🏟️ The State of Youth Sports: What We Learned From a 9-Part Podcast Series

"If kids aren’t having fun, they’ll quit. And most are quitting before they even hit high school."

Over the course of nine powerful episodes, the With All Due Respect podcast unpacked the real story behind what’s happening in youth sports today. We talked to mental health professionals, coaches, former pro athletes, and parents—people who’ve seen firsthand how the system has changed.

Here's what we discovered—and what needs to change.

🎧 Listen to the Full Series

📺 The State of Youth Sports – 9-Episode Playlist

⚠️ Youth Sports Are Losing Their Purpose

• 70% of kids quit by age 13

• Too much adult pressure, not enough kid-driven fun

• Sports have become a job instead of a game

🎙️ Episode 1: Why kids are walking away from sports—and how to fix it

💸 The High Cost of “Keeping Up”

• Travel teams, private trainers, gear = thousands per season

• Pay-to-play culture is excluding lower-income families

• Pressure to “invest early” fuels the problem

🎙️ Episode 4 w/ Randy Carlson: Why the price tag of youth sports keeps rising

🧠 Mental Health Is the Silent Opponent

• Burnout, anxiety, and pressure to perform

• Social media and perfectionism make it worse

• Adults must learn the signs and step up as allies

🎙️ Episode 2 w/ Dr. Tiffany Jones
🎙️ Episode 7 w/ Dr. Rhea Merck
🎙️ Episode 8 w/ Megan Cannon

🔄 Early Specialization Is Overrated—and Risky

• One-sport focus increases injury and burnout

• Multi-sport kids are more well-rounded—and stay in the game longer

• Parents & coaches need to delay “elite” pressure

🎙️ Episode 3 w/ Dr. Chris Bjork

👩🎓 Girls Face Different—and Often Greater—Barriers

• Girls often get less funding, visibility, and opportunity

• Role models matter: young athletes need to see what’s possible

• The growth is happening—but slowly

🎙️ Episode 5 w/ Coach Kristy Schumacher
🎙️ Episode 6 w/ Alex Shaw (WNBA)

🩺 Injuries Are On the Rise—and Often Preventable

• Overuse and year-round training are causing long-term harm

• Rest, strength training, and recovery need more focus

• Parents should stop glorifying “playing through pain”

🎙️ Episode 9 w/ Jim Floyd

👨👩👧 The Adults Are the X-Factor—for Better or Worse

• Coaches and parents set the tone

• Encouragement builds confidence—criticism can destroy it

• The goal: support, not control

💡 Theme across all episodes: Adults need to reclaim the role of guide, not gatekeeper

🌱 What Does Success Really Look Like?

• Not everyone will go pro—or even get a scholarship

• Success is about confidence, community, and lifelong fitness

• It’s time to redefine success beyond the scoreboard

🧭 Final Thoughts: Where Do We Go From Here?

This series wasn’t about blame—it was about clarity. If we want to create better experiences for young athletes, we have to do things differently:

• Bring back the joy

• Stop chasing scholarships

• Listen to the kids

• Respect the game

Let’s build a youth sports culture that keeps kids engaged, healthy, and thriving.

🔗 Watch, Share, Reflect

📺 Full Series: “The State of Youth Sports” Playlis