Surviving Youth Sports

In this episode of Surviving Youth Sports , host Rhett Parker sits down with basketball coach James Lane to talk about the reality of youth sports from multiple perspectives. James has lived nearly every side of the game. He played Division I basketball, coached at the college and high school level, helped run a youth basketball league with more than 70 teams, and now coaches his own daughters whi...

In this episode of Surviving Youth Sports , Rhett Parker sits down with Tara Henry, General Manager of Softball America and a leader in international softball development. Tara shares what she’s learned from coaching and traveling around the world and how youth sports culture in the United States often prioritizes winning over development. The conversation explores coach education, parent influenc...

In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, Ian Ritchie shares an honest look at youth sports rankings, projection versus performance, and the emotional pressure placed on families navigating elite baseball. From Perfect Game rankings to development on the national stage, Ian explains why rankings can create confusion, frustration, and misplaced focus. He also shares a powerful story involving Roman...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Ian Ritchie, father of Atlanta Braves first-round pick JR Ritchie, shares honest lessons about parenting in youth sports. This episode explores coaching your own child, holding a higher standard without damaging the relationship, and supporting siblings who choose different paths. From Bainbridge Island Little League to elite travel baseball, Ian reflects o...

In this episode of Surviving Youth Sports , Rhett sits down with Angie Mentink. Many know Angie from her work covering Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners. Others remember her playing days with the UW Softball Huskies and the Colorado Silver Bullets. But here, she speaks as a parent navigating the realities of youth sports with two very different sons. Angie reflects on parenting witho...

In this episode of Surviving Youth Sports , Rhett Parker sits down with college baseball coach Justin Cunningham to talk about youth sports parenting, perspective, and what changes when you move from the dugout to the stands. Justin has coached at multiple levels of college baseball and currently leads at Lyon College, but this past year he experienced the game differently — as the father of Conno...

In this Surviving Youth Sports Short, Xavier Neyens shares a humble and genuine player’s perspective on what it really means to “make it.” After listening to his father’s episode, Xavier reflects on his journey through youth sports, high school baseball, and basketball, and what truly mattered along the way. For him, success was never just about results, rankings, or future opportunities. It was a...

Rhett Parker welcomes Steve Neyens , a firefighter, devoted husband, and the father of Houston Astros first round draft pick Xavier Neyens . The episode opens with a familiar youth sports reality: once your kid becomes known, your identity can quietly shift too. You are not Steve anymore. You are “X’s dad.” From their small town roots in Mount Vernon and Nooksack Valley, Steve shares why their fam...

Episode Description In this episode of Surviving Youth Sports , Rhett Parker sits down with Gabe Grinder , head baseball coach at Southeastern University, to talk about youth sports development, parental pressure, and what kids actually need to grow and stay in the game. From 8U baseball to college athletics, this conversation explores where youth sports is falling short and how adults can do bett...

Episode Description In this opening episode of Surviving Youth Sports , host Rhett Parker sits down with producer Maika’i Derouin to explain why this podcast needed to exist. What begins as a conversation about parenting and coaching quickly becomes a deeper reflection on how complex, emotional, and personal the youth sports journey really is. Rhett shares how years of experience as an athlete, co...

Surviving Youth Sports is a podcast for parents, athletes, coaches, and leaders navigating the realities of youth sports. Beyond wins and highlights, we share real stories about pressure, expectations, mistakes, growth, and what it actually takes to make it through the journey. Honest conversations, lived experiences, and no one-size-fits-all answers.