Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents

Today's Play: Gustavus Adolphus head coach Tommy Valentini shares the powerful story behind his team’s NCAA doubles national championship—one rooted in culture, gratitude, and perspective. Tommy highlights how his players prioritized team values, even in the highest-pressure moments, and honored a lost classmate in a deeply meaningful way. He offers insight into how true freedom in sport comes from knowing your worth isn’t def...

Today’s Play: Kirk Wagner shares the story of his journey from a soccer-playing son of German immigrants to a high school coach in Atlanta, weaving in lessons from his professional playing days in Germany and his path through college recruiting. Kirk emphasizes the values of reliability, lifelong learning, and being the coach he always wished he had. He also pulls back the curtain on the financial and emotional realities of coachin...

Today's Play: Steve Brown returns to share how he’s now giving back through the Steve Brown Academy and his Complete Your Square approach to student-athlete development. Steve opens up about the emotional toll of transitioning out of sport, the importance of identity beyond athletics, and the power of therapy, mentorship, and purpose. He also offers wise advice for parents: know your role, assume positive intent, and give...

Today's Play: Olympian and educator Steve Brown shares the incredible story of how sport shaped his identity—from a fearful 10-year-old in D.C. to representing Trinidad in the Olympic Games. Steve reflects on the hurdles he faced—literally and figuratively—and the unexpected people and institutions who showed up for his dream. He reminds us that keeping an open heart, and open mind, just might be the key to discovering the sup...

Today's Play: Kevin Ye discussed the importance of instilling life values like hard work and teamwork in young athletes. He emphasizes the need for perspective, noting that sports should be enjoyable and not all-consuming. He also highlights the significance of aligning college choices with personal goals, considering factors like division level, school size, and team culture. Kevin also reflects on the support from his parent...

Today's Play: Coach Karl Hedley emphasizes the importance of allowing players to face adversity and develop resilience. Hedley stresses the value of sports in teaching teamwork, respect, and leadership, and advises parents to support their children's growth by stepping back and letting them learn from experiences.

Today's Coach:  Karl Hedley is the Boys Soccer Director at Gwinnett Soccer Association. He's coached...

Today's Play: Coach Keenan Hickton shares his journey from multi-sport athlete in Pittsburgh to Emory University standout, and eventually to coaching one of the top-ranked Division III golf teams in the country. Keenan talks about what he looks for in recruits—highlighting the rare but powerful combination of confidence and humility—and why rankings don’t always tell the full story. He offers valuable advice to parents on how ...

Today's Play: Coach Tommy Valentini offers practical strategies for parents to navigate the emotional highs and lows of youth sports. He emphasizes shifting the focus from wins and losses to effort, growth, and core values, fostering healthier conversations with young athletes. Tommy and amy also highlight the importance of collaboration between parents and coaches, with coaches playing a key role in setting clear expectations...

Today's Play: Coach Kirk Wagner and Amy Bryant explore the challenges of coach-parent relationships in youth sports, with an emphasis on managing emotional parental feedback. Kirk and Amy highlight the importance of coaches preparing for parental involvement while maintaining clear boundaries, and advise parents to be thoughtful in their communication to coaches to avoid negatively impacting their child's future opportuni...

Today's Play: Kyle Gookins shares insights on navigating the recruiting landscape to uncover meaningful opportunities, beyond prestigious school names. He acknowledges that the college recruiting process can be a minefield of parental pressure and misplaced priorities. Amy and Kyle remind parents that it's crucial for student-athletes and their families to focus on finding the right fit - a place where the student can thr...

Today's Play: Karl Hedley impresses the importance of allowing children to organically develop a passion for their sport, rather than forcing it upon them. Karl also emphasizes the need to make sport accessible and available, but then let the child's own interest and love for the game grow naturally. He cautioned against overly enthusiastic parenting that can dampen a child's passion, sharing examples of parents push...

Today's Play: Kevin Ye discusses the rapid growth of padel internationally, including his company's (PATL) plans for expansion, and shares his extensive coaching experience working with youth, college, and adult athletes. He emphasizes the importance of creating a positive sports environment for young players and avoiding overbearing "crazy parent" behavior that can lead to burnout. The conversation highlights s...

Today's Play: David Harbin discusses the importance of character over talent in college recruiting. He shares a story of one of his athletes who became all-conference in college despite setbacks. Harbin emphasizes the value of intangibles like body language and effort. He recalls a poignant moment from the 2018 Final Four, highlighting the emotional impact of team unity. He also stresses the need for coaches and parents to wor...

Today's Play: Jason Zimmerman, head men's basketball coach at Emory University, sits down with Amy Bryant of Bryant College Coaching to discuss the importance of receiving genuine interest from recruits. He emphasizes the value of authenticity over perfection in communication and highlights the challenges posed by COVID-19, which hindered his ability to coach and interact with his team. Jason also addresses the frustratio...

Today's Play:  Our guest today underscores the value in youth athletes experiencing struggles and challenges to prepare them for the demands of college sports. Coaches also face challenges, especially during the preseason, including the unpredictability of player performance and the differences between recruiting and coaching. Overall, today's play underscores the importance of fostering autonomy and problem-solving skill...

Today's Play: David Harbin shares his path from playing soccer at Winthrop University to coaching high school and middle school soccer and basketball. He emphasizes the importance of creating a positive team culture, highlighting practices like ending practices with a "joke of the day" and introducing the "warrior belt" to recognize players for their contributions beyond on-field performance. David also dis...

Today's Play: Our guest reflects on his experience speaking to MLS Academy 8th and 9th graders about the slim chances of making it to the professional ranks and the importance of prioritizing academics for college recruitment. The discussion delves into the role of social media in recruiting, advising players to be mindful of their online presence. They explore alternative divisions and governing bodies like NAIA, NJCAA, and c...

Today's Play: Our guest discusses the differences between coaching young athletes and college players, emphasizing resilience, teamwork, and the mental side of softball. She also provides valuable insights into the recruiting process, including what coaches look for in players beyond athletic ability, and offers advice for parents on how to best support their children’s sports journey.

Today's Coach:  CJ is the o...

Today's Play:
Our guest shares valuable insights from her extensive career in basketball. Together we dive into the changing landscape of college recruiting, considering things like the impact of the new scholastic period in women’s basketball. We also explore the growing influence of club coaches, the role of parents in their children’s sports journeys, and the importance of self-awareness and communication skills for yo...