How We Take Back Youth Sports for Everyday Families (with ESPN's Jennifer Paulett)
Healthy Sports ParentsShow Notes
Youth sports were never meant to feel like an all in decision with no off ramp. But for a lot of families, that is exactly where things end up. The pressure ramps up, the schedules get overwhelmed, and the choices for where to play start to disappear.
In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Jennifer Paulett, Director of Corporate Citizenship at ESPN, to talk about the Take Back Sports campaign and what they are learning about why kids are walking away from sports. They discuss the importance of rec leagues, the dangers of early specialization, the role parents play in shaping the culture, and why choice matters more than most families realize. Jennifer also shares what she is seeing through ESPN and Positive Coaching Alliance as they work with leagues, organizations, and professional athletes to rebuild a healthier youth sports system.
This conversation is a reminder that youth sports should give every kid a place to play, not just the competitive ones. Our goal is not to raise professional athletes. It is to help kids keep playing, growing, and enjoying sports for as long as they can so we can continue teaching them all the lessons sports can teach.
---------
MORE FROM ESPN + TAKE BACK SPORTS
http://www.takebacksports.org https://www.espn.com/espn/citizenship/
---------
FROM OUR SPONSORS:
Camp Blue Ridge http://www.blueridgecamp.com $750 off summer 2026 tuition for Healthy Sports Parents listeners
PlayPits https://playpits.com/ HSP15 for 15% off
-------- New episodes every Wednesday.
---------
Get your Healthy Sports Parents gear: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/shop
---------
Get your Weekend Playbook: https://www.healthysportsparents.com/playbook
-----------
Follow us on social:
https://www.instagram.com/healthysportsparents https://www.tiktok.com/@healthysportsparents https://www.facebook.com/healthysportsparents https://www.threads.net/healthysportsparents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Healthy Sports Parents
Kids need time to figure out what they love. But in a youth sports culture that pushes kids toward travel teams, year-round training, and specialization earlier and earlier, it can feel like there’s no time to wait.
What happens when helping your kid reach their potential starts hurting your relationship with them?
What if the way we’ve been trying to build toughness in young athletes is actually making it harder for them to grow?
Two-time MLB All-Star Carlos Quentin joins Healthy Sports Parents for a conversation about youth sports parenting, athlete development and why kids don’t need to be great at sports right now.
Youth sports are getting more expensive, more competitive, and more structured at younger ages. So what happens to the kids and families who simply want a chance to play?