Youth Sports News
Youth Sports News
Curated news and insights to help parents stay informed and support their young athletes.
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Terry McLaurin Got Cut in 9th Grade. Here's What He Learned About Long-Term Success.
The Washington Commanders Pro Bowl receiver was cut from his high school baseball team as a freshman. He credits that moment — and the patience, multi-sport background, and unconditional support that followed — with everything that came after.
What Happens When We Actually Train Coaches to See the Whole Athlete
Coach Beyond has trained 77,000 coaches in mental health support, inclusive environments, and life-skills development. The results — more confident coaches, better team climates, higher athlete outcomes — point to something every sports parent should understand about what coaching can be.
Youth Soccer Is Burning Kids Out. These Young Coaches Say It Doesn't Have To.
Keanu Stingone quit club soccer at 12, burned out by the pressure. Now 21, he's a director of coaching at Youth 4 Youth FC — a peer-led program built on the idea that American youth soccer has the priorities exactly backwards.
The Great Hambino Grew Up. His Advice for Sports Parents Is Worth Hearing.
Patrick Renna — who played 'Ham' in The Sandlot — is now a baseball dad himself. His take on keeping youth sports fun, staying quiet during games, and what the ride home is really for is a refreshing reminder of what sports is supposed to feel like.
Eight Red Flags That a Youth Sports Program Isn't Serving Your Child
From fear of retaliation to win-at-all-costs culture to pressure to specialize early — Steve Borelli outlines eight warning signs that a youth sports program has lost sight of what it's supposed to be for.
What Does a 'Quality' Coach Actually Look Like? A National Initiative Has an Answer.
The Million Coaches Challenge has trained over a million youth coaches in positive youth development. What they've learned about what quality coaching actually means — and what parents should be asking — is something every sports family needs to hear.
A Soccer Dad’s Journey: How David Murray Learned to Let His Daughter Scout Lead the Way
David Murray was a competitive soccer player. His daughter Scout is too — but she’s doing it her way. A candid USA Today story about one dad’s evolution from sideline critic to supportive sports parent.
Girls Are Telling Us Why They Quit Sports. Are Adults Listening?
By age 14, girls are leaving sports at twice the rate of boys. A powerful Ms. Magazine piece examines the research — and points to well-trained, supportive coaches as the single most powerful tool for keeping girls in the game.
A Soccer Mom's Hilarious Guide to Surviving Youth Sports
Karen Scholl spent 16 years as a soccer mom and lived to write a book about it. Her candid, funny, and surprisingly wise advice for sports parents — including what to do (and not do) in the car ride home — is a must-read.
USMNT Captain's Rise Shows Why We All Need Good Youth Sports Coaches
Tim Ream wasn't the most decorated youth player in St. Louis. But the right coaches — demanding, nurturing, and creative — shaped him into the captain of the U.S. Men's World Cup team. His story is a blueprint for what great youth coaching looks like.
What's the Goal of Youth Sports? World Series Champ Ryan Zimmerman Offers Perspective
Former Washington Nationals star Ryan Zimmerman has a simple message for sports parents: youth sports is supposed to be fun first. Over 99% of kids will never play professionally — and that's completely fine.
Crisis on the Sidelines: Youth Sports Facing Epidemic of Bad Behavior, Abuse by Adults
A 100-person brawl in Mesa. Racial taunts at a state basketball playoff. A SafeSport survey showing 78% of athletes have experienced emotional harm. ASU Cronkite News investigates the nationwide crisis of adult misconduct in youth sports — and quotes Be Valiant's Todd Merkow on the $40 billion pressure cooker driving it.
Five Burning Questions to Help You and Your Kid 'Survive' Youth Sports
How much pressure is OK? What if your kid only wants to play one position? What if they love sports but hate teams? Steve Borelli answers five of the most common — and most important — questions sports parents ask.
Survey Reveals the Extent of Pressure Parents Put on Kids Through Sports
A new Aspen Institute Project Play survey of nearly 4,000 youth ages 10–17 reveals that parental pressure — not bad coaching or injury — is the leading reason kids quit sports. The findings are a wake-up call for every sports parent.
Don't Forget to Call Mom: MLB Catcher Gets Candid About Sports Struggles
Baltimore Orioles catcher Maverick Handley — Stanford graduate, seven-year minor leaguer — gets refreshingly honest about burnout, self-doubt, identity, and what young athletes and their parents really need to hear.
10 Misconceptions About Kids Sports — and How Parents Can Push Against Them
From 'winning leads to advancement' to 'you need to specialize early,' Steve Borelli breaks down the 10 most common delusions sports parents hold — and what the research actually says about each one.
Youth Sports Has a Hefty Price Tag. What Are You Actually Buying?
The average U.S. sports family spends over $1,000 per child per year on their primary sport — and many spend far more. But are we getting what we're paying for? A deep look at the real cost of youth sports, who gets left behind, and what we can do differently.
'You're Not Getting Scouted at 12': Youth Sports Tips from a Little League World Series Hero
Todd Frazier was the MVP of the 1998 Little League World Series and spent 11 seasons in MLB. Now coaching his own son in Toms River, NJ, he has clear-eyed advice for sports parents: stop worrying about scouting, let kids be kids, and expect failure as part of the process.
'Don't Be a Helicopter Parent': Annika Sorenstam's Tips for Your Kid's Sports Experience
Golf legend and 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam was once so shy she would intentionally lose junior tournaments to avoid speaking in public. Now a sports mom herself, she shares what she's learned about fostering independence, going with the flow, and letting kids lead their own journey.
With the Need for Speed, Tommy John Surgery on the Rise
Two insightful stories on the increasing prevalence of Tommy John surgeries among young athletes. Parents of young baseball players should be aware of the rising injuries and overuse issues among youth pitchers.
Analysis: Serious Knee Injury Among Teen Athletes Grows 26%
Project Play of the Aspen Institute recently posted an analysis provided by the National ACL Injury Coalition reviewing injury data for 12 major girls and boys sports.
What a College Coach Wants Sports Parents to Know: Cori Close on Burnout, Character, and What Kids Actually Remember
UCLA women's basketball head coach Cori Close has watched talented players arrive at the college level completely burned out. In a conversation with USA TODAY, she shares what she wishes more youth sports parents understood — before it's too late.
A Question Every Sports Parent Should Be Asking
Great article on "I Love to Watch You Play" covers the question, "Is all this investment — financial and emotional — truly helping our kids?"
A Must Watch for Every Sports Parent Regarding Mental Health
The Kansas City Royals, in collaboration with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, have produced a compelling documentary that every youth sports parent, coach, and club organization needs to see.
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