The Sports Parenting Podcast

When things aren't going well, it's easy to get caught up in the noise—the losses, the frustration, what other people are doing, and everything that seems to be going wrong.

Using my daughter's field hockey team as an example, we talk about the value of coming back to the basics, focusing on what we can control, and doing the simple things well. Sometimes the best way forward is to tune out the noise and get back to work.

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For online programs, books and more, visit: https://www.charliespaniard.com.

No matter what you do, people are gonna talk. And in youth sports, it can be incredibly difficult not to take that chatter personally.

In this episode, we talk about learning to tune out the noise, living by your values, surrounding yourself with a small group of people you trust, and becoming comfortable with the fact that not everyone is going to agree with you. You can't control what people say. You can control how much weight you give it.

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For booking and program information, please visit: https://www.charliespaniard.com.

This weekend gave me two different reminders about what it takes for our kids to become great.

At my son's wrestling tournament, I was reminded that at some point, he has to want it. We can guide, encourage and provide opportunities, but we can't want it for them.

Watching my daughter play field hockey reinforced something else: greatness is/can be the accumulation of technical and mechanical skills. So much of improvement comes down to doing the work—learning the skills, practicing them and getting a little better over time.

In this episode, we talk about those two sides of development - the desire has to come from them, but when it does, there's a lot they can do about it.

"They're only ten." Sometimes, that's exactly what we need to hear. Youth sports can get too serious, too intense and too focused on what comes next.

But sometimes, a ten-year-old really is ready for more.

In this episode, we talk about recognizing the difference - letting kids be kids while also recognizing when a young athlete has the drive, maturity and desire to pursue something at a higher level. The key is making sure that desire is coming from them, not us.

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For online programs, books and more, visit: https://www.charliespaniard.com.

The expensive equipment, elite teams and latest gear can help, but none of them will make your kid great.

In this episode, we talk about what actually matters: skill development, discipline, persistence, learning from failure, surrounding yourself with the right influences and doing the best you can with what you have.

There's more than one path to greatness, and these ideas are just one way.

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For online programs, books and more, visit: https://www.charliespaniard.com.

One of the best things we can do for our kids is create an environment that makes success easier.

In this episode, we talk about setting our kids up with the right routines, environments and opportunities so that good choices become easier to make. We can't do the work for them, but we can help create the conditions that allow them to succeed.

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For online programs, books and more, visit: https://www.charliespaniard.com.

Travel has a way of pushing us outside our comfort zones, and that's exactly why it's so valuable for our kids.

In this episode, we talk about how travel naturally builds resilience, adaptability, confidence and problem-solving skills. By putting our kids in safe situations where they're challenged to figure things out, we're helping prepare them for success in sports and in life.

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For online programs, books and more, visit: https://www.charliespaniard.com.

As parents, we do everything we can to protect our kids from failure. But what if failure isn't something to fear? What if it's actually one of the greatest gifts sports can give them?

In this episode, I share one of the lowest moments of my athletic career—being knocked out cold on national television—and how what felt like the worst thing that could happen ultimately became one of the most freeing experiences of my life. We talk about why failure loses its power once you've lived through it, and how helping our kids face setbacks may be one of the greatest things we can do for them.

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For online programs, books and more, visit: https://www.charliespaniard.com.

Should you insist they go? Should you let them skip? The answer isn't always simple.

In this episode, we talk about helping our kids connect their daily choices to the goals they've set for themselves, and why sometimes the hardest part of parenting is saying less, not more.

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For online programs, books and more, visit: https://www.charliespaniard.com.

"They know everything they need to know." - My wife, Amanda

Those six words, said at a recent baseball game, perfectly capture my philosophy on coaching from the corner.

In this episode, we talk about when instruction helps, when it becomes noise, and why the best coaching often happens long before competition begins. If we've prepared our kids well in practice and life, they shouldn't need constant direction once the game starts.

We also explore whether we're communicating for our athlete's benefit...or simply to calm our own nerves.

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For online programs, books and more, visit: https://www.charliespaniard.com.