Some of the healthiest things we can do as sports parents feel completely wrong in the moment.

We want to correct every mistake. We want to protect our kids from failure. We want to solve their problems, give them feedback after every game, and keep them from feeling disappointed.

But what if those instincts are actually getting in the way of what our kids need most?

In this episode, sports psychologist Dr. Joey Case returns to discuss seven things that feel like bad sports parenting but aren't. We explore why confidence grows through struggle, how kids develop resilience, and what it looks like to support young athletes without trying to control every outcome.

Topics include:

• Why correcting every mistake can hurt learning and confidence

• The value of letting kids fail in public

• Why the car ride home is usually the wrong place for feedback

• When parents should step in and when they should stay out

• Why connection matters more than performance after a tough game

• The surprising benefits of boredom

• How to know when quitting is the wrong choice and when it's the right one

If you've ever wondered whether you're helping your child grow or simply easing your own anxiety, this conversation is for you.

The goal of sports parenting isn't protecting kids from discomfort but rather helping them develop the tools to handle discomfort when it comes.

--------

HEALTHY SPORTS PARENTING COURSE

Get early access at HealthySportsParents.com/Course.

--------

More from Dr. Case:

TikTok: @josephccase

Instagram: @drjosephcase

Substack: https://josephccasepsyd.substack.com

--------

FROM OUR SPONSORS:

Hey Coach

https://heycoach.team/

Tomahawk Shades

https://tomahawkshades.com

Code: HSP50 for 50% off

--------

New episodes every Wednesday.

---------

Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:

https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop

---------

Get your Weekend Playbook:

https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook

-----------

Follow us on social:

https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents

https://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparents

https://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparents

https://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Youth sports are supposed to help kids grow, compete, fail, learn, and have fun. But somewhere along the way, a lot of adults started acting like fun and hard can’t both exist at the same time.

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan Carone sits down with former player, coach, and creator Jake Savickifor a conversation about what kids actually need from the adults around them in sports.

Jake shares stories from coaching high school baseball, raising his own daughter through youth sports, and learning firsthand how much weight parents’ words, reactions, and expectations can carry. The conversation dives into why so many kids stop loving sports, how parents unintentionally add pressure, and why creating the right environment matters more than chasing the perfect development plan.

Jonathan and Jake also talk about:

• Why fun changes as kids get older
• The difference between hard work and pressure
• Helping kids stay connected to the game long-term
• Why comparison and FOMO lead parents into bad decisions
• The importance of understanding each kid individually
• What happens when kids feel safe to fail
• Why parents matter more than they realize

This episode is a reminder that most kids don’t need perfect coaching, year-round training, or adults obsessing over outcomes. They need support, perspective, encouragement, and the freedom to enjoy the process of growing up through sports.

--------

More from Jake:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jakesavicki?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakesavicki/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Jake-Savicki-100066450740049/

--------

FROM OUR SPONSORS:

Hey Coach

https://heycoach.team/

Onsides

https://www.getonsides.com/

--------

New episodes every Wednesday.

---------

Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:

https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop

---------

Get your Weekend Playbook:

https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook

-----------

Follow us on social:

https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents

https://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparents

https://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparents

https://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congressman Chris Deluzio and Senator Cory Booker join Healthy Sports Parents creator Jonathan Carone for a conversation about the newly introduced Let Kids Play Act and why they believe youth sports in America are becoming inaccessible for too many families.

Instead of focusing only on the details of the legislation, this conversation explores the bigger questions underneath it all: Why do youth sports matter so much? What happens when sports become a luxury item instead of a community experience? And what role, if any, should the federal government play when families are being priced out?

Jonathan talks with Congressman Deluzio and Senator Booker about private equity in youth sports, stay-to-play requirements, rising costs for families, youth sports data privacy, and the growing concern that community-based leagues and facilities are disappearing as larger companies consolidate control over more parts of the sports ecosystem.

The conversation also goes beyond policy. Senator Booker shares how sports shaped his life and taught him lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and unity, while Congressman Deluzio reflects on growing up in community baseball and why he believes every kid deserves the chance to play regardless of their family’s income.

Whether you agree with the bill or not, this episode is ultimately about something much bigger than politics: preserving the role youth sports can play in helping kids grow into healthy adults and keeping those opportunities accessible for future generations.

Episode recorded May 13, 2026.

--------

FROM OUR SPONSORS:

Hour-a-thon

http://www.hour-a-thon.com

Hey Coach

https://heycoach.team/

--------

New episodes every Wednesday.

---------

Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:

https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop

---------

Get your Weekend Playbook:

https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook

-----------

Follow us on social:

https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents

https://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparents

https://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparents

https://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.