Better Sports Parents

Ryan Dempster says youth sports have become a business built on parents’ hopes. He wants to know why it often costs more to watch a youth travel game than a big league one. The 16-year MLB veteran and 2013 World Series champion explains what parents should do instead.Ryan grew up in Gibsons, BC and pitched in the majors for the Marlins, Reds, Cubs, Rangers and Red Sox. A Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer, he’s also worked as an MLB Network commentator, created his own shows that blend baseball and comedy, and is a proud father of five children. Host Scott Rintoul talks with Ryan about the ferry-and-bus routine he took to play baseball as a teenager, his multi-sport childhood, and the teachers and coaches who believed in him. Ryan explains why specializing at 16 works better than doing so at 8, why he calls pressured parents “over the line” parents instead of crazy ones, and why kids absorb the noise from the stands. Ryan shares what he learned about failure from mentor Harvey Dorfman, why parents shouldn’t bring up the game in the car, and why he thinks the number one issue is parents being misled by coaches who say kids need more classes, gear and tournaments. He also describes the free sandlot league he wants to start and the most unique rule he plans to implement.Chapters0:00 Opening1:35 Introducing Ryan Dempster3:28 Beachcombers or the big leagues?4:24 Baseball life in Gibsons6:35 A multi-sport childhood8:22 Parents who let him be a kid10:06 Specializing at 16, not 811:19 What basketball taught him about teams15:12 The ferry-and-bus routine17:58 The stairs he ran at 9 p.m.19:28 The gift of an empty folder21:47 Tough love from his PE teacher24:30 Coaches who taught fundamentals28:01 Youth baseball today30:11 Making money off children31:02 The plumber analogy33:31 $7,500 to play your own club teams35:27 Why money drives it37:46 Sandlot baseball39:10 Kids absorb the pressure41:53 “Make it make sense”42:46 “Over the line” parents45:41 Building community at home47:26 Questioning the tournament50:25 What a good youth coach looks like54:21 Dealing with failure56:06 “How many pitches did you execute?”57:22 Baseball is built on failure1:00:26 Running from discomfort1:02:39 Don’t bring up the game in the car1:03:10 Greatness is failing 70% of the time1:05:43 The “good job” bullpen1:08:14 The number one issue 1:09:49 Billions spent, same number of pros1:12:31 A free sandlot league 1:14:08 The bank teller story Resources⁠Ryan Dempster⁠⁠Better Sports Parents

Carmen Bott says we’re breaking kids down at ages 10, 11 and 12 when we should be building them up. Known as the “ACL Whisperer,” the strength and conditioning specialist explains why major knee injuries are hitting kids younger and what sports parents can do about it.In addition to her strength & conditioning expertise, Carmen is a practicing kinesiologist who has worked at every level of sport, from Learn-to-Train to professional. She’s been coaching since 1998, lectures full time at Simon Fraser University, and is a wife and mother of a child in youth sports.Scott Rintoul talks with Carmen about why a pediatric ACL tear can mean 18 months of rehab, why soccer, basketball and lacrosse are seeing more ACL injuries than other sports, and why kids need strength, sprinting, wrestling and play instead of endless skills training. She makes the case for daily PE in elementary school and explains “art scars,” the lasting marks an adult’s words can leave on a child. They also cover equal playing time, red flags in coaches and parents, and why she says the number one issue in youth sports is parents pushing harder than the child.Chapters0:00 Opening1:36 Introducing Carmen Bott3:41 Why she’s speaking up5:17 More ACL injuries at younger ages922 Why a pediatric ACL takes 18 months12:04 Identity, injury and life beyond sport14:47 Why soccer, basketball and lacrosse lead16:54 Building kids up vs. breaking them down19:33 Free play and the bikes with no gears21:45 What youth strength training looks like24:41 Skills coaches vs. building the foundation29:15 Parents who tell vs. parents who ask32:05 Why skill-only development falls short35:16 Skills come fast, strength takes years36:51 Run fast, jump far, make it fun37:36 Bring PE back to schools42:27 Why the best coaches belong with 9-13 year olds44:50 “You suck” without saying it47:10 The power of “yet”48:14 Art scars49:44 Equal playing time and the rugby model52:53 The parent’s real job54:11 “What did you learn today?”55:00 “Please stop speaking for your children”56:32 Want-to vs. have-to58:17 Athletes who drive their own bus59:12 Red flags in youth coaches1:01:22 Threats, punishments and yelling1:02:54 The number one issue in youth sports1:03:51 Sport is unfair, but you have choices1:05:17 Carmen’s free parent webinarResources⁠Carmen Bott⁠⁠Better Sports Parents⁠

Most parents know multiple sports are good for kids, but rising costs, time commitments and travel make it hard to offer them. In Antigonish, Nova Scotia, one community built a very affordable program that introduces young kids to a wide range of sports. Steph Spencer joins What’s Working to explain how Antigonish Multisport works and why it’s still thriving.Steph talks about what the program offers five- and six-year-olds, how local sport groups and community stakeholders came together instead of working in silos, and how a program that began in 2015 has maintained itself and grown since. They cover how many families it serves, what it costs and who helps fund it, whether schools could adopt something similar, and advice for communities that want to start their own. For more information on Antigonish Multisport, email [email protected]. Know of something working well in youth sports? Tell us in the comments or email [email protected]. Chapters0:00 Opening1:26 What is Antigonish Multisport?2:51 The sports five- and six-year-olds try5:18 Getting the whole community on board8:34 How the program started in 201511:41 Replication and capacity12:01 How many kids take part 14:30 What families pay15:35 Funding and outside support18:03 Expanding beyond ages five and six19:47 Retention and moving into other sports22:14 Bringing multisport into schools25:16 How to start your own program27:51 Closing Resources Antigonish Multisport

Dr. Travis Dorsch says parents should ask one question first: what are we judging success on? The former Purdue punter, Ray Guy Award winner and NFL draft pick is now a leading youth sport researcher, and he explains what the data says about parents, money, specialization and what kids actually need.Travis is a professor and founding director of the Families in Sport Lab at Utah State University, with more than 80 articles, book chapters and technical reports. He has conducted research for the NCAA and Olympic organizations. He’s also a husband and a father of two young ski racers who play other sports year-round, so he lives what he studies.In this episode, host Scott Rintoul talks with Travis about when to hand kids the keys, why talent isn’t the same as love, the real odds of playing college or pro sports, and why kids feel the pressure when families spend more money. He shares findings from his study of mic'd-up sideline parents, explains why emotional regulation is a parent’s first job, and discusses where hard coaching crosses into abuse. He also covers the dramatic rise in cost for youth sports, what Norway gets right, and the first thing he’d fix if he had the opportunity.Chapters0:00 Opening1:35 Introducing Dr. Travis Dorsch3:16 Book smarts vs. street smarts5:17 Success beyond the scoreboard7:01 When to hand kids the keys9:02 Good at it vs. loves it10:46 Why we double down on talent12:03 Why specialization is rewarded14:41 The “chum in the water” effect16:05 The real odds of going pro17:26 His kids’ return on investment19:22 Treat the money as lost forever21:01 Why kids feel the cost23:01 Commitment without guilt24:54 Does parent education work?26:47 Sideline mistakes parents miss29:48 Model what you value30:46 His multi-sport childhood33:20 Giving up baseball for football34:16 Keeping up with the Joneses37:18 Life after football38:57 Nine Ironmans and lifelong movement41:06 The sports parent identity43:00 Most parents get it right45:06 The mic'd-up sidelines study47:37 The emotional light switch49:56 Emotional abuse in sport52:26 Where hard coaching crosses the line54:09 The athlete owns the plan54:51 How parenthood changed his coaching56:19 Child-first vs. parent-first clubs58:48 The rising cost of youth sports1:00:38 Access and affordability1:02:45 What Norway gets right1:05:16 His magic wand fix1:06:45 Too much focus on competitive pathway1:08:35 Why he founded the Families in Sport LabResourcesTravis' Tedx TalkBetter Sports Parents

Steve Kerr says every kid needs free play, multiple sports and coaches who build joy into the work. The five-time NBA champion as a player, four-time champion as Warriors head coach and 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning coach of Team USA shares what he’d tell every sports parent.Steve played for the Bulls and Spurs, worked as a broadcaster and NBA general manager, but calls himself a son, brother, husband, father and grandfather first. In this episode, Steve talks to host Scott Rintoul about the wear and tear of early specialization, why late specializers catch up fast, and what Steph Curry and Steve Nash show about multi-sport athletes.Steve also shares sports parenting stories like why his parents never said a word during his games, why he and his wife told their kids to fight their own battles, and how one club volleyball coach handled playing-time talks. He also covers building team culture with joy, lessons from Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich and Pete Carroll, making the 12th player feel valued, coaching alongside his son Nick, why the cost of youth sports leaves kids behind, and his one piece of advice for parents.It's a must listen episode with one of the most respected people in all of sport.Chapters0:00 Opening1:34 Introducing Steve Kerr 3:26 Growing up playing everything4:18 Why multi-sport athletes thrive6:28 Broadway singers and soft tissue injuries7:28 Why parents choose early specialization8:35 Steve as a sports parent9:44 Hand-eye coordination and scouting13:22 Lessons from Cairo14:50 Choosing basketball over baseball17:02 The lost art of free play19:03 Parents who never said a word21:59 The coach who banned playing-time talk23:29 Coaching his son’s team24:10 Coachable and approachable25:37 Coaches who shaped him27:04 Building culture with joy31:21 Music, celebration and competition32:41 Phil Jackson vs. Gregg Popovich35:13 Be yourself as a coach36:23 Valuing the last player on the bench39:28 How Phil Jackson made players feel valued41:35 What Steph Curry taught him43:11 Steph’s joy44:23 Watching Macklin Celebrini grow up47:15 Coaching with his son Nick51:14 Why he waited until 49 to coach53:46 Lifelong learning and books57:12 What he wants for his grandkids59:15 The biggest challenge: burnout1:00:06 When sports become a rich man’s game1:01:18 His one thought for parents1:02:19 Recess in Hawaii1:03:01 Message for CanadaResourcesSteve Kerr (player) Better Sports Parents