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Healthy Sports Parents
Approaching youth sports with the end in mind (with former MLB player Brett Carroll)
Season 1, Ep. 5
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Brett Carroll played six seasons in Major League Baseball. After retiring and starting a family, he opened BC Athletics - a baseball clinic dedicated to developing not just baseball players, but well-rounded athletes who are prepared to make an impact as future leaders in their homes, teams, schools, and communities.
In our conversation with Brett, we talk about why it's so important not to coach from the stands, the best thing you can say to your kid after a game, and how the youth sports journey changes as your kids get older. We also discuss how your kid is more than the athlete they're becoming, why losing is an important part of growing up, and how approaching youth sports with the end in mind actually changes your entire outlook of your kid's athletic career.
3:29 - When your kids want to get better on their own
4:18 - Balancing your own competitiveness with not burning out kids
6:06 - Why you shouldn’t coach from the stands
9:20 - Our kids want to see us as mom and dad first
9:52 - The most important thing you can say to your kid after a game
12:40 - Letting our kids lead when it comes to putting in work to get better
14:52 - The journey changes as your kids get older
15:25 - Your kid is more than simply the athlete they’re becoming
17:52 - The way we respond to our kids are often interpreted different than we intent
19:32 - The importance of celebrating the little things
20:48 - Taking the pressure to perform off of kids can lead to better results
22:44 - Before puberty, the kids with more developed kids will most often win
23:27 - The things sports should be teaching you aside from winning
25:01 - Eventually your kids are going to play their last game
26:30 - Approaching youth sports with the end in mind
28:04 - The mental/emotional work it takes to be a healthy sports parent
32:01 - Why losing is an important part of growing up
33:54 - No one tries to be a bad parent, but it takes work to be a good one
35:47 - Encouragement for parents this week
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