues, the dangers of early specialization, the...

How youth sports can help your kid grow in 2026

As we close out the year, Eric Williams and I sat down to talk through nine lessons we hope every kid learns through youth sports in 2026. This one is fun, honest, and packed with the kinds of conversations we all want our kids to experience as they grow up through sports.

We walk through each lesson on a five minute clock. Some we nail. Others… we definitely race the buzzer. But every one of them points back to the bigger purpose behind these games ou...

In the Season 2 finale, Jonathan sits down with Brea Schmidt — creator of The Top Bleacher — for an honest conversation about what kids really need to hear from their parents in youth sports. Together they walk through seven simple but powerful phrases that build confidence, resilience, and connection between parents and their athletes. From “You are more than your sport” to “I love watching you play,” this episode is a reminder that the words we use from the sidelines can shape who our kids become long after the games are over.

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MORE FROM BREA:

How does ADHD actually show up in kids — and what does it mean for youth athletes?

In this episode, Dr. Joey Case, a sports psychologist at Mississippi State, joins Healthy Sports Parents to unpack how ADHD impacts focus, effort, and motivation in sports. He explains what parents and coaches often mistake for laziness or attitude, why ADHD isn’t a character flaw, and how to help kids thrive in practice and competition.

You’ll also learn how parents can work with coaches, when to consider testing, and why some ADHD traits can actually become s...

When a child’s self-worth becomes tied to their performance, every game, race, or competition can feel like a verdict on who they are.

In this episode, two-time Olympian Kate Ziegler shares her journey from national records and Olympic appearances to the emotional toll of defining herself by results — and how she finally learned to separate her identity from her performance.

We talk about:

The hidden pressure high-achieving athletes carry

How performance-based identity develops in kids

What parents can do to help their child see...

Your kid is not defined by their wins and losses.

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Liberty University Head Coach Ritchie McKay joins Jonathan Carone for one of the most grounded, heartfelt conversations we’ve ever had about identity, faith, family, and loving the game more than the win.

Coach McKay has led Liberty basketball to NCAA Tournament wins and conference championships, but what stands out most is his perspective on people, not performance. He shares:

When people talk about Daddy Ball, it usually comes with eye rolls and complaints about favoritism. But the truth is far more complicated.

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with state champion coach Julie McCann and her daughter Audrey to talk about what it’s really like when your parent is also your coach.

They share the blurred lines between coach and mom, the higher expectations that come with being “the coach’s kid,” and the honest conversations it takes to make that relationship work.

This isn’t the cliché story of unf...