MOMFESSIONS: Why Youth Sports Are Out of Control (And We’re Part of the Problem)

Youth sports are out of control. And the worst part? We might be part of the problem.

Spoiler alert: I know I am. I’m the mom with a packed sports calendar, a trunk full of Chick-fil-A, and a competitive streak that sometimes gets the best of me. Guilty as charged.

I’m also a coach's wife, so this topic hits close to home.

We’re closing out Momfessions, our month-long series where we’ve said the quiet parts of parenting out loud. And for our final confession, I’m joined once again by my teammate at CARRY Media, Kristen White, a mom of three boys.

This week: Why youth sports are out of control—and why we might be part of the problem.

Kids are specializing younger. Parents are spending more money than ever. And somewhere along the way, sports stopped being about kids having fun and started feeling like a full-time job for the whole family.

Here’s the wild part: When kids were asked what makes sports fun, winning ranked 48th. They cared more about playing with friends, getting better, feeling supported, and having fun.

So maybe the question isn’t, “How far can my child go in sports?” Maybe it’s, “What do I want sports to teach my child?”

This one might ruffle a few feathers (or cleats 😉). But as always with Momfessions... we’re willing to look in the mirror.

Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more:

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