Youth $ports

Episode 26: Aaron Flaker (Former President/Co-owner and Co-founder of JAM Brands, current Co-Owner of Athletx Sports Group) - Flaker discusses his intro into the world of cheer (spoiler alert: He started out as a mascot!) - The history behind how cheerleading has undergone a MASSIVE transformation through the years... - Cheer has all of the markers of every other sport/competition, but the unique addition of aesthetics.  - The incredible story behind Flaker's first business venture, which grew into one of the largest cheer events in the world (Jam Fest turned Jam Brands) - Digging into the nature of dance/cheer competitions and the seemingly 438439 different divisions at each competition. Do people even care if the competition is legit, or are they just happy to claim they are "national champions?" - Smart people have recognized that the world of youth sports is a business. We don't get mad at other enterprises for capitalizing on the demand. Why do we get mad at those making money off youth sports? - Are we running the risk of pricing parents out of youth sports? - Maybe we will forever and always romanticize youth sports... But is the vision of what we remember it to be the reality today? - And of course... MORE PIPING HOT TAKES

Episode 25: Aaron Anderkin (Youth sports Dad/coach/former athlete) - Can any other youth sports parents relate to 90% of their non-work life being consumed by sports? - Growing up in a small town, idolizing the "hometown heroes"  - The challenge of doubling as both a youth sports parent AND a youth sports coach. How do you strike the correct balance? - The trickle down effect we are seeing of players, parents, coaches, etc. seeking IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION.  - Kids compete for a ring or trophy every weekend now... It used to be a year's long investment toward winning such big prizes.  - FOMO drives so much of the vicious cycle of doing more, more, more in youth sports.  - Real talk: Puberty is the great equalizer. All of the success at young ages does NOT equal success at the older ages.  - As a coach or youth sports parent, the true measure of success is your kid answering YES to the following question: "Do you want to play again next year?" - Parental red flags (especially on social media!!!) - And of course... MORE HOT TAKES

Episode 24: Philip Manga & players from the Box2Box Organization - Box2Box is a non-profit organization in Lexington Ky that strives to empower the youth to seek community through sport, to develop identity relevance and belonging.  - The game of soccer opened up so many doors for Philip Manga in his life. When he came to the United States with his family from the Republic of Congo, he struggled to find his place in the community.  - Manga was able to find a connection to his community through the game of soccer.  - Even with an athletic scholarship to the University of Evansville, Manga struggled to keep up with the pace of the academics due to his Fluency in the English language.  - Now Manga and the Box2Box organization strive to provide opportunity for refugee children in the Lexington area, not only in the game of soccer, but with building a community and having a safe place to work on homework after school.  - Box2Box, much like the sport of soccer, is so much more than a game. It opens doors for children.  - Sports offer so much for so many kids, especially those who are longing to connect in a new country. Why not look for ways to make youth sports MORE accessible for young children? - Hear from some of the young gentlemen who are part of the Box2Box Tumaini Academy. They share some of their struggles and success along the way.  - If you listen to this episode and can't see the beauty in the opportunity these young children are seeking and the avenue sports gives them to find it... Well, I'm not sure what else you need?

Episode 23: Charlie Ely (Medically retired college football player) - What happens when sports has been a huge part of your identity your entire life, and then it gets stripped away because of injuries? - What it's like to be an athlete who shows early potential, has great size and big dreams.  - Football is a grind. You almost never go through a game pain-free, but it's part of the mentality.  - Is the "no days off" mentality really better in the long-run than taking breaks?  - The pure joy of playing the sport you love with your teammates. - The college football recruiting process. They love you... until you can no longer do anything for them. What happens when you suffer a severe injury right before heading to campus?  - The harsh reality of scholarships being pulled, promises being broken and an 18 year old being left to scramble to put the pieces together.  - The toll playing sports your whole life and having multiple injuries along the way can take on the body. But at the end of the day, would you trade in those experiences? Most athletes would probably say no... - The life lessons amidst the pain of having to medically retire from the game you love.  - What happens next?  - HOT TAKES

Episode 22: Jessie Weis (Mother of Top 100 Basketball Prospect, Gabe Weis) - Jessie Weis is the mother of a Top 100, 4-star basketball prospect (Gabe Weis) from a small town in Kentucky - Weis walks us through the natural progression of Gabe's development and the opportunities that came as a result of his hard work.  - Parents don't have to PUSH doors open for their children when it comes to youth sports. Let your child's hard work and ability open those doors.  - What it's like being the big fish in a small pond. High school sports are not always enough for high end athletes. Sometimes they need more.  - Weis details her son's (and family's) choice to attend a prep school, Montverde Academy for this junior and senior years of high school. -The decision was met with scrutiny and judgement, but Gabe was willing to sacrifice the "normal high school experience" for the chance to play and practice with better players every day.  - Weis shares some details of the recruiting process for a Top 100 rated recruit.  - Every family's situation is different. You have to do what's best for YOU. 

Episode 21: Jeff Kellman (Inner city high school football coach, Milwaukee) - Kellman has coached at both well-funded and poorly funded high schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The discrepancies between the 2 are massive... - Coaches having to pay for basic equipment out of their own pockets vs. 65 million dollar athletic complexes - Athletes seeing the lack of resources and opportunity provided to them.... How does that impact how they feel others value them? Do they internalize these feelings? - Fundraising is supposed to be the great equalizer, right? But is it really when some families can just write the checks... - Not having access to film. Such a simple, yet very massive disadvantage for a football program. Not being able to use it for recruiting purposes is also a huge disadvantage.  - Not only are there competitive disadvantages across youth sports, but also SAFETY disadvantages. Why should not having the same funding as other schools = unsafe environments for athletes? - Some coaches have the luxury of massive coaching staffs who can focus on position groups, while others have to share duties among 2-3 coaches.  - Getting to coach football vs. coaching life - Even with an uneven playing field, coaching kids who truly need the experience and the role models is rewarding.  - Youth sports can provide so many POSITIVES for young kids. Why are we making it LESS accessible?

Episode 20: Roni Robinson (Former high school football/basketball standout who spent 4.5 years in jail before beginning his redemption story) - Roni Robinson was once a candidate for Mr. Kentucky football and Mr. Kentucky basketball in the SAME season with letters from college coaches piling up in trash bags... - Robinson was a hometown hero, with his whole life ahead of him, packing the stands on Friday nights in his small town of Frankfort, Ky.  - Robinson was set to play football AND basketball for the University of Tennessee... but there was just 1 problem: The ACT.  - When Robinson couldn't get the ACT score he needed, the D-1 dream faded and the reality of JUCO was staring him in the face. Robinson, who says his family was struggling to put food on the table and buy clothes, turned to the streets.  - One night changed the trajectory of Robinson's whole life. Facing a 10-20 year sentence for armed robbery, Robinson's football/basketball future seemed to die... - Robinson outlines the next 4.5 years of his life spent in jail and how he used his love and skill in basketball and football to get through his sentence. "Basketball was my hustle." - At 23 years old and 6 years out of organized sports... Robinson's dreams of playing college football and basketball seemed as unlikely as ever. The dream wouldn't die for Robinson and his life is now dedicated to his community and helping young kids learn from his own mistakes.  - A true story of the very real struggles young athletes face and how redemption, however unlikely, is still possible. 

Episode 19: Scott Strode (Blue Chips Nation/Prep Hoops Scout) - Scott Strode works as a basketball writer/scout for PrepHoops  - Strode sees himself as a connector/referral service between college coaches and players, helping both sides to streamline the recruiting and evaluation process.  - With many colleges operating on $500 recruiting budgets (No, seriously!), efficiency is crucial.  - We discuss the obsession with rankings, especially on the side of the parents and players. But guess who really does NOT care about rankings? THE COLLEGE COACHES. Not one time has Strode ever been asked where a player was ranked.  - What is the 1st question college coaches ask Strode? "Can they defend?" - Youth sports has become a free market enterprise. No one is forcing parents to spend the $, but at the same time... Are those who stand to gain from their business financially being honest with parents? - Are people more worried about the attention/social media posts when it comes to offers, commitments, camp invites, etc. than the substance behind it? - Strode breaks down the current state of AAU basketball and the obsession with shoe circuits. Not necessarily enough talent to justify that many teams in small areas, traveling all over the country for these events.  - Real talk: Most kids attend college regionally. Most basketball coaches (outside of maybe D1) recruit regionally.  - And a serial killer comparison you simply were not ready for... - The HOT TAKES are back! (Tucker/Strode 2028)

Episode 18: Kobe Johnson (Soccer parent/Former soccer player) - A story of sacrifice and love in the world of youth sports.  - The 5-6 day weekly grind of being a high school athlete - Sports can teach kids life lessons: Managing time, prioritizing, working with others, etc.  - When you sit down and actually add up all of the expenses (10K, 20K... etc...), is it really worth it? Would it have been better to just put that $ into a college fund? - Some advice on the ID camps. You can't do them all. Pick wisely. Ask questions. Do your research.  - Coaches need to be honest with kids and parents, but kids and parents also have to want to hear it. Delusion is a powerful drug.  - Doesn't have to be a "D1 or bust" mentality. It's all about finding the right fit for YOU as a player. Don't worry about the clout of D-1.  - The sacrifices parents make in order to help their children reach their dreams... - Kobe has no regrets. She takes the "we will make it work" mentality and believes this is what she signed up for in being a parent. It's worth it to her to be there for her daughter.  - What happens if after 10+ years of putting time, energy, money, travel, etc. into a sport... your kid decides they are finished. They don't want to play anymore. Then what? - Sports can be a way for a parent to bond with their child. It can be a lifelong connection.  - Advice: Be REALISTIC with your child. Not everyone's child is Kobe Bryant or Sophia Smith. A little honesty won't kill them.  - Uh oh... We forgot the HOT TAKES.

Episode 17: Katie Filiatreau (Physical Therapist) - The frequency in which Early Sports Specialization is happening these days is ALARMING! (Spoiler alert: It's NOT good for your kids' long-term future) - Comparison: Using patient-first language vs. Using athlete-first language. Are we unintentionally putting pressure on our athletes when parents refer to themselves as "Soccer Moms" and "Baseball Dads?" - The pressure to return to play as quickly as possible. But you only get 1 body, 2 knees, 2 shoulders... Long-term vs. Short-term - TRUTH BOMB: Early specialization leads to higher risk of overuse injuries. Specialization does NOT equate to greater higher level success at the sport. Diversification is actually statistically better.  - With the crazy schedules these young athletes are having to keep... Do they really even LOVE the sport anymore? - Parents help teach kids what they love. Do they really love the sport that much, or is it just the only thing you've allowed them to be exposed to? - A mind boggling story of the parents of an 8 year-old holding their child back (flawless academically) so he would be more developed in high school for his baseball "career." - Which begs the question... Should we be making major life/academic choices based on athletics? Especially at a young age? - It's a problem if the youth sports system makes you feel behind if you haven't already started playing for a travel team by the age of 12.  - You can work harder than everyone else and the reality is... you still might not be as good as they are. And some of it comes down to... GENETICS! - An increase in athletes presenting with chronic pain issues at dangerously young ages.  - Shift from injuries due to just overuse to injuries due to central nervous system problems (cell phone use, mental health issues, lack of sleep, social relationships, etc.) - Straight from the mouth of a Physical Therapist: YOUR CHILD NEEDS AT LEAST A 3 MONTH BREAK from their sport, and ideally 6 weeks consecutively. (They can play other sports in that time).  - Beware of coaches, organizations, trainers, etc. who are telling you otherwise or who are telling you to specialize early.  - Will medical advice be the tipping point to spark change? Or will it be kids or young adults who have just finished up their youth sports career saying, "We aren't going to do this anymore." - Advice: Don't sacrifice your athlete's long term future for a short term pay off that may never even come...    

Episode 16: Tansy Coats (Parent of 3/Elementary school teacher) - The struggles of juggling the weekly youth sports schedule of 3 children.  - Constantly dividing and conquering. "It takes a village." - The inequity in opportunity to participate in sports based on family structure, support, transportation, financial ability, etc. -Sports are supposed to be the great equalizer... but have we created yet another system of haves and have nots? - Setting boundaries as a family such as only playing 1 sport per season.  - What about the "other siblings" who may not play sports? Where do they fit into the equation? - Even at young ages, there's an over-emphasis on winning and a lack of emphasis on development.  - A comparison: Early tracking of children in education vs. Early tracking of children in youth sports.  - If we have trophies, rings, wrestling belts, "signing days," etc. for kids by the age of 10, what's left for them to experience later in life? - TOO MUCH! We don't have to celebrate every small victory in life like it's the Super Bowl - Are we really doing all of the "extra" for a social media post?  - And of course... MORE HOT TAKES!  

Episode 15: Jordan Parker (Our 1st repeat guest) - The Youth $ports Podcast is officially 15 episodes old! We've talked about a LOT of topics. - This episode serves as a bit of a recap/halftime episode, where we discuss some of the underlying themes and topics of the podcast so far.  - We discuss the biggest takeaways from Episodes 1-14. - Jordan turns the questions in Ally's direction to ask some questions about the logistics of the podcast and reflections on the process.  - THEMES: Maybe college scholarships being the "end goal" is part of the problem, FOMO, early specialization, traveling at the expense of development, youth sports being used as a status symbol, identity being too wrapped up in sports, etc.  - Parker does not hold back in dropping some truth bombs that need to be heard.  - A Tom Hanks hot take for the ages!

Episode 14: Katherine Southerland (Founder of a free, all-girls Galaxy Basketball League) - Southerland started a COMPLETELY FREE basketball organization for K-5 girls only in Louisville Kentucky (Galaxy Basketball Incorporated).   - Lack of opportunities for young girls who want to play basketball.  - Co-ed teams exist, but sometimes only 2 girls play at a time.  - Basketball SHOULD be one of the MOST accessible sports, but AAU is making it so expensive.  - Are some AAU programs just making money off of families, playing in too many games/tournaments/showcases at the expense of development? - People just wanting to be able to say “My kid plays AAU,” yet they can’t hit a right-handed layup.  - Investing money in youth sports is really investing in your community’s future. - The program was selected as 1 of 50 non-profits all over the United States (1 of 5 girls basketball related programs) to receive the 2024 Sports 4 Life grant. The Women’s Sports Foundation 4 Life program, co-founded by WSF and ESPN in 2014 and supported by the likes of WNBA star Sue Bird, utilizes the power of sport to build a solid foundation for Black, African-American, Hispanic and Native American girls to thrive on and off the field of play. - This grant allows the 2024 season for Galaxy basketball to be FULLY FUNDED

Episode 13 Guest: Mallory Shake (Former Division 1 Swimmer) - Mallory tells the story of what it’s like to be identified at a very young age as being exceptional at a sport (by breaking an Olympic swimmer’s previously held record at 8 years old) - The tug of war playing 2 sports: 1 that you play because you’re really good at it and 1 that you play because you love it.  - Should you choose the sport you’re good at or the sport you love? How long can you do both? - The pressure of prioritizing the sport you’re told you are best at.  - Maybe playing a 2nd sport that you are less serious about is a good breath of fresh air. - The major differences between individual sports vs. team sports  - Swimmers are just a different breed… - “I never had a multi-sport athlete who wasn’t one of the best players on my team.” - Tunnel vision: Why has playing a sport in college become the end all be all of youth sports? Should it really be the light at the end of the tunnel? - Learning to identify who you are outside of sports when that’s all you’ve done your whole life.  - The REALITY of playing a Division 1 sport: It’s not always pretty.  - The dream isn’t always the dream…The Sophomore slump. Anxiety, lack of sleep, depression, injuries, unbalanced life, long road trips, eating disorders, etc.  - The struggles, while hard in the moment, help mold you into the person you become as an adult.  - MORE HOT TAKES (Watch out Disney Adults and Teachers)

Episode 12 Guest: Cy Tucker (7-time state champion, Hall of Fame coach, my Dad) - The blessing of being able to sit down and have a conversation recorded with my Dad is not lost on me… (He also just so happens to be a 7 time state champion and Hall of Fame girls soccer coach). - Humble beginnings. Learning the game just by playing, without lots of structure and outside influence. - The unique bond soccer helped create between a father and daughter. - Coaching without an ego. Doing whatever it takes to win, including an offside trap story for the ages.  - The secret sauce behind winning 7 state titles: CULTURE, CULTURE and more CULTURE - Reflecting on some funny memories, touching moments and unforgettable experiences as a coach for over 40 years - The gift of being able to see potential and value in players/people where others don’t.  - Be a STAR IN YOUR ROLE. - HOT TAKE: The worst question in all of youth sports: “What can I do to get more playing time?” We explain why this common, simple question can be so frustrating and what the better question might be for a player to ask a coach. 

Episode 11 Guest: Jennifer Smith (Retired youth soccer parent) - Now that her kids are older, Jennifer Smith reflects back on her time as a youth sports soccer parent. Hindsight is 20/20, but she would have done a lot of things differently... - Non-sports parents on the outside looking in saying... "Are you crazy?" (Like when you reschedule a flight to Italy with your family that has been planned for years for a soccer tournament...For an extra $2,000) - Whatever it takes not to miss out. Swipe the credit card. Figure it out later.  - Because of all of the money people are spending on youth sports, the result matter THAT much more.  - The pressure of pay to play on coaches when it comes to playing time decisions - Extra training: The "secret starter training"  - The perpetual fear of falling behind (even if it means overuse injuries) - Walking a tight rope financially every month, taking on a 2nd job, hoping you make ends meet - Relief that the 1st college bill is actually CHEAPER than the Youth sports bill - If you don't play club sports, it's hard to even make a high school team these days - And a comparison for the ages: Youth sports to Multi-Level Marketing Pyramid Schemes - AND MORE HOT TAKES!    

Episode 10 Guest: Sara Martin (Former volleyball coach) - Hear stories from a coach who fell in and out of love with coaching... - We are all TOO ACCESSIBLE these days. Cell phones make it instant gratification/communication. Remember phone trees? - The golden years of coaching: Before it gets too serious and it's still about the love of the game.  - Club sports aren't for the best players anymore, they are for everyone.  - Doing what's "best for the team" is harder and harder to get players AND parents to buy into.  - Everyone is on board for what's best for the team until it impacts THEM.  - "Parent Goggles"  - The unique challenges that women coaches face: Family, sacrifices, stereotypes, being treated differently than their male counterparts, etc.  - "For male coaches winning is the expectation. For female coaches, winning is not enough." - 98% of parents are supportive. The 2% can drive coaches away from the profession. 

Episode 9 Guest: Mike Webster (Basketball Official/Referee) - Everyone loves their youth sports, but without refs... There IS no youth sports. - Referee abuse is a real issue and it's causing MAJOR ripple effects with shortages nationwide, across all sports.  - Losing more #s in officiating than we are gaining. Not a sustainable model.  - Quality officiating is declining because there's no incentive to improve. Even bad officials HAVE to get games because of low #s.   - As coaches, players, fans... you want to show up to a game and trust that you are getting quality officials.   - If you're yelling at officials, you aren't coaching your team.  - If something doesn't change with ref shortages, it won't be a pretty picture. And rural areas will be impacted the most disproportionately.  - Will the shortage actually impact/change behavior toward refs? - What causes rational people to act so crazy toward refs? - The average person doesn't know nearly as much about a "call" as they think they do...

Episode 8: Linda Flanagan (Author/Researcher, Take Back the Game) - Author of Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania are Ruining Kids' Sports-- And Why it Matters - Sports used to have a different, less central role in family life - Obesity problems in America... sports are linked to better outcomes in life. So why are we making them more expensive and LESS accessible? - Pay to play is shutting out potentially great players.  - 3 major cultural shifts that have caused drastic changes in youth sports: Decline in public funds/private enterprises capitalizing, OBSESSION with our kids, colleges tying athletic performance to admissions.  - It's dangerous when sports become your identity, or even worse... when your child's sport becomes your identity as a parent.  - "Empty Nest Coaches"... Yes, this is a real thing - Are adults taking care of themselves and their own physical and mental well-being?

Episode 7: Trip Rogers (Centre College Women's Soccer Associate Head Coach) - Hear the truth about recruiting Myths and Misconceptions from a college coach - There is NO RETURN on investment when it comes to club/travel sports. I repeat, there is no such thing as a return on investment.  - No one is earning a scholarship at 10, 11, 12 years old... College coaches do not care where you're traveling at that age. Save your $$$ - College coaches salivate over multi-sport athletes - Do colleges bear some responsibility for the youth sports machine if they are only recruiting at the big/expensive showcase events where only certain clubs have access? - Did you know... Most people go to college regionally? Only 2% go further than 5-6 hours away. - Not all scholarships are created equal. Most people are NOT getting full rides.  - Recruiting RED FLAGS: Poor body language, social media habits and parental dialogue.  - ID Camp advice - Surviving college athletics sets you up for success in life/career - HOT TAKES are back!