Healthy Sports Parents

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 shares what he learned while watching his own son go from never playing a high school volleyball match to becoming the starting libero at Ohio State.More than anything, this conversation is a reminder that your kid’s sports journey doesn’t need to end with a college roster spot to be successful. There’s a lot of good happening right now if we’re willing to stop chasing what’s next long enough to see it.--------HEALTHY SPORTS PARENTING COURSEGet access at HealthySportsParenting.com.--------FROM OUR SPONSORS:Interested in sponsoring an [email protected] your Healthy Sports Parents shirts:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparentsNew episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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?Why can immediate feedback actually make things worse?How can we give kids enough structure to grow without taking away the curiosity that helps them figure out who they want to become?It's a conversation about giving kids room to explore, challenges that help them grow, and the freedom to fail while they're figuring it all out.--------HEALTHY SPORTS PARENTING COURSEGet access at HealthySportsParenting.com.Use code SUMMER15 for 15% off before August 19.--------More from David Epstein:Website: https://davidepstein.com/Inside The Box: AMAZONInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidepstein--------FROM OUR SPONSORS:Sportball Franchisinghttps://sportballfranchise.com/Hour-a-thonhttps://www.hour-a-thon.com/--------Get your Healthy Sports Parents shirts:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents#youthsports #sportsparent #travelball #raisingathletesNew episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 supported for generations to come.They explore why youth sports has become the "Wild West," what a state commission could actually do, why every kid deserves access to play, and what it would look like if we treated youth sports as an investment in the next generation instead of just another extracurricular activity.Whether you agree with California's approach or not, this conversation raises a bigger question every parent should be asking:What kind of youth sports system are we building for the kids who come after ours?--------HEALTHY SPORTS PARENTING COURSEGet access at HealthySportsParenting.com.Use code SUMMER15 for 15% off before August 19.--------More from Renata Simril:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renataangeleno/LA84 Foundation: https://www.la84.org/Play Equity Fund: https://www.playequityfund.org/--------FROM OUR SPONSORS:Tomahawk Shadeshttps://tomahawkshades.comCode: HSP50 for 50% off--------Get your Healthy Sports Parents shirts:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents#youthsports #sportsparent #travelball #raisingathletesNew episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 expectations can carry. The conversation dives into why so many kids stop loving sports, how parents unintentionally add pressure, and why creating the right environment matters more than chasing the perfect development plan.Jonathan and Jake also talk about:Why fun changes as kids get olderThe difference between hard work and pressureHelping kids stay connected to the game long-termWhy comparison and FOMO lead parents into bad decisionsThe importance of understanding each kid individuallyWhat happens when kids feel safe to failWhy parents matter more than they realizeThis episode is a reminder that most kids don’t need perfect coaching, year-round training, or adults obsessing over outcomes. They need support, perspective, encouragement, and the freedom to enjoy the process of growing up through sports.--------More from Jake:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jakesavicki?lang=enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakesavicki/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Jake-Savicki-100066450740049/--------FROM OUR SPONSORS:Hey Coachhttps://heycoach.team/Onsideshttps://www.getonsides.com/--------New episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 with mindset, resilience, and identity.Together, they unpack why so many young athletes are more skilled than ever but often struggle with confidence, pressure, and failure, and what parents can do to help shift that. Lisa explains why habits matter more than highlight moments, how to help kids handle tough emotions after games, and why separating identity from performance is one of the most important things we can teach them.This conversation keeps coming back to one simple idea: sports should be bigger than sports. Not because of what kids achieve, but because of who they’re becoming in the process.If you’ve ever felt the tension between wanting your kid to succeed and wanting them to enjoy the experience, this episode will help you approach it in a more grounded, intentional way.At the end of the day, the goal isn’t simply to raise a great athlete. It’s to raise a great human.--------More from Lisa:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawillis40/Website: https://lisacwillis.com/Texas Sports Academy: https://sportsacademy.school/--------FROM OUR SPONSORS:Eleven11https://eleven11teamsports.com/Hey Coachhttps://heycoach.team/--------New episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 conversation, they walk through what club sports really are, why so many families feel pulled in that direction, and what parents should be thinking about before committing. They talk about the time, the cost, the pressure, and the tradeoffs that don’t always get talked about upfront. This isn’t about saying club sports are good or bad. For some kids and families, they can be a great fit.But club sports are not the only path, and it’s not always the right next step just because it feels like the natural one.If your family is starting to wrestle with the rec vs. club decision, this conversation will help you take a step back, think it through, and make a choice that actually fits your kid and your life.--------More from Karen:Buy Surviving SoccerSubstack: https://karenscholl.substack.com/--------FROM OUR SPONSORS:Hour-a-thonhttp://www.hour-a-thon.com--------New episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 their proper place.We discuss the realities of club sports, the pressure families feel to specialize early, and how parents can support their kids without letting sports take over their identity or family time. This conversation also explores how to let kids take ownership of their sports journey while still providing guidance and perspective along the way.If you're a sports parent trying to balance busy schedules, rising expectations, and what’s actually best for your kid, this episode offers a practical and encouraging perspective on taking youth sports back one family at a time.In this episode, we discuss:• Balancing youth sports and family life• The pressure to specialize early• Letting kids find the sport that fits them• How parents can avoid comparison and urgency• Taking youth sports back one family at a time--------More from Heather:https://www.instagram.com/cfbheather/--------FROM OUR SPONSORS:ESPN's Take Back Sportshttps://www.takebacksports.orgHour-a-thonhttp://www.hour-a-thon.com--------New episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 a little.Dustin shares what youth sports look like through the lens of an introvert, how he balances being on the road with being present for his kids, and why effort matters more than perfect attendance. They also get into failure, perspective, participation trophies, arguing with refs, and why kids notice our effort more than our perfection.This is a conversation for parents who care deeply about their kids, want to support them well, and are trying to keep youth sports healthy for their family.Youth sports are serious. Just not that serious.--------FROM OUR SPONSORS:Hour-a-thonhttp://www.hour-a-thon.comNew episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 sports experiences for kids.Dr. Okamoto also shares the thinking behind the Yes, Coach! campaign, a national effort to recruit, support, and celebrate the adults who step up to lead kids through sports in a healthy way.If youth sports are going to change, it won’t start with policies or platforms. It will start with the adults who show up for kids every week.In this episode we cover:Why kids need multiple trustworthy adults in their livesThe hidden influence youth coaches have on young peopleWhy coaching is as much an art as it is a scienceHow youth sports have changed and why families feel more pressureWhat the Yes, Coach! campaign hopes to change in youth sports--------FROM OUR SPONSORS:Brite Legacyhttps://britelegacy.com/--------New episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 world. He’s also spent 170 days on the road in a single year trying to balance training for the Paralympic Winter Games with being present for his daughter’s gymnastics meets and middle school milestones. He knows the pull of ambition and the guilt that can come with it.We talk about:What his life-changing injury taught him about identity beyond performanceWhy progression, not winning, is what truly motivates long-term successThe difference between supporting your kid and pushing themHow to help kids discover their own internal driveWhat he hopes his daughter learns from watching him competeMike shares honestly about the tension of being “just dad” at home while also being a world-class athlete. He explains why pushing only works for so long, why losing teaches more than winning, and why the point of youth sports has to go deeper than medals.If your kid’s sport ended tomorrow, what would you hope remained?This conversation is about making sure the answer to that question is bigger than the scoreboard.--------FROM OUR PARTNER:For 100 years, PARENTS has provided millions of caregivers with trustworthy advice and a supportive community as they raise the next generation of confident and compassionate kids.Read my full feature on Mike SchultzRead the full Parents 100 Years Issue digital magazineLearn more about BioDapt--------FROM OUR SPONSORS:Brite Legacyhttps://britelegacy.com/--------New episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 meant to scare parents away from sports. It’s about helping parents understand risk, recognize warning signs, and make age-appropriate decisions with clarity and confidence.You’ll hear:How to think about concussions without panickingWhy kids often can’t recognize or report their own symptomsThe difference between concussions and cumulative head impactsWhat parents should actually watch for after a hit or fallHow sports like football, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and baseball have changed and whyWhy age-appropriate versions of sports matter for developing brainsThis episode is for parents who care deeply about their kids, believe sports can be a powerful good, and want to lead with better information than the generation before us had.--------FROM OUR SPONSORS:PlayPitshttps://playpits.com/HSP15 for 15% offCamp Blue Ridgehttp://www.blueridgecamp.com$750 off summer 2026 tuition for Healthy Sports Parents listeners--------New episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Coach Nuvey shares real stories from recruiting, coaching, and parenting, including what she sees in athletes who thrive long-term and what shows up again and again in kids who flame out. This conversation isn’t about blaming parents. It’s about helping them recognize the difference between leading with care and unintentionally adding weight their kids were never meant to carry.If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re helping or hovering, encouraging or pushing, this episode will give you language, perspective, and clarity to support your kid in a healthier way.--------FROM OUR SPONSORS:PlayPitshttps://playpits.com/ HSP15 for 15% offBall-Brand Goodshttps://ball-brand.com/CHILLY15 for 15% offCamp Blue Ridgehttp://www.blueridgecamp.com$750 off summer 2026 tuition for Healthy Sports Parents listeners--------New episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How youth sports can help your kid grow in 2026As 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 our kids play.In this episode we talk about:• Separating confidence from performance• Handling hard things without giving up• Seeing mistakes as feedback• Why effort creates opportunity• Navigating big emotions in healthy ways• The everyday value of being coachable• How leadership starts with serving• Why accountability builds trust• Finding joy in the process, not just the outcomeIf you ever wonder what sports are really teaching your kid, this is the episode to start with.Here’s to a meaningful and healthy 2026 for you and your kids.---------FROM OUR SPONSORS:Strandzhttp://www.shopstrandz.comHSP20 for 20% offby 11:59pm 01/04/26Ball-Brand Goodshttps://ball-brand.com/CHILLY15 for 15% offNew episodes every Wednesday.---------Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop---------Get your Weekend Playbook:https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook-----------Follow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparentshttps://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparentshttps://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.