We are excited to replay our 2024 episode with one of America’s most admired and respected sports figures, Coach Tony Dungy! Coach Dungy is a Hall of Famer, Super Bowl winner as a player AND coach, two-time coach of the year and best-selling author. This accomplished legend shared his personal story as a young player and as a dad, as well as many stories from his days as an college/pro player and coach, weaving in great insights for parents, coaches, and players. Coach also shares his insights on the importance of character development, as well as the element he believes is most important to keep at the forefront of sports, at every level...hint, it is a key part of the word fundamentals.We're so excited to have a true icon and role model on the show today, so buckle up for the wisdom and encouragement of Coach Tony Dungy!
If you're playing youth sports, you're experiencing winning and losing regularly. Some experience one more than the other, but over the course of time, we all experience both. As parents and coaches, how do we teach young athletes the value of responding properly to both? Do we even model the right responses, or are we also too caught up in the results? On this episode, Jeff, Britt, and Brad discuss why we all want to win, the positive aspects that result, while also talking about the positive aspects of losing (yes, there really are some). They also share their thoughts on the bad responses to both winning and losing, from arrogance to sour attitudes, from kids and parents alike. Finally, we've all seen ugly examples of really poor responses to both winning and losing and the guys call some of these out as a reminder to all of us to seize these opportunities to teach out young athletes to compete to win, to win with grace, and to respond to losing with the right attitude. This episode has something for everyone - don't miss it.
As we head into Thanksgiving week, we are grateful for the wise counsel we received in 2024 from Dr Tim Elmore, sharing his expertise on topics such as how can we help our kids develop grit? How do parents help, or hinder, their kids from reaching their full potential, in sports, or life? What are the keys to developing mental toughness in our kids? Do your kids suffer from FOMU (Fear of Messing Up) and how can you help them overcome it, in sports and life? These are just some of the questions we explore this week as we welcome Dr. Tim Elmore, founder and CEO of Growing Leaders, Inc. and a sought-after expert on parenting and leadership development of Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids. The author of more than 30 books, Dr. Elmore is a sought-after speaker and expert, appearing on numerous news shows, TED, dozens of Fortune 500 companies, and has worked with numerous professional sports teams in the MLB, NBA, and NFL, as well as some of college’s top programs. Parents and coaches don't want to miss this episode.
Excited to replay this inspiring and insightful interview we did in 2023 with 12-yr NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky. Dan shares his youth sports journey to UConn and the NFL, along with great insights he learned along the way. He also shares his thoughts about what he is currently living our as a sports dad to his four boys.
Trying to wear both the parent hat and the coach hat at the same time can be both a fantastic and perilous experience (yes, both of those are true), and we’ve received many requests to discuss both the positive and challenging factors that come into play. Britt and Brad share their experiences and Jeff talks about his current approach with his kids as a backdrop to the discussion. From there, they talk about the many reasons that parents should consider coaching their kids, even as an assistant and especially at younger ages. They also define "daddy-ball" in terms of what it looks like in youth sports, as well as the impact it has on other families. As the kids get older, the challenges with trying to wear both hats become more difficult to manage, and the guys provide some tips to consider to help parents approach coaching with purpose and wisdom.
2025 MLB Hall of Fame inductee Billy Wagner joins us this week to share his unique story of how a right-handed kid became a left handed pitcher who earned 422 saves and 7 All-Star appearances in his major league career. Billy shares insights from his baseball development story, including how he overcame a childhood full of adversity to become a football and baseball player at Division 3 Ferrum College, before becoming an unlikely first round draft big in baseball. He shares some great "behind the scenes" moments from his recent Hall of Fame induction weekend in Cooperstown, including some of the cool moments meeting legends of the game. Since his retirement in 2010, Billy has been a successful high school coach, including coaching his sons Will, now playing in the Blue Jays organization, and Kason, committed to pitching at Coastal Carolina in 2026. With a front row view of youth and high school baseball development as a coach and dad, Billy shares valuable insights and advice to young players, parents, and coaches on this episode.
On this episode, we welcome Sam Querrey, one of America’s top male tennis players over the past two decades, winning ten ATP titles and ranked as high as #11 in the world. Sam shares his youth sports story, growing up in California playing a variety of sports and finding great success on the tennis courts early on. That success eventually propelled him to forgo the college scholarship offer from USC and pursue a professional career. Sam shares his thoughts on the current state of US tennis development and the players who have the best chance to win a grand slam tournament. In addition, Sam discusses his wins over Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Rafael Nadal, as well as what it was like to play against Roger Federer. In addition, Sam talks about handling the pressure of big matches, his foray into professional pickleball, and his growing career as a tennis analyst with ESPN, TNT, and the Tennis Channel. Finally, Sam brings his humor to create a number of laughable moments to the show, making for an informative and very enjoyable episode.
Some moms are as passionate (or more) about youth sports as dads, and even those who aren’t are often deeply involved because they are passionate about their kids. On this episode, Megan Cannon, a former D1 soccer player, high school coach, mental health counselor, and most importantly, mom of two young athletes and wife to a passionate sports dad, joins us to talk all about moms' roles in youth sports. Going way beyond the role of TEAM MOM, moms often take the lead in maintaining family balance, recognizing emotional needs (not just the physical needs) of young athletes, offsetting some of dad's sports intensity, and yes, some also are great coaches to our kids. This episode will encourage and challenge moms, and there is a lot here for dads to understand and learn from as well.
Former World Number One tennis player Lindsay Davenport joins Jeff and the guys on this episode, and her journey to the top of the tennis world is anything but typical. In fact, Lindsay refers to it as the "accident" story. Raised in a volleyball family, with her father an Olympian, Lindsay was expected to eventually leave tennis behind and follow in those footsteps. Instead, she charted her own path, turning pro as a teenager and going on to win multiple Grand Slam titles, an Olympic Gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games, and later becoming a coach to some of today’s top women’s players.Beyond her storied career, Lindsay is also a dedicated sports mom. Her son was one of the world’s top junior tennis players and is now competing at the collegiate level for Stanford. Meanwhile, her daughter is following the family’s volleyball legacy and will be playing for USC next year. Lindsay discusses pursing her dream when it wasn't what her parents wanted. She also talks about the decision she made to turn pro at an early age, and gives her opinion on whether today's elite players should turn pro or play in college. And, for tennis fans, she shares some great inside info on the world of tennis.
The intensity of youth sports is increasing, and that's not debatable. Kids are playing more at younger ages - more practices, more tournaments, more games. More pressure to perform exists, and the expectations are higher than ever. As a result of these factors, the risk of burnout is also greater than ever. We've all heard the phrase "burnout," but what is it and what does it really look like? What are the factors that create burnout? What are the signs that my kid is experiencing it? And what steps can parents and coaches take to mitigate the risks of this happening? On this episode, the guys discuss the burnout issue in a comprehensive way, sharing from their personal experiences and from recent research It's easy to believe that burnout will never happen to your kid, but if you don't have a good understanding of the issues, you won't recognize it until it's too late.
This week we replay one of our favorite interviews with NFL MVP and four-time Pro Bowler, Matt Ryan! Not only does he bring his perspective as a legend on the field, but also his experience as a CBS Analyst and father of three kids in youth sports. We're diving deep into Matt's wild ride through the world of sports, from his early days of playing defensive end to becoming a top NFL quarterback!Ever wondered what the game-day routine of an MVP looks like? Where would he have drafted himself if he was the Falcons' GM? Maybe you're curious about some behind-the-scenes Super Bowl scoop or what he thinks of modern youth coaches? Well, hang tight, because Matt talks about all of that and more.Whether you're an NFL fanatic, rep the Falcons, or just love sports, this one's for you! So grab a seat and soak up some wisdom from one of the greats!
When youth sports are over for your kids, what do you hope they and you got out of it? Community? College Scholarships? Life Lessons? Have you even thought about it? We believe that setting some sports parenting goals will help you make decisions along the journey that help you arrive at your desired destination. On this episode, the guys discuss all of that, while suggesting five big parenting goals for parents to consider. Your goals don’t have to match these, but hopefully they will spur parents on to make your own!
On this episode, we sit down with Gary Downs, father to Ohio State Cornerback Caleb Downs and Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs. As a former NFL running back himself, Gary took a very proactive approach to help his kids develop their skills, work ethic, and character to enable their success. He and his wife, also an elite athlete, set the bar high in terms of pursuing excellence in all they do. In the midst of playing multiple sports at elite levels, they ensured that their kids prioritized faith, character, and school, while also pursuing their on-field endeavors. He talks about the difficulty of being a coach and a parent, the value of never complaining about a coach to their kids, when they let their kids suffer through tough situations and so much more.
In this episode, Boston Celtics guard Derrick White joins us to share his basketball journey from a multi-sport young athlete in Colorado to the NBA and the Olympics. Derrick shares how he has had to overcome the doubters at every level, not being recruiting by any D1 college coaches and never expecting to play professionally. Nevertheless, Derrick loved basketball and continued to work, receiving a partial scholarship to a D2 college, before transferring to D1 Colorado as a senior. Derrick shares great insights from his journey, even talking about the NBA coach who challenged him to quit being so hard on himself, which has been key to his emergence as an NBA star. Derrick also shares about his experience being added to the Olympic team, including what he learned on and off the court spending time with NBA legends LeBron, Step, and KD.
Fueling your body with the right fuel is critical to an athlete's ability to operate at peak performance. Professionals in every sport have discovered the value of regulating what they eat, how much they eat, and when they eat. Young athletes are no different...adapting strong nutritional habits can be a key factor in taking performance to elevated levels, impacting energy levels, stamina, and recovery for young athletes. On today's episode, former college basketball player and current sports nutritionist Kelsey Poulter shares her experience and expertise with us as we discuss the importance of nutrition to athletic performance, answer specific questions related to training, recovery, game preparation, and so much more as she shares information and practical advice for parents, coaches, and young athletes.
On this week’s episode, Jeff, Britt, and Brad sit down with 3x Pro Bowl Tight End, 14-year NFL veteran, and NFL on Fox Analyst Greg Olsen. Greg’s passion for youth sports began with his own journey as a young, multi-sport athlete and has continued as a dedicated dad, coaching his kids’ teams and experiencing firsthand the challenges of youth sports from a parent’s perspective.These experiences led him to found @youthinc and in this conversation, Greg shares valuable advice on how to guide your kids, coach them effectively, and be a supportive presence as both a coach and a parent. He also opens up about his own journey on and off the field, which shaped his perspective on youth development through sports.
What do we do when a coach isn’t being fair to our kid? Or what if the coach only cares about winning, at the expense of development? Or maybe your kid has a coach that constantly yells and screams at the kids? On this week’s episode, the guys discuss a number of common scenarios that kids and parents face in youth sports, sharing their insights on when parents should step in, when we should stay out of it, and how we should leverage these situations to teach life lessons to our kids. The conversation and discussion is lively, informative, and designed to help listeners think through the situations they may encounter along the journey with their kids.
On this episode, we talk with ESPN college football analyst and current host of the popular "Always College Football" podcast Greg McElroy. Greg's unique journey to become a national champion QB at Alabama will inspire young athletes and his stories of playing for Coach Nick Saban are both interesting and will make you smile. His insights from his challenging youth sports days will encourage young athletes of all sports.
Join us as we dive deep into the world of travel sports. While travel has long been a crucial aspect of a young athlete's journey, it has slowly become an increasingly draining and expensive endeavor. How much is too much? What’s the right age to get started? What's the true cost? Are we doing it for our children or ourselves? Many athletes and parents are adamant that travel is one of the best parts of the youth sports experience— so let's keep it that way! We're delving into all of these pressing questions and even reading through some listener comments as we guide you through the exhilarating yet rapidly evolving world of travel sports.
If you are a parent or coach of young athletes, you need to learn all you can about the common mental health challenges and issues experienced by many young athletes. On this episode, Dr Riley Nickols, counselor, sports psychologist, author, and founder of Mind, Body, Endurance shares his expertise and experience gained by working with many elite, young athletes. Dr Nickols discusses the the topic of performance anxiety in youth sports, providing perspective on the difference between normal nervousness vs true anxiety that can become crippling for a young athlete. the discussion includes the signs that parents and coaches can identify, and the reality that the physical discomfort of play that many athletes are used to ignoring often leads to trying to press through mental health issues that shouldn't be ignored. Dr Nickols also discusses the area of perfectionism that many athletes wrestle with, including how to have a healthy approach. In addition, Dr Nickols has deep expertise in the areas of disordered eating, eating disorders, and overtraining, which many young athletes wrestle with, both girls and boys. Finally, Dr Nickols discusses the mental health challenges that often accompany physical injuries that athletes experience, providing guidance on how to address these challenges and provide adequate attention to the overall mental health of your young athlete.