A 20-year veteran of Team Canada, Kim Gaucher shares her journey from a high school basketball star to a professional athlete and coach. She discusses the significance of youth sports in fostering social skills, resilience, and teamwork. Kim emphasizes the importance of parents modeling behaviour in teaching their children about sports, the benefits of multi-sport participation, and the challenges of access and affordability in youth sports today. She also highlights the cultural differences in youth sports between Europe and North America, the impact of social media, and the growing importance of mental health awareness in sports. Kim also reflects on the pressures faced by young athletes and the evolving landscape of women's sports.

Among the key topics Kim discusses in this conversation:

• Why getting CUT from provincial teams was the best thing for her development

• How social media is impacting young athletes' mental health
• The lack of accountability in youth sports programs
• What parents should actually look for in coaches

Kim's story is a masterclass in resilience—from being a shy kid who hated dance class to becoming Team Canada's captain for 9 years and playing professionally for two decades. Her insights on parenting, coaching, and the commercialization of youth sports are essential listening for every sports parent.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

04:40 How Team Sports Changed Kim's Life

05:35 Family Values that Show Up in Youth Sport

06:50 Early Sports Memories: Dance and Soccer

08:39 How Her Coach Made Soccer Fun

10:44 A Childhood Filled with Free Play

12:55 Parents Who Modeled Hard Work & Commitment

15:23 When Basketball Became Her Passion

17:16 Multi-Sport Athlete: Why It Mattered

20:45 The Access Crisis in Canadian Basketball

22:46 European Model vs. North American System

29:00 School-Based Teams & Development

33:35 The Current Focus on Individual Skills vs. Team Understanding

35:40 The Lost Art of Problem-Solving

38:10 How Kim's Parents Acted in the Stands

39:53 Learning Through Trial & Error

42:15 The Beneficiary of Great Coaches

44:15 Sport Lessons She Takes into Parenting

45:40 Defining Success in Youth Sports

47:15 Social Media's Dark Side for Athletes

52:46 Why Women's Sports Are Exploding

54:06 Mental Health in Youth Sports

58:40 Pressure in Today's Youth Sports

59:55 Financial Pressure on Parents & Kids

1:03:24 What Sport Teaches You for Life

1:05:17 Career Reflections: Growing Team Canada

1:06:42 The Biggest Issue in Youth Sports

1:09:34 How to Evaluate Good Coaching

Resources: ⁠Kim Gaucher - Team Canada⁠