In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with Dr. Hillary Cauthen — licensed clinical sport psychologist, author, and President-Elect of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology — we dive deeper into the culture of youth sports, the pressures athletes face, and the role coaches and parents play in creating safe, healthy environments. From the hidden costs of monetized youth sports, to the importance of leadership, to the fine line between resilience and burnout, Dr. Cauthen shares hard truths and practical strategies for building a culture of care in athletics. Whether you’re a coach, parent, or athlete, this episode will leave you rethinking how we measure success on and off the field.

🔑 Key Talking Points

How parents can evaluate clubs and coaches for athlete safety and development.

The importance of SafeSport training, background checks, and coach education.

Why 70% of athletes quit sports by 13 — and how to fight the dropout crisis.

Toxic cultures, sideline fights, and referee shortages: the dark side of youth sports.

The impact of monetization and NIL trickling down to youth levels.

Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, Kevin Love, and Naomi Osaka — lessons from elite athletes on mental health.

The dangers of “mental health days” becoming a crutch vs. being used for recovery.

How parents can celebrate small wins and build resilience at home.

The power of player-driven culture and empowering athletes as leaders.

Dr. Cauthen’s vision for trauma-informed practices in youth sports and her upcoming mastermind projects.

Quotes

“Culture builds development — and development builds everything else.”

“Seventy percent of kids drop out of sports by 13. That’s not just a stat, that’s a crisis.”

“We wouldn’t accept certain behaviors in a classroom — why do we allow them on the sidelines?”

“It’s never okay to not be okay. If you’re not okay, we need to intervene.”

“Simone Biles didn’t quit — she protected her health and came back stronger.”

“Every athlete wants to be seen as more than the number on their back.”

“The monetization of youth sports is changing culture, and not always for the better.”

“As parents, our job isn’t to remove failure. It’s to teach our kids how to respond to it.”

“Leadership isn’t about captains — it’s about every player taking ownership.”

“Sport should be about fighting with care and empathy, not just competition.”

Connect with Dr. Hilary Cauthen

🌐 Website: www.txopps.com

🎥 YouTube: Watch Here

🎙️ Podcast: Highs & Lows of X’s & O’s

📚 Book: Hello Trauma, Our Invisible Teammate

📸 Instagram: @drcmindset | @toppstalks

✖️ X: @TOPPSTIP

👍 Facebook: @TXOPPS

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#YouthSports #MentalHealthInSports #CultureOfCare #SportsPsychology #CoachingMatters #PlayerDevelopment #ParentingInSports #SimoneBiles #MichaelPhelps #AthleteWellbeing #ChatByThePitch #DrHillaryCauthen

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Thanks to Soccer Coach Weekly for supporting the podcast.

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