What Kids Actually Need From Youth Sports (with Abby Wambach)

What Kids Actually Need From Youth Sports (with Abby Wambach)

From Healthy Sports Parents by Jonathan Carone

August 12, 2026 · 58 min · Season 4 · Episode 1

About this episode

Abby Wambach discusses the importance of intrinsic motivation in youth sports and how parents can support their children's love for the game.

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 that part of her own drive as a young athlete came from wanting her mom's attention and love, and what that experience has taught her about parenting and the messages kids can attach to achievement. They also dig into what girls need from sports, why relationships and belonging can be such powerful motivators, and how parents can create environments where their daughters want to keep playing. Finally, Abby shares one of the most important ideas from the conversation: sports can give parents and kids a shared language that lasts long after they're done playing. For parents raising young athletes, this conversation is a reminder that kids don't need…

People in this episode

Host: Jonathan Carone

Guest: Abby Wambach

Topics covered

Sponsors

Healthy Sports Parenting Course

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Healthy Sports Parenting

More episodes of Healthy Sports Parents

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Healthy Sports Parents podcast page.