Advertise on podcast: Surviving Youth Sports

Youth sports keeps telling families to move faster. Join the better team. Train more. Get exposure earlier. Start recruiting younger. But Kyle Pless believes we may be building young athletes in the wrong order. In this episode, Kyle and Rhett talk about the pressure to be “elite” before kids have developed the fundamentals, confidence, and love for the game underneath it. They dig into early specialization, travel sports, money, parent involvement, coaching culture, and the fear that your child will fall behind if you don’t keep spending and doing more. The conversation comes back to a simple question: what happens when we start building the roof before we’ve finished the foundation?

College basketball has changed. NIL, the transfer portal, AAU circuits, trainers, and money have made recruiting more complicated and, in many ways, more transactional. Montana basketball coach Rachi Wortham joins the show to talk about what that shift looks like from inside a Division I program and why relationships still matter even when players may only stay for a short time. But recruiting is not only about the player. Rachi explains why coaches notice how families carry themselves, how parents behave in the stands, and the environment surrounding an athlete. Sometimes, a parent’s actions can become part of the evaluation too. The conversation also gets into AAU basketball, the rise of individual skill training, and an uncomfortable question: are we developing more skilled players who actually know how to compete and play the game?

Youth sports can make families feel like they’re constantly falling behind. Another athlete is training more, playing on a bigger stage, getting more attention, or seemingly moving faster toward the next level. Lorraine Eloms joins the show to talk about what that constant comparison does to both athletes and parents. Lorraine shares her perspective on mental performance, overtraining, rest, confidence, failure, and the uncomfortable reality that more work does not always guarantee the outcome we want. The conversation is a reminder that development looks different for every athlete, and sometimes the healthiest thing a family can do is stop measuring their kid’s journey against everyone else’s.

Youth sports are supposed to be about the kids. But somewhere between travel teams, private training, exposure, money, playing time, and adult expectations, it can become hard to tell whose experience it really is. Frank Decembrino, founder of Clubhouse Baseball Academy and longtime leader of the Boilermakers baseball program, joins Rhett to talk honestly about the business and culture surrounding youth sports. They dig into the difference between being profitable and profiteering, programs taking credit for players they didn’t develop, private equity entering youth sports, and why transparency matters more than a team’s record or social media presence. They also explore one of the hardest things for parents to do: get out of the way. Sometimes losing a position, sitting the bench, talking to a coach, or dealing with disappointment is exactly the experience a young athlete needs. And eventually, no matter how much parents invest or sacrifice, they can’t make their kid want it. Follow Frank: @decembrino7 Clubhouse Baseball Academy: @clubhousebaseballacademy

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?