Youth Sports are Still Worth Believing In (Even With the Imperfections)

We don’t need to romanticize the past or rant about the future — we can celebrate what’s good while helping families navigate the challenges of today. Specialization, costs, and sideline drama are real — but so are the life lessons, friendships, and resilience kids gain through the game.

As someone who works in the youth sports industry and is a dad to young athletes, I’ve spent more than a decade living this world. I’ve coached, parented, and navigated the ups and downs of school teams and travel clubs across multiple sports. I’ve stood on sidelines, sat in rental car lines, and slept in too many hotel beds to count. I haven’t seen it all, but I’ve seen a lot. And here’s what I know: I’m tired of the constant narrative that youth sports is “broken” or “out of control.”

We’ve all heard it:

• Kids are specializing too early.
• Parents are reliving their dreams through their children.
• Coaching is full of nepotism and inexperience.
• Refs are being berated so badly that shortages are real.
• Costs are spiraling.

I’m not blind to these challenges. They’re real, and they matter. But here’s the truth: society itself has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Longing for the “good old days” won’t solve anything — and they’re not coming back.

Systemic change is slow. The U.S. doesn’t have a centralized sports governance model like many other countries, which makes turning the ship even harder. That’s why at Youth Inc.; we support serious efforts like Project Play’s 63 x 30 initiative and ESPN & Positive Coaching Alliance’s Take Back Sports campaign. These long-term pushes for access, affordability, and sanity are critical, and we’ll actively champion them.

But here’s the part that rarely makes headlines: youth sports isn’t broken everywhere. In fact, much of it is still incredible.

I see it every day:

• Kids discovering grit, teamwork, resilience, and joy through competition.
• Volunteer coaches laughing and learning alongside their players while shaping not just athletes, but people.
• Parents investing real, quality time with their kids and creating memories they’ll cherish forever.
• Companies stepping up to expand access for more kids — not someday, but right now.

That’s why at Youth Inc., we’ve chosen a different approach. Yes, we’ll support systemic reform. But most of our energy is focused on helping kids, parents, and coaches today — navigating the youth sports landscape as it actually exists.

At Youth Inc., we have transformed a single Podcast created by my Co-Founder Greg Olsen, into a platform. We’ve built a network of Ambassadors and Experts who’ve been in the trenches — people who love youth sports and want to pay it forward. Whether it’s injury prevention and recovery, nutrition, the recruiting process, or balancing multiple sports, we’re here with practical, real-world guidance. Learn more about the Youth Inc. Ambassador and Expert Network.

Our core belief is simple: youth sports remains one of the most joyful, life-shaping arenas in a kid’s life — if you know how to approach it.

So no, we won’t be the “old man yelling at clouds.” We’ll keep celebrating the good, supporting the doers, and helping the next generation thrive in the world we live in now.

Hopefully, you’ll join us.