Youth Sports and Parenting with Chris Bjork | Rethinking Competition and Balance

Today on Adeptus On-Air, host James Walker chats with Chris Bjork, professor of education at Vassar College and coauthor of More Than Just a Game: How the Youth Sports Industry is Changing the Way We Parent and What We Can Do About It. Drawing on years of research that included shadowing travel teams, speaking with parents and coaches nationwide, and interviewing college recruiters, Chris explains how the youth sports system has transformed childhood and parenting. He talks about the rising pressure for kids to specialize in a single sport, the toll that overtraining takes on young bodies, and the emotional strain parents feel to keep up with costly club programs. The conversation also explores why only a small percentage of athletes receive college scholarships, how the booming industry has widened inequalities, and what families can do to keep sports fun while protecting their children’s long-term well-being.Tune in for Chris’s perspective on restoring balance in youth sports and why letting kids enjoy a range of activities can be healthier than chasing the next big league.