On a Mission to Change The World of Youth Sports!

Summary

Pure Athlete is dedicated to helping young athletes, parents, and coaches navigate the youth sports journey with an emphasis on personal growth, well-being, and building meaningful relationships. Rather than focusing solely on winning or making it to the next level, the initiative promotes the idea of enjoying the experience, learning life lessons, and fostering positive connections between kids and parents. In a sports landscape that’s becoming increasingly commercialized, Pure Athlete stands as a voice for keeping youth sports healthy, fun, and life-enhancing, aiming to inspire both athletes and coaches to prioritize character and development above all else.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pure Athlete's mission goes beyond just sharing stories of great athletes; it aims to help youth, parents, and families navigate the youth sports journey in a healthy way.
• 😀 The podcast emphasizes the importance of translating lessons learned in youth sports to real-life success, not just athletic achievement.
• 😀 The shifting nature of college, professional, and international sports is seen as a negative influence on youth sports, making it increasingly business-like and transactional.
• 😀 The goal is to preserve the essence of youth sports by emphasizing the right way to pursue goals while ensuring a positive experience for kids and families.
• 😀 The hosts encourage a balanced approach to youth sports, acknowledging the value of competition but also the importance of fun and life lessons.
• 😀 The podcast aims to ensure parents come out of the youth sports journey with stronger relationships with their kids, despite the financial burdens and pressures of the system.
• 😀 The return on investment in youth sports should not only be about the potential for scholarships or professional contracts but also about the memories and relationships formed.
• 😀 Less than 5% of youth athletes will make it to the next level (college or professional sports), so the experience should be about gaining life skills and not just focusing on the 'next step.'
• 😀 Pure Athlete is committed to inspiring coaches to develop athletes both on and off the field, emphasizing the impact coaches have on shaping kids' lives.
• 😀 Coaches are encouraged to remember their true motivations for coaching: to make a positive impact on kids and their families, not just to win.

Q & A

What is the primary mission of Pure Athlete, as discussed in the podcast?

The primary mission of Pure Athlete is to help young athletes, parents, and families navigate the youth sports journey in a way that promotes success, healthy growth, and life lessons, beyond just athletic achievement.

How does Pure Athlete plan to expand its offerings in 2023 and beyond?

Pure Athlete plans to bring in more experts, not just athletes, to discuss topics like nutrition, mental health, and their impact on youth sports, aiming to provide a more holistic approach to the youth sports experience.

Why is the Pure Athlete mission becoming more important with the changes in college and professional sports?

The increasing commercialization of sports, which is influencing high school and youth sports, is making it more important for Pure Athlete to offer an alternative perspective that prioritizes personal growth and life lessons over business and transactional relationships in sports.

What is the approach of Pure Athlete towards competition in youth sports?

While recognizing the competitive nature of youth sports, Pure Athlete emphasizes that kids should have the opportunity to enjoy sports, gain life experiences, and develop skills for life, even if they don’t pursue a career in professional sports.

How does Pure Athlete aim to help parents through the youth sports journey?

Pure Athlete aims to help parents build better relationships with their children through youth sports, offering guidance on how to create meaningful, enjoyable experiences rather than just focusing on outcomes like scholarships or professional contracts.

What does the podcast suggest about the relationship between money and youth sports?

The podcast acknowledges the high costs associated with pursuing competitive youth sports but emphasizes that the real return on investment should be measured in terms of memories and strengthened relationships, rather than expecting financial or career rewards for the majority of athletes.

What lesson can parents and kids learn from the story of the state championship football player?

The story highlights that youth sports should not always be about the next level; instead, athletes can cherish and succeed in their current journey, as evidenced by a player who reached his goals and ended his career on a high note, prioritizing life goals over future professional prospects.

How does Pure Athlete aim to support coaches in their roles?

Pure Athlete seeks to inspire and support coaches by reminding them of their powerful role in influencing not just athletic development, but also the personal growth and life skills of young athletes, encouraging them to be the best mentors they can be.

What is the overall tone and approach of Pure Athlete when it comes to youth sports culture?

The overall tone of Pure Athlete is supportive, balanced, and realistic. It stresses the importance of maintaining a healthy perspective on sports, focusing on long-term growth, enjoyment, and relationship-building rather than pushing solely for competitive success.

How does Pure Athlete address the changing culture of youth sports?

Pure Athlete acknowledges the shifting culture where sports are becoming more commercialized and pressure-driven, but it emphasizes the importance of maintaining a youth-first, experience-driven approach to help young athletes navigate these pressures.