In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Morgan Schill, Founder of the Positive Play Project, to talk about creating better youth sports experiences for kids, parents, and volunteer coaches. Morgan shares insights from her background as a former college athlete, coach, and sports mom, including how adults can build more positive team environments, balance hard coaching with fun, and help young athletes love sports beyond the scoreboard.

Questions we cover in this episode:

1. When you look at youth sports today, what’s something adults have normalized that you think is actually hurting kids?
2. A lot of parents and coaches say they want kids to love sports long term, so why do you think so many athletes eventually stop playing?
3. Can there be a balance between coaching hard and having fun?
4. What’s something you’ve seen a coach or parent do that completely changed the emotional tone of a team, either positively or negatively?
5. If a volunteer coach wants to create a better environment but is figuring it out as they go, where should they start?

Bonus Question:
What’s the number one thing we can all do to help create a more positive environment for kids?