Youth sports are more than just games—they foster personal growth and shape future success. They teach values like teamwork and resilience that impact both personal and professional development. For parents, it’s a balancing act between supporting their child and trusting the coach’s role in building character. These shared experiences strengthen family bonds, while also preparing young athletes to navigate challenges both on and off the field.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Jerry Lynch and John O'Sullivan, the authors of The Champion Sports Parent. 

Our Guests

John O'Sullivan is a TEDx speaker and founder of the Changing the Game Project, which he launched in 2012. He's the author of two bestselling books, Changing the Game and Every Moment Matters, and hosts the popular Way of Champions podcast.

A former collegiate and professional soccer player with over 20 years of coaching experience, John has worked with top organizations like the US Olympic Committee and USA Soccer. He serves on advisory boards for the Positive Coaching Alliance and the National Association for Physical Literacy.

Dr. Jerry Lynch is a former Nike-sponsored athlete and national champion who transformed his experience into a career coaching elite athletes. He has worked with NBA teams, Major League Soccer, and top universities like Duke and Stanford.

Dr. Lynch, author of 15 books, founded the Way of Champions, a performance consulting group. Recognized as one of the top in his field, he focuses on leadership, culture building, and personal growth in sports and life.

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

• Key lessons from the book "The Champion Sports Parent"
• The importance of allowing children to experience failure
• The power of self-awareness and reflection in parenting
• How to balance discipline and enjoyment
• How to navigate pressure and expectations in youth sports
• The crucial role of trust and communication with coaches
• How sports can drive personal growth and  family bonding

Resources & Links

John O'Sullivan and Jerry Lynch

• Website: https://changingthegameproject.com/ 

• Website:  www.wayofchampions.com 

• Get the Book: The Champion Sports Parent 

• Way of Champions Podcast on Apple Podcast

• Jerry’s LinkedIn 

• John’s LinkedIn 

 

Ed Molitor

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themolitorgroup/

• Website: https://www.themolitorgroup.com/