Youth sports should be about more than pressure, performance, and early specialization. In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, we sit down with Jonny Martin, cofounder of Football Fun Factory, to explore how parents can help their kids fall in love with sports first, before worrying about competition or skill development.

Drawing from years of coaching experience and working with thousands of kids across the UK, Jonny shares practical, emotionally grounded advice for parents who want to raise happy, confident, and resilient young athletes without pushing them too far, too soon.

Whether your child plays recreational or elite-level sports, this conversation will help you shift your mindset, build stronger connections, and create an environment where your kid actually wants to keep playing.

In this episode:

• Why fun should come before fundamentals
• How early pressure kills long-term love for the game
• The difference between encouragement and performance pressure
• How to respond after mistakes or losses
• What “being their biggest fan” looks like in real life

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Find out more about The Football Fun Factory:

https://thefootballfunfactory.co.uk/

New episodes every Wednesday.

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