Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share The "American Way"
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
The "American Way"
Episode 48: Dionne Koller (Law Professor and Author)
🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Dionne Koller—law professor, author of More Than Play, and Director of the Center for Sports & Law. We talk about how America built its youth sports system—and whether it’s actually working for kids or just everyone else.
🔹 How Did We Get Here?
Millions of kids play youth sports, but legal scholarship on it? Almost nonexistent. Dionne explains how youth sports became a cornerstone of American childhood—with surprisingly little oversight.
🔹 Sports = Good Childhood™
Since the 1980s, sports have been tied to moral development, health, and structure. It’s almost a parenting requirement now—regardless of whether it actually works.
🔹 Access Wasn’t Always a Given
Title IX opened doors for girls. Civil Rights policies did the same for boys of color. Before that? It was an upper-middle-class white boys’ club.
🔹 The Dropout Dilemma
Kids are encouraged to play… until they quit in droves by adolescence. Why? Barriers like cost, burnout, and a system that forgets late bloomers.
🔹 Are We Even Producing Elites?
Despite all the pressure, Dionne argues our system isn’t great at producing elite athletes—it weeds out too many kids too soon.
🔹 The U.S. Model: Uniquely American
Other countries invest public money in youth sports. We rely on schools and the private sector. That was a deliberate Cold War-era choice.
🔹 Market Failure in the Bleachers?
Is your kid a beloved team member—or just a slot on a roster? Dionne questions whether today’s youth sports system is built to serve kids or just keep the machine running.
🔹 Youth Sports as Economic Stimulus
Local governments are betting big on mega-complexes, sports tourism, and “Pathways to Pro”—but who’s really benefiting?
🔹 The Shiny Stadium Mirage
States and cities are spending millions on facilities… while local kids still face access issues. Why not just invest in them?
🔹 The “Parents Know Best” Problem
In the U.S., we let parents and the private sector steer the ship. Dionne asks: is that always in kids’ best interests?
🔹 Can Government Help—Without Overreach?
There are ways to improve youth sports with smart regulation—without becoming a dystopian training camp. Minimum standards, safety guidelines, access. It’s possible.
🔹 🔥 And of course... MORE HOT TAKES
View all episodes
By Ally Tucker
5
6565 ratings
Episode 48: Dionne Koller (Law Professor and Author)
🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Dionne Koller—law professor, author of More Than Play, and Director of the Center for Sports & Law. We talk about how America built its youth sports system—and whether it’s actually working for kids or just everyone else.
🔹 How Did We Get Here?
Millions of kids play youth sports, but legal scholarship on it? Almost nonexistent. Dionne explains how youth sports became a cornerstone of American childhood—with surprisingly little oversight.
🔹 Sports = Good Childhood™
Since the 1980s, sports have been tied to moral development, health, and structure. It’s almost a parenting requirement now—regardless of whether it actually works.
🔹 Access Wasn’t Always a Given
Title IX opened doors for girls. Civil Rights policies did the same for boys of color. Before that? It was an upper-middle-class white boys’ club.
🔹 The Dropout Dilemma
Kids are encouraged to play… until they quit in droves by adolescence. Why? Barriers like cost, burnout, and a system that forgets late bloomers.
🔹 Are We Even Producing Elites?
Despite all the pressure, Dionne argues our system isn’t great at producing elite athletes—it weeds out too many kids too soon.
🔹 The U.S. Model: Uniquely American
Other countries invest public money in youth sports. We rely on schools and the private sector. That was a deliberate Cold War-era choice.
🔹 Market Failure in the Bleachers?
Is your kid a beloved team member—or just a slot on a roster? Dionne questions whether today’s youth sports system is built to serve kids or just keep the machine running.
🔹 Youth Sports as Economic Stimulus
Local governments are betting big on mega-complexes, sports tourism, and “Pathways to Pro”—but who’s really benefiting?
🔹 The Shiny Stadium Mirage
States and cities are spending millions on facilities… while local kids still face access issues. Why not just invest in them?
🔹 The “Parents Know Best” Problem
In the U.S., we let parents and the private sector steer the ship. Dionne asks: is that always in kids’ best interests?
🔹 Can Government Help—Without Overreach?
There are ways to improve youth sports with smart regulation—without becoming a dystopian training camp. Minimum standards, safety guidelines, access. It’s possible.
🔹 🔥 And of course... MORE HOT TAKES
More shows like Youth $ports
View all
Don't Mom Alone Podcast
2,330 Listeners
Way of Champions Podcast
275 Listeners
KSR
4,090 Listeners
Coaching Culture
156 Listeners
The Jon Gordon Podcast
1,219 Listeners
Elite Baseball Development Podcast
5 Listeners
The Rink Shrinks
359 Listeners
Breaking the Line: The ECNL Podcast
4 Listeners
Youth Inc. with Greg Olsen
266 Listeners
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
18,341 Listeners
The Pure Athlete Podcast
202 Listeners
Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce
10,270 Listeners
Andy Beshear Podcast
352 Listeners
Interrupted by Matt Jones
1,056 Listeners