Youth sports head injuries explained for parents who want to stay informed without being afraid.

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan sits down with Dr. Christopher Nowinski, co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation and one of the leading voices on concussions and CTE, for a calm, honest, and practical conversation about brain health in youth sports.

Together, they unpack what we’ve learned about head injuries since we were kids and how that information should shape the way we guide our own children through sports today. This is not a conversation meant to scare parents away from sports. It’s about helping parents understand risk, recognize warning signs, and make age-appropriate decisions with clarity and confidence.

You’ll hear:

• How to think about concussions without panicking
• Why kids often can’t recognize or report their own symptoms
• The difference between concussions and cumulative head impacts
• What parents should actually watch for after a hit or fall
• How sports like football, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and baseball have changed and why
• Why age-appropriate versions of sports matter for developing brains

This episode is for parents who care deeply about their kids, believe sports can be a powerful good, and want to lead with better information than the generation before us had.

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College sports recruiting can feel overwhelming, expensive, and confusing - especially when everyone online seems to have a different answer.

In this episode of Healthy Sports Parents, Jonathan Carone sits down with three Division I head coaches from softball (Helen Peña, Ball State), women’s volleyball (Dan Meske, University of Louisville), and men’s soccer (Bobby Muuss, Wake Forest) for an honest roundtable conversation about what recruiting actually looks like from the college side.

They talk about the real difference between a good high school player and a college athlete, how much work Division I sports truly require, and why fundamentals and consistency matter more than being flashy. They also address common pressure points parents feel, including club sports costs, high school versus club ball, early recruiting timelines, camps and showcases, and the rise of youth recruiting profiles on social media.

Most importantly, this episode reframes recruiting away from fear and hype and toward clarity, perspective, and healthy expectations so parents can support their kids without losing sight of what really matters.

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FROM OUR SPONSORS:

Camp Blue Ridge

http://www.blueridgecamp.com

$750 off summer 2026 tuition for Healthy Sports Parents listeners

PlayPits

https://playpits.com/

HSP15 for 15% off

Ball-Brand Goods

https://ball-brand.com/

CHILLY15 for 15% off

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New episodes every Wednesday.

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Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:

https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop

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Get your Weekend Playbook:

https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook

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Most parents want the same thing: to support their kids well and help them grow through sports.

But somewhere along the way, support can quietly turn into pressure, often without us realizing it.

In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Stacey Nuveman-Deniz, a Division I head coach, Olympian, and sports parent, to talk honestly about where that line actually is and how easy it is to cross it. They dig into ego, expectations, competitiveness, and why so many kids end up burned out or disconnected from the game they once loved.

Coach Nuvey shares real stories from recruiting, coaching, and parenting, including what she sees in athletes who thrive long-term and what shows up again and again in kids who flame out. This conversation isn’t about blaming parents. It’s about helping them recognize the difference between leading with care and unintentionally adding weight their kids were never meant to carry.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re helping or hovering, encouraging or pushing, this episode will give you language, perspective, and clarity to support your kid in a healthier way.

--------

FROM OUR SPONSORS:

PlayPits

https://playpits.com/

HSP15 for 15% off

Ball-Brand Goods

https://ball-brand.com/

CHILLY15 for 15% off

Camp Blue Ridge

http://www.blueridgecamp.com

$750 off summer 2026 tuition for Healthy Sports Parents listeners

--------

New episodes every Wednesday.

---------

Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear:

https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop

---------

Get your Weekend Playbook:

https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook

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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.