Fighting For Overtime: Addressing Anxiety and Achievements in Youth Sports

What’s really going wrong in youth sports today? On this episode of Fighting For Overtime, Tony Cutillo is joined by LaQuan Stallworth, a Hall of Fame player turned coach, to break down the realities athletes, parents, and coaches are facing right now. From her journey through elite competition to coaching today’s generation, LaQuan shares real insight on development, pressure, and what it truly t...

Winning isn’t just built on talent — it’s built on culture, leadership, and consistency. On this episode of Fighting For Overtime, Tony Cutillo sits down with Jason Scanlon, a husband, father of five, and one of the most respected youth soccer coaches in the Bucks County area. Jason’s coaching journey spans: 8 years at Nativity of Our Lord School (3 AOP Championships) 9 years coaching girls travel...

The college football recruiting journey is far more complicated than most families realize. On this episode of Fighting For Overtime, host Tony Cutillo sits down with Tonja Pacheco, the creator of Football Mom 2027, to break down the real work behind getting athletes noticed. After losing her husband and raising five children, Tonja turned her focus toward helping her son chase his dream of playin...

On this episode of The Fighting For Overtime Podcast, Coach Tony sits down with Brea Ferraro, the Head Coach and newly appointed President of Lions Fastpitch Softball, to talk about the real world of youth sports, coaching, and developing confident athletes on and off the field. Brea has lived every angle of the game, starting as a player in the organization her father helped build, growing into a...

History was made at William Tennent High School — and Avery Kocur was right at the center of it. On this episode of Fighting For Overtime, we sit down with Avery, one of only two players in the last 34 years to score 1,000 points for William Tennent, while helping lead the Panthers to their first Freedom Division title in 38 years. Her journey is a powerful example of what happens when passion, di...

Youth sports are changing fast! There's more pressure, earlier specialization, and kids feeling college-level stress before they even hit middle school. But what if training didn’t revolve around wins, rankings, or chasing scholarships? What if it actually built confidence, character, and long-term growth? In this episode of Fighting For Overtime, Coach Tony sits down with Jake Kirsch, Senior Dire...

How can today’s teens truly thrive in a world filled with pressure, performance, and constant comparison? In this episode of Fighting For Overtime, Coach Tony sits down with Sophia Vale Galano, Author of "Calming Teenage Anxiety," to explore the roadmap to helping teens not just survive — but thrive. From managing stress to finding balance, Sophia shares how parents, coaches, and mentors can creat...

This episode is dedicated to Gia, a 13-year-old softball player from Bucks County who represents the true meaning of heart and resilience. Playing in the LSA league, Gia recently took the field for her final 14U game before undergoing brain surgery for a rare disease. Despite the challenges ahead, her love for the game never wavered — she even showed up to one last practice, smiling as always. Thi...

How do you build a dynasty — and keep it alive year after year? In this episode of Fighting For Overtime, Coach Tony sits down with Mike McDonald, Head Coach of the Elite Archbishop Wood Girls Basketball Program, to talk about the blueprint behind sustained success in youth sports. From culture to chemistry, leadership to burnout, Coach McDonald shares how he’s built one of the most consistent pro...

In this episode of Fighting for Overtime, Coach Tony sits down with award-winning author and school counselor Jennifer Licate to explore the mental health challenges kids face both in and out of sports. Drawing from her book, My Anxiety Is Messing Things Up, Jennifer shares powerful insights into perfectionism, stress, and the pressures young athletes feel to always perform. We’ll discuss how pare...

Softball has been more than a game for Coach Vicki Capozzi — it’s been a lifelong teacher. With 26 years of experience as a player and now in her third year of coaching, Vicki opens up about the highs and lows of youth sports: the thrill of competition, the risk of burnout, and the sacrifices that come with commitment. She also shares her perspective on what parents can do to truly support their k...

When you feel lost and defeated as a youth athlete, who do you turn to?.......... In this episode of Fighting for Overtime Youth Sports, Coach Tony sits down with Taylor Cutillo (his daughter) —former softball player and current advocate for a positive foundation in youth sports. During this candid and heartfelt conversation, Taylor opens up about the struggles of growing up in competitive environ...

2 Years ago, my son didn’t make his School soccer team — but what stung the most wasn’t the cut itself, it was the way it was handled. After days of hard work and hope, the message was cold, impersonal, and left him feeling like all that effort didn’t matter. As a parent, watching him process not just the rejection, but the lack of care in how it was delivered, was heartbreaking. In this episode,...

A true apology story meets total pitching rule confusion! I break down what really happened, why the rule matters, and how it changes the game. ***Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts. Also, please leave your stories in the comments or send them to me privately. Remember, you are not alone! #mentalhealthawareness #YouthSports Follow the show here on all platfo...

In this episode of Fighting for Overtime, Coach Tony sits down with veteran soccer player, coach, and author Heidi Smith to explore the 140-year journey of women’s soccer through the lens of her new book Play On! Heidi shares her experiences on and off the field, tackling tough conversations around sexism, identity, coaching challenges, and the mental health struggles facing today’s youth athletes...

When bringing awareness causes hateful pushback from the local community. Is this what the world of youth sports has become? ***Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts. Also, please leave your stories in the comments or send them to me privately. Remember, you are not alone! #mentalhealthawareness #YouthSports Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.c...

From battling injuries to chasing a lifelong dream in baseball, DJ Dickson has lived the highs and lows of the game — and come out stronger every time. In this episode of Fighting For Overtime, Coach Tony sits down with the Southampton native to talk about his journey from growing up with his dad as his coach, to competing at UVA Wise, and now mentoring young players through his own hitting clinic...

Are parents pushing their kids too hard on their pursuit of the next level? We discuss............ In this episode of Fighting for Overtime Youth Sports, Coach Tony sits down with Mike Odes (his former 7th Grade Teacher) — whose experiences on the field/court and in the classroom, set the stage for a positive foundation in youth sports. During this passionate conversation, Mike opens up about all...

What happens when the adults in charge stop playing fair? In this powerful episode, I speak with Chrissy Collison, the President of Upper Southampton Softball, who shares why they were shockingly removed from their league — not because of their performance, but because they challenged the rules. Hear how bullying, intimidation, and unfair treatment by league leadership left young players sidelined...

The relentless push for early specialization and profit-driven youth sports isn’t just changing the game—it’s harming kids’ education, fracturing family time, and turning communities into battlegrounds for the next 'elite' athlete. And as another sprawling sports complex opens, the system only digs in deeper. Coach Tony Talks about it.......... ***Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherev...

Where did the fun go when playing youth sports? Are kids over-lessoned causing their IQ to suffer? While sports may not be for every kid, being a part of a TEAM can be very beneficial for a young child if built the right way.  In this episode, Coach Tony talks about the misconceptions when it comes to coaching a youth sports team and why 70% of all young players are quitting sports before the age...

Are you fully prepared for the college recruiting process? Could your past impact your chances?....... In this episode, National College Scout, Mackenzie Bellows-Schissel, gives her experiences as a DIV 1 Player, DIV Coach, & Scout.  Follow Mackenzie's Work: : https://linktr.ee/mac_schissel   ***Follow the Pod - Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Also, please leave your stories in th...

From Burnout to Balance to Breakthroughs........ In this powerful episode of Fighting For Overtime, Coach Tony sits down with Hanna Howard, CEO of Rematch U.S. and former Division I basketball standout and college coach. With over 15 years of experience on the sidelines at elite programs like TCU and Fresno State, Hanna brings a rare perspective—as an athlete, coach, parent, and now a tech leader—...

When a youth athlete battles herself inside and out, it brings out the ultimate competitor. This is her story...... In this episode, we sit down with Noelle Baxter, a former standout in both AAU and high school basketball, who carried her love of the game from the travel soccer fields of CRUSA to the hardwood of Kutztown University. Raised in Warminster, PA, and shaped by top-tier programs like He...

Do you feel today's young athletes are overworked and on the edge of burnout? How did you find balance as a youth athlete while still trying to be a kid? Former Softball Pitcher turned Real Estate Agent Mackenzie Marino joins Coach Tony to break it down. Before being a kick ass Real Estate Agent, Mackenzie Marino was a “BEAST” on the Softball Field. Her career spans 9+ years playing for Northampto...