UNCOACHED

In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Paul Dippolito of Clutch Sports, who turned his passion for improving youth sports into building a soccer league in his own community. We talk about what it means to build a youth sports program around a clear mission, why strong local and recreational leagues still matter, and what parents, coaches, and league leaders can do to create a better experience for kids. Paul also shares some practical perspective for anyone who has ever looked at their local sports program and thought, there has to be a better way.

Questions we cover in this episode:

1. You built a youth soccer league in your own community. What did you see in the existing youth sports system that made you think, "We can do this differently or better?"
2. You talk about building leagues from the mission down. What does that mean, and how does a clear mission influence decisions around coaches, competition, playing time, and parents?
3. With so much attention on club and travel sports, why are strong community-based and recreational leagues still so important to the future of youth sports?
4. If a local youth league feels like it has lost its way, what are two or three realistic changes that could make the experience noticeably better for kids and families?
5. For the parent or coach who's thought, "I could build a better youth sports program," what do they need to understand before actually trying to start one?

Bonus Question:
If you could redesign youth sports from scratch and weren't allowed to copy the system we have today, what would you build differently?

In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Jerimee Moses from True Lacrosse, one of the largest youth lacrosse organizations in the country, to talk about developing young athletes the right way. We explore what makes lacrosse such a unique sport, what real player development should look like beyond wins and team placement, and why patience matters when kids are still learning. Even if lacrosse isn't your sport, this conversation offers plenty of practical perspective for youth sports parents and volunteer coaches.

Questions we cover in this episode:

1. What makes lacrosse uniquely valuable for young athletes compared with some of the other sports they could be playing?
2. True Lacrosse focuses on developing the complete athlete. What does great development actually look like for younger players, and what should parents pay attention to beyond goals, wins, and team placement?
3. What's one trait you consistently see in kids who continue improving year after year that has nothing to do with talent?
4. What's one thing youth coaches spend too much time worrying about, and what's something they don't spend nearly enough time on?
5. What's something you see parents rushing young lacrosse players toward that you'd rather see them slow down and develop first?

Bonus Question:
If you were trying to convince a 9- or 10-year-old who's never picked up a lacrosse stick to give the sport a try, what would you tell them is the most fun thing about lacrosse?

In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Jen Risley, a sports mom and creator of the Sports Pregame app, to talk about a part of youth sports every travel family knows well: tournament weekends. We get into the lessons Jen has learned navigating youth sports, the common mistakes that make tournament travel more stressful, and some practical ways parents can save time, money, and a little sanity along the way.

Questions we cover in this episode:

1. Youth sports can be incredibly rewarding, but they can also be overwhelming. What are some of the biggest lessons you've learned as a parent navigating it all?
2. Was there a specific moment or experience that made you realize tournament families needed better information and resources?
3. Parents spend a lot of time planning around tournaments. What are some mistakes you see families make over and over that create unnecessary stress?
4. What are some of the best tournament hacks you've learned that can save sports families time, money, or sanity?
5. If you could sit down with every new sports parent before their first travel tournament, what's one piece of advice you'd give them that would save the most time, money, or frustration?

Bonus Question:
If you could magically fix one thing about the youth sports tournament experience tomorrow, what would it be and why?

In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Tim Maycock, longtime coach, educator, and founder of SCOPRO Soccer, to talk about what great coaching really looks like. We explore how young athletes learn best, why decision-making is one of the most important skills coaches can develop, and simple ways to create practices that keep every player engaged instead of standing in line. Whether you coach soccer or another youth sport, this conversation is packed with practical ideas to help parents and volunteer coaches develop smarter, more confident athletes.

Questions we cover in this episode:

1. Looking back on your years of coaching, what challenge made you realize there had to be a better way to teach the game?
2. What separates players who simply know the game from those who can read and anticipate what's happening around them, and can coaches intentionally teach that skill?
3. Great practices keep every player engaged. What are some things the best youth coaches do to keep kids thinking and learning instead of waiting for their turn?
4. If we want athletes to become better decision-makers, how should coaches balance giving instructions with allowing players to figure things out for themselves?
5. Parents naturally notice goals, assists, and wins. What are some of the small improvements you look for that tell you a player is truly developing, even if it doesn't show up on the scoreboard?

Bonus Question:
What's something you've completely changed your mind about as a coach over the last 10 to 15 years, and how has it changed the way you teach young athletes?

In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Dr. Carey Heller, a licensed psychologist who specializes in working with children and teens with ADHD, anxiety, executive functioning challenges, and learning differences. We explore how these challenges can show up in youth sports, what parents and volunteer coaches often misunderstand, and simple, practical ways to help young athletes stay focused, build confidence, manage emotions, and enjoy competing. Whether you're coaching a team or supporting your own child, this conversation is full of insights that can help every athlete feel more successful both on and off the field.

Questions we cover in this episode:

1. Parents and coaches sometimes mistake ADHD behaviors for laziness, lack of effort, or simply not paying attention. What are some common signs of ADHD adults might notice in a sports setting, and what misconceptions often lead us to misinterpret those behaviors?
2. If you walked onto the practice field with a volunteer coach who had several athletes with ADHD, what are two or three simple changes you would recommend that could immediately help those kids succeed?
3. Sports can be emotional, and many kids with ADHD struggle after mistakes or when they feel frustrated. What are some practical ways parents and coaches can help them reset and get back into the game instead of spiraling?
4. If there's one piece of advice you'd give parents raising a young athlete with ADHD, what would it be? What do those kids need to hear and experience most from the adults supporting them?
5. Every athlete gets nervous before a game at some point. How can parents and coaches tell the difference between healthy pre-game nerves and anxiety that's actually holding a child back? What are some simple things adults can do to help?

Bonus Question:
Imagine there's a coach listening right now who just found out one of their players has ADHD. What's the first thing you hope that coach understands before they step onto the field for their next practice?

In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Libby Triolo, a performance coach who helps young athletes develop the mental and emotional skills that often make the biggest difference in sports. We explore how parents and volunteer coaches can help kids build confidence, handle mistakes, manage emotions, and develop the resilience needed to thrive through both the highs and lows of competition. If you're looking for practical youth sports advice that helps athletes enjoy the game while growing both on and off the field, this conversation is full of simple, actionable takeaways.

Questions we cover in this episode:

1. Parents and coaches spend a lot of time teaching skills, but not always emotions. If emotional intelligence was treated like another skill to practice, what would that actually look like for a young athlete?
2. After a tough game, how can parents and coaches recognize what an athlete actually needs emotionally instead of immediately offering advice?
3. You talk a lot about self-awareness. What are a few simple habits young athletes can build to become more self-aware and mentally stronger throughout a season?
4. Many athletes believe they're supposed to feel confident all the time. Is confidence really the goal, or are there other mental skills that matter even more under pressure?
5. Youth sports can become an emotional roller coaster for athletes, parents, and coaches alike. How can adults create an environment where kids feel safe to learn, compete, and make mistakes?

Bonus Question:
If you could eliminate one phrase from youth sports forever, what would it be, and what would you replace it with?

In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Jason Fetters, a longtime baseball coach, founder of a player-focused youth baseball club, and creator of Practice OS, a coaching app that helps coaches build more effective practices. We dive into the pressure of today's youth baseball tryout system, what meaningful player development really looks like, and how volunteer coaches can create practices that help athletes improve while keeping the game fun.

Questions we cover in this episode:

1. Families often feel like they have just 24 or 48 hours to make a decision after tryouts. Do you think the youth baseball tryout system is broken, and what would you change?
2. You've built a baseball club around teaching the game "the right way." What does that actually look like beyond wins and losses?
3. What separates a coach who's simply running drills from one who's truly developing players?
4. If you took over a brand-new youth baseball team tomorrow, what are the three things you'd focus on during the first month to have the biggest impact on player development?
5. Parents often judge coaches by wins. If you could convince every parent to measure a coach by something else instead, what would it be?

Bonus Question:
What's something that's become completely normal in youth baseball today that you think we'll look back on ten years from now and wonder, "Why did we ever do it that way?"

In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Katie Castle, a registered psychologist and youth sports performance specialist, to explore the mental side of youth sports and what parents and volunteer coaches can do to help kids thrive. We discuss confidence, healthy aggression, pressure, fear of mistakes, and the growing professionalization of youth sports, along with practical strategies for creating an environment where young athletes can compete, grow, and enjoy the game.

Questions we cover in this episode:

1. Coaches and parents often say, “Be more confident” or “Be more aggressive.” What’s the relationship between confidence and aggression in youth sports, and how can adults help kids develop both in a healthy way?
2. You’ve worked with athletes from age seven through high school. What’s one mistake well-meaning parents and coaches make that slowly chips away at a child’s confidence?
3. You’ve spoken about the professionalization of youth sports. What concerns you most about the direction youth sports is heading, and what can families do to keep the experience healthy while still allowing kids to chase big goals?
4. Parents often wonder if they’re pushing too hard or not enough. What are some signs that a child is experiencing healthy challenge versus unhealthy pressure?
5. If you had five minutes with every volunteer coach before their first practice of the season, what’s the one piece of psychological advice you’d give them that would have the biggest positive impact on their players?

Bonus Question:
Imagine a talented 10-year-old athlete tells you, “I’m afraid to make a mistake.” What’s the first conversation you have with that child, and what’s the first conversation you have with their parents?

In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Coach Kristin Tullo to talk about the mental side of youth sports and how coaches and parents can help athletes build real confidence. While Kristin’s work often focuses on hockey coaches, her insights apply across almost every sport as we dig into anxiety, pressure, mistakes, performance expectations, and simple ways adults can help young athletes stay competitive without making sports feel overwhelming.

Questions we cover in this episode:

1. A lot of youth athletes today seem to struggle with confidence. From your perspective, what’s creating that confidence problem in sports right now?
2. Do you think parents and coaches sometimes accidentally make athletes more anxious or fearful without realizing it?
3. What’s the biggest difference between athletes who recover quickly from mistakes and the ones who spiral after something goes wrong?
4. In youth sports today, there’s so much pressure around performance, rankings, travel teams, and social media. How do we help kids stay competitive without making sports feel overwhelming?
5. What are some simple things volunteer coaches and sports parents can do that genuinely help build confidence in young athletes?

Bonus Question:
Do you remember something a coach said or did when you were a youth athlete that affected you, either positively or negatively?

In this episode of Uncoached, I sit down with Mandy Holmes, a sports mom and the creator behind Carpool Contracts, to talk about the rising cost of youth sports and how teams can think differently about fundraising and sponsorships. Mandy shares practical advice for parents, coaches, and teams looking to bring in support, approach local businesses the right way, and create real value for sponsors without making the process feel awkward or overwhelming.

Questions we cover in this episode:

1. Youth sports are getting expensive fast. What are you seeing parents and teams struggle with the most right now?
2. When a team needs money, most people think “fundraiser.” But sponsorships are a little different. How should parents and coaches think about sponsorships in a more practical way?
3. A lot of parents and coaches probably feel awkward asking businesses for money. What’s the right way to approach that conversation without making it uncomfortable?
4. What are some creative ways teams can provide value back to sponsors beyond just putting a logo on a shirt or banner?
5. For the parent or coach listening who says, “Our team could really use help, but I have no idea where to start,” what are the first three steps they should take?

Bonus Question:
What’s one mistake teams make when trying to raise money or get sponsors that can actually hurt their chances of getting support?