I think it’s a hard time to be a sports parent right now.
Parents are spending more money than ever for their kids to play. They’re investing more time, driving to tournaments, rearranging family schedules, and sacrificing weekends. With that level of commitment, it’s natural to want a return — to see your child try their best, develop skills, and maybe even get noticed.
But what’s also happening is that expectations are rising just as fast as the costs. Parents are demanding more from coaches, more from programs, and more from their own kids. And when they don’t see immediate effort or progress — when their child has an off day at practice or doesn’t start — frustration builds quickly.
I get it. You watch your kid jog through a drill or miss a shot and suddenly you feel your blood pressure rise. You’re thinking, “I’m spending all this money and time — why isn’t he giving it his all?”
That’s why I’ve spent the last few years diving deep into the psychology and physiology of sports parents — trying to understand what’s actually happening in our brains and bodies when we watch our kids play. Because this isn’t just about bad behavior or overinvolvement. It’s about biology.
When parents watch their kids compete, their heart rate and stress hormones spike. You’re not just observing the game — your body is acting as if you’re in the game. That’s why emotions can run so high, and why something as small as a missed call or a benching decision can feel personal.
If we want to change sideline culture, we need to help parents recognize this physiological response — and learn how to manage it. That means finding ways to take a step back, breathe, and focus on supporting both the kids and the coaches, rather than trying to control what’s happening on the field.
Why We Need to Let Kids Face Adversity
Every parent wants their child to succeed, and that’s a good thing. But too often, we protect our kids from the very experiences that help them grow.
When we talk about resilience, we’re talking about the ability to face setbacks, recover, and keep going. That doesn’t come from everything going perfectly — it comes from failure, frustration, and learning how to respond to both.
Kids need to struggle sometimes. They need to lose games, get benched, or have a rough practice. That’s where the real lessons are — how to persevere, stay composed, and find internal motivation.
As parents, our role is to guide them through that process, not to remove the obstacles entirely.
Multi-Sport Kids Are Healthier and Happier
Another big topic Johnny and I discussed was sports specialization. Too many kids are now playing a single sport year-round — and it’s leading to burnout, overuse injuries, and a loss of joy in the game.
Kids who play multiple sports develop better movement patterns, broader athletic IQ, and more balanced bodies. They also stay mentally fresher. They learn to adapt, compete in different environments, and bring creativity from one sport to another.
That variety builds not just better athletes — but better people.
Remember to Enjoy the Game
At the end of the day, youth sports are supposed to be fun — for kids and for parents. When you’re standing on the sidelines, remember: you’re not the coach, you’re not the referee, and you’re not the scout. You’re the parent. Your job is to support, cheer, and enjoy the moment.
It’s easy to lose sight of that in a competitive world, but if we can all step back, breathe, and remember why we started this in the first place — because we love watching our kids play — we’ll make youth sports better for everyone.
Watch the full conversation: Johnny Damon and I talk about what it takes to raise strong, confident athletes — and how parents can find joy in the journey again.
Ian Goldberg is the CEO of Signature Media and the Editor of the largest and fastest growing sports parenting newsletter. He’s been recognized as an industry expert by the National Alliance for Youth Sports, the US Olympic Committee’s Truesport, and the Aspen Institute's Project Play. Ian is also a suburban NJ sports dad of two teenage daughters and has over 2,000 hours of volunteer time coaching them (which he calls the most fun form of R&D for his newsletter content). Ian and his team provide players, coaches, parents and program directors with the articles and content they need to have a great sports season. Ian has spent most of his career in digital product development and marketing and got his start at the White House where he worked for the economic advisors to two US Presidents.
