Youth sports development often focuses on skills, reps, and results. But there’s a missing piece that determines whether kids actually grow, last, and enjoy the journey.

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Dr. Jonathan Jenkins, Team Clinical and Performance Psychologist for the New England Patriots and Behavioral Sport Psychologist for the Boston Red Sox, to talk about the mental side of youth sports that too often gets overlooked.

They dig into what kids really need to thrive, motivation versus willpower, why independence at practice matters, how fundamentals lead to confidence and flow, why resilience and finishing strong matter more than early success, and how parents can support their kids without making sports feel heavier than they need to be.

They also break down the four pillars from Dr. Jenkins’ new book Mentality Wins:

• Focus. Learning to direct attention and filter distractions
• Flow. Playing freely without overthinking
• Finish. Responding to mistakes and setbacks with resilience
• Flourish. Keeping identity bigger than sport

This conversation is for parents who care about development, not just performance. About raising confident, resilient kids, not just better athletes. And about making sure youth sports actually serve the kid, not the other way around.

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This conversation is an extended version of my interview with Mike Schultz for Parents’ 100-Year Digital Issue, where he’s being spotlighted as one of today’s most inspiring parents.

What actually lasts when the season ends? What happens once you step off the podium and go back to real life?

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Paralympic gold medalist, inventor, and dad Mike Schultz to talk about what it really looks like to chase something big while raising a 12-year-old athlete.

Mike has competed at the highest level in the world. He’s also spent 170 days on the road in a single year trying to balance training for the Paralympic Winter Games with being present for his daughter’s gymnastics meets and middle school milestones. He knows the pull of ambition and the guilt that can come with it.

We talk about:

• What his life-changing injury taught him about identity beyond performance
• Why progression, not winning, is what truly motivates long-term success
• The difference between supporting your kid and pushing them
• How to help kids discover their own internal drive
• What he hopes his daughter learns from watching him compete

Mike shares honestly about the tension of being “just dad” at home while also being a world-class athlete. He explains why pushing only works for so long, why losing teaches more than winning, and why the point of youth sports has to go deeper than medals.

If your kid’s sport ended tomorrow, what would you hope remained?

This conversation is about making sure the answer to that question is bigger than the scoreboard.

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In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan sits down with Jason D’Rocha from Sportball to talk about what youth sports are actually for and how early experiences shape kids long after the final whistle.

Jason shares why sport can be one of the safest places for kids to do hard things, fail, recover, and grow. They unpack why fun and confidence have to come before competition, what parents should really be looking for in a coach, and how sports function as a powerful social and emotional classroom, not just a physical one.

They also dig into one of the most misunderstood topics in youth sports: starting kids young. Jason explains Sportball’s approach to early childhood sports, why development matters more than age, and how physical literacy, emotional safety, and parent-child connection lay the foundation for a healthy relationship with sports later in life.

This conversation is especially for parents who feel stuck in systems that reward outcomes over process. Jason offers a grounded, realistic way to hold your values even when the league, other parents, or the culture around you pushes in a different direction.

If you care more about raising a confident, resilient human than collecting wins at young ages, this episode is for you.

Topics covered:

• Why youth sports are a training ground for life
• What matters more than winning at young ages
• What parents should actually look for in a coach
• Why confidence and competence come before competition
• How sports teach social and emotional skills
• Navigating youth sports systems that prioritize results
• Encouragement for parents who are still figuring this out

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Youth sports head injuries explained for parents who want to stay informed without being afraid.

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan sits down with Dr. Christopher Nowinski, co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation and one of the leading voices on concussions and CTE, for a calm, honest, and practical conversation about brain health in youth sports.

Together, they unpack what we’ve learned about head injuries since we were kids and how that information should shape the way we guide our own children through sports today. This is not a conversation meant to scare parents away from sports. It’s about helping parents understand risk, recognize warning signs, and make age-appropriate decisions with clarity and confidence.

You’ll hear:

• How to think about concussions without panicking
• Why kids often can’t recognize or report their own symptoms
• The difference between concussions and cumulative head impacts
• What parents should actually watch for after a hit or fall
• How sports like football, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and baseball have changed and why
• Why age-appropriate versions of sports matter for developing brains

This episode is for parents who care deeply about their kids, believe sports can be a powerful good, and want to lead with better information than the generation before us had.

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College sports recruiting can feel overwhelming, expensive, and confusing - especially when everyone online seems to have a different answer.

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan Carone sits down with three Division I head coaches from softball (Helen Peña, Ball State), women’s volleyball (Dan Meske, University of Louisville), and men’s soccer (Bobby Muuss, Wake Forest) for an honest roundtable conversation about what recruiting actually looks like from the college side.

They talk about the real difference between a good high school player and a college athlete, how much work Division I sports truly require, and why fundamentals and consistency matter more than being flashy. They also address common pressure points parents feel, including club sports costs, high school versus club ball, early recruiting timelines, camps and showcases, and the rise of youth recruiting profiles on social media.

Most importantly, this episode reframes recruiting away from fear and hype and toward clarity, perspective, and healthy expectations so parents can support their kids without losing sight of what really matters.

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Most parents want the same thing: to support their kids well and help them grow through sports.

But somewhere along the way, support can quietly turn into pressure, often without us realizing it.

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Stacey Nuveman-Deniz, a Division I head coach, Olympian, and sports parent, to talk honestly about where that line actually is and how easy it is to cross it. They dig into ego, expectations, competitiveness, and why so many kids end up burned out or disconnected from the game they once loved.

Coach Nuvey shares real stories from recruiting, coaching, and parenting, including what she sees in athletes who thrive long-term and what shows up again and again in kids who flame out. This conversation isn’t about blaming parents. It’s about helping them recognize the difference between leading with care and unintentionally adding weight their kids were never meant to carry.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re helping or hovering, encouraging or pushing, this episode will give you language, perspective, and clarity to support your kid in a healthier way.

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Youth sports were never meant to feel like an all in decision with no off ramp. But for a lot of families, that is exactly where things end up. The pressure ramps up, the schedules get overwhelmed, and the choices for where to play start to disappear.

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Jennifer Paulett, Director of Corporate Citizenship at ESPN, to talk about the Take Back Sports campaign and what they are learning about why kids are walking away from sports. They discuss the importance of rec leagues, the dangers of early specialization, the role parents play in shaping the culture, and why choice matters more than most families realize. Jennifer also shares what she is seeing through ESPN and Positive Coaching Alliance as they work with leagues, organizations, and professional athletes to rebuild a healthier youth sports system.

This conversation is a reminder that youth sports should give every kid a place to play, not just the competitive ones. Our goal is not to raise professional athletes. It is to help kids keep playing, growing, and enjoying sports for as long as they can so we can continue teaching them all the lessons sports can teach.

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How youth sports can help your kid grow in 2026

As we close out the year, Eric Williams and I sat down to talk through nine lessons we hope every kid learns through youth sports in 2026. This one is fun, honest, and packed with the kinds of conversations we all want our kids to experience as they grow up through sports.

We walk through each lesson on a five minute clock. Some we nail. Others… we definitely race the buzzer. But every one of them points back to the bigger purpose behind these games our kids play.

In this episode we talk about:

• Separating confidence from performance

• Handling hard things without giving up

• Seeing mistakes as feedback

• Why effort creates opportunity

• Navigating big emotions in healthy ways

• The everyday value of being coachable

• How leadership starts with serving

• Why accountability builds trust

• Finding joy in the process, not just the outcome

If you ever wonder what sports are really teaching your kid, this is the episode to start with.

Here’s to a meaningful and healthy 2026 for you and your kids.

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by 11:59pm 01/04/26

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In the Season 2 finale, Jonathan sits down with Brea Schmidt — creator of The Top Bleacher — for an honest conversation about what kids really need to hear from their parents in youth sports. Together they walk through seven simple but powerful phrases that build confidence, resilience, and connection between parents and their athletes. From “You are more than your sport” to “I love watching you play,” this episode is a reminder that the words we use from the sidelines can shape who our kids become long after the games are over.

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How does ADHD actually show up in kids — and what does it mean for youth athletes?

In this episode, Dr. Joey Case, a sports psychologist at Mississippi State, joins Healthy Sports Parents to unpack how ADHD impacts focus, effort, and motivation in sports. He explains what parents and coaches often mistake for laziness or attitude, why ADHD isn’t a character flaw, and how to help kids thrive in practice and competition.

You’ll also learn how parents can work with coaches, when to consider testing, and why some ADHD traits can actually become strengths on the field.

If you’ve ever wondered how to better support your child with ADHD in sports or school, this conversation is a must-listen.

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