1 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: We don't talk about hints, we don't talk about home runs, 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: we don't talk about touchdowns, because again, I thought, asking 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: about that, that means I'm putting emphasis on results and 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: out tons, and I don't care about results and outcomes. 5 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: I'm like, listen, have funds. I'll try as hard as 6 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:21,479 Speaker 1: you could. Yes, sir, I love you. Whether the worst 7 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: player on the field or the best player of this 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: seventh don't care. This is the Reformed Sports Project, a 9 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: podcast about restoring healthy balance and perspective in all areas 10 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:35,919 Speaker 1: of sports through education and advocacy. Hi, this is Nick 11 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: Bonacoort from the Reformed Sports Project podcast. Joining me today 12 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: is former NFL football player and current host of ESPN 13 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: College Game Day, David Pollock. David went down as one 14 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 1: of the greatest college football players in the history of 15 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: the sport, having been named to the College Football Hall 16 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:52,879 Speaker 1: of Fame after being a three time All American at 17 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 1: the University of Georgia. Pollock and I get into a 18 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: host of topics all pertaining to youth and amateur sports, 19 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: everything from his experience as a youth coaching sports parents 20 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: to his thoughts on early sports specialization and the importance 21 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: of kids playing and sampling multiple sports. Man freaking fired up. 22 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: I have another just absurd guest College Football Hall of Fame, 23 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: just a three time All American to Georgia. Won every 24 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: single award you can possibly imagine on the defensive side. 25 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: Former NFL player, major youth sports advocate. Really pumped to 26 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: have him, David Pollock, Man, Paul, thanks so much for 27 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: hopping on bro Absolutely, Man, Here's where I want to 28 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: start with you. Man, we were able to connect via 29 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: social media. UM, I saw some recent tweets that you 30 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: put out. Obviously you're a father. Um, you know it's 31 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 1: been in and out of sports your whole life. First, 32 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: I want to ask you what moved you to want 33 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 1: to kind of get up and use your platform to 34 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: advocate for the current culture. Youth sports will start there 35 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 1: to kind of see where you go with it. Okay, Well, 36 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: I coach, I coach you think sports and I have 37 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: to the last six years, and um, man have I 38 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: learned a lot of what not to do, um and 39 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: what to do and um the keys to kind of 40 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: having success. I'll be honest, Man, I heard it up 41 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: a ton brother, So I definitely have learned from my 42 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: son has taught me a ton about how to handle 43 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: kids and how to talk to kids and how to 44 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: deal with them and what those into it and so um. 45 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 1: But I've been done this journey, and I just see 46 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: the journey with parents and I see the pressure that's 47 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: put on them with other people. I was just talking 48 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: to one of my girls, my my baby girl, Leah 49 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: is a sixth grader, and one of the girls on 50 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 1: her team play soccer, and she missed his basketball practice 51 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: once a week and she plays on high level soccer 52 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: that plays, you know, ten months out of the year. 53 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,679 Speaker 1: And I'm like, you know, she can play basketball and 54 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: and miss soccer and it's okay. Um. She's like, well, 55 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: she's got a spot on this team and they do this, 56 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: and I'm like, well, you know, you don't have to 57 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: travel like they say that you need to be at X, 58 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: Y and Z, and I know the problem is you're 59 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 1: paying so much money to be on this team that 60 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 1: people are like, crap, I don't want to lose my money. 61 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: But I was just trying to explain. They're like, listen, 62 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: sports are supposed to be fun, and what I see 63 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: is a lot of parents ripping the fun out of 64 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: sports and listen, to be here I've been one of 65 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: those people in my life too, Like I've been so 66 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 1: competitive in the past at times that I would lose 67 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 1: sight of that. But you know, I just I've built 68 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 1: my whole program with my youth league football team around 69 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: you know, a couple of principles that I love, and 70 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: my basketball and girls are the same thing. It's not 71 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: about performance, That's not what it's about. Like all of 72 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: it's about attitude and effort. And with all of these 73 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: coaches out there that you wonder why players play scared 74 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: or players play slow, is because we put a premium 75 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: on performance. You put a premium on outcome. When you 76 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: put a premium on outcome, of course they're gonna be disappointed. 77 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: Of course they're gonna play president. So you know, our 78 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: whole culture, with our youth league organizations that we've done 79 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: here in North Dakoni, you know, it's really been trying 80 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: to change that narrative and try to say, listen, your 81 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: best is all you can give. All you can give 82 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: is have a great attitude and give great effort. And 83 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: so I just it's been on my heart because I've 84 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: seen it when I've talked to parents recently about it 85 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: and continue to and it's just it's frustrating because I 86 00:03:57,640 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: think parents think that's the only way their kids gonna 87 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: get ahead, as if they played sports year round or 88 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: if they joined certain teams, and that couldn't be further 89 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: from the church. So initially it was called the Reformed 90 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: Sports Parent, and then you know, it kind of evolved 91 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: into a project, kind of a greater umbrella and kind 92 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: of like to echo what you said, I didn't start 93 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: it because I was I didn't have my own issues. 94 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,359 Speaker 1: I have six kids, and you know, I definitely found 95 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 1: myself getting a little bit too wrapped up in it 96 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: for for a little bit of time. And you know, 97 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: basically there was a moment there in time where I 98 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 1: probably think I was putting my ego involved and like 99 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: my son may go over two or maybe Buddha ball 100 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: at eight years old, and then my ego was involved. 101 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: It was almost like and I think a lot of 102 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: parents get wrapped up in that, but I think, what's 103 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: one of the most amazing things. And I played Division 104 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: three baseball and I was fortunate playing a great team. 105 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: We want a national title, but here you are someone 106 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: who went to the highest level your sport, you know, 107 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 1: played in the NFL. One of the greatest linebackers in 108 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 1: the history of college football, and we're speaking the same 109 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: language because, you know, we feel moved to do that. 110 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: I think that's one of the biggest things out there, 111 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: you know, And this is one of the statistics that 112 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: was staggering to me when I first learned it. Ninety 113 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 1: three percent of high school athletes, all high school, male, female, 114 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 1: doesn't matter the sport, do not play a sport past 115 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: high school, right, Only seven percent actually go on to 116 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: college and above. So when you look at that number, 117 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: you realize, well, majority of people out there have no 118 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: idea what it's like to compete at a fairly high level. 119 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: So it's easy to get sucked into what Tom Dicker 120 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 1: here at the club, at the soccer club, at the 121 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: baseball organization is you know that fear of missing out, Hey, 122 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: if you don't play in the fall, you might lose 123 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: your spot. Whereas you and I have a little experience, 124 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: may say, dude, if you go out there and compete, 125 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: your more versatile play other sports. In the long run, 126 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: it's gonna work out. But parents feel that pressure. So 127 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,840 Speaker 1: you know, at times I feel bad pointing of I 128 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:39,679 Speaker 1: don't want to say pointing a finger. But I also 129 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 1: think parents really majority don't know because we all want 130 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: the best for our kids, right, we all want it, 131 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: But at the same time, how do we separate that? 132 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 1: Like everybody interview and Dave, I've interviewed like five We 133 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,679 Speaker 1: just started rolling out the podcast and you know, speaking 134 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: of soccer, Anson Lawrences episodes out. He's arguably the most 135 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: winning coach in the history of athletics, right up there 136 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: with Dan Gable and John wood In with twenty one 137 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: national titles he coached mia Ham. He speaks for ten 138 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 1: fifteen minutes about the value and why all kids should 139 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 1: play multiple sports for as long as they can. Why 140 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: is this hyper specialization thing? Do you think it's just 141 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: easy to market to that if you're a business. I mean, 142 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: that's what I think. I'm curious to your thoughts. I 143 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: think there's there's part of that, like you see, but 144 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: I think it's a constant keeping up with the Jones. 145 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: This is what I think. It's what I see from 146 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: from a lot of people in our area. Um and listen, 147 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 1: I think Nick, we're both talking the same language. We're 148 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 1: not casting the supersions on people, and we're not telling 149 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: people they're bad people. Um, that's not what we're trying 150 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:37,679 Speaker 1: to do. But I think there's a lot of people 151 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: that I'm around they wanted for their kids, really a 152 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: bad and they want to give him every opportunity to 153 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: be successful. They think again, and I don't know this 154 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: is because they didn't do it, And they don't know, 155 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: but I think they think they didn't make it. I 156 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: have a buddy that thinks he didn't make it because 157 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: his dad didn't give an opportunity to make it. He 158 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 1: doesn't realize that it's because he doesn't have a lot 159 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: of talent. Like, you can't make people great. You can't 160 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: give somebody a bunch of talent that they don't have. 161 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: And you know, the bottom line is when you play basketball, 162 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: you learn to jump and twist and contort your body 163 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: and slide your feet and you learn how to do 164 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: all these different things. You play football, you learn how 165 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: to anchor your base and really hit people and use 166 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: your hips and learn how to run with a bunch 167 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: of equipment on. You play baseball, you learn how to 168 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: go one on one with a picture. You know, playing 169 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: the mind game, thinking about balls and strikes. Um, you know, 170 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: having to focus for you know, in the outfield, having 171 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: to understand positional baseball where a base runner is. So 172 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 1: all the sports work together to make you better, and 173 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: they make you better in each single one. The problem 174 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: is people see now results, people look at what we 175 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: just taught them to do. I don't want them to 176 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: not learn it. I want them to keep up with it. 177 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: So I see a ton of people practice in baseball 178 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: year around on Sundays, like they just Okay, we got 179 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: football games on Sunday. Well, Johnny has a baseball practice. 180 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: I don't really care about Johnny's baseball practice. But parents 181 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: are wanting them to do two and three sports at 182 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: a time, you know, multiple sports at a time, because 183 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 1: they need to keep up because somebody else is getting 184 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: pitching lessons, because somebody else is getting catching lessons. They 185 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: need to keep their arm fresh. It's like, here's the thing, 186 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: here's what I can promise you. Nick, as a football player, 187 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: what I have seen. You had so many hits in 188 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 1: your body and you're done. You're done. And I don't 189 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: mean your body is gonna stop and it's gonna revolt. 190 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: I'm saying you're done playing the game at that level. 191 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: I saw one of my best buddies in college. Jeremy 192 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 1: Thomas played fullback at Georgia, went to the Bengals with 193 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: me in the pros. Jeremy's one of the most physical, 194 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: devastating blockers that I ever saw in my life. Jeremy 195 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: Thomas they went to the Bengals, was a show of 196 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: himself because he had taken so many licks and he 197 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 1: was just he was done. So I just think that 198 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,199 Speaker 1: your focus your energy, just like doing drills. Like people 199 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: always ask me what are some college drills to get 200 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 1: my kids ready, and they like, what drills do you 201 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:56,200 Speaker 1: do with our team? I'm like, I don't do any 202 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: of those drills, because when they get to high school 203 00:08:58,400 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 1: when it really matters, they're gonna have to do the 204 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 1: drills all the time. They're gonna do these drills every 205 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: single day. And you know what happens. You get sick 206 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: and tired of doing the same crap at nauseum every 207 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: single day. And if you've been doing it every day 208 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,079 Speaker 1: since you were six years old, the same crap for 209 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: every week since you were six years old, that's when 210 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 1: you turn to your mom and Dawn and you're like, dude, 211 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 1: this sucks, Like I hate this, this isn't fun. Anymore. 212 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: So that's the biggest thing to me, is like you 213 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 1: can be a good coach and expect great results, but 214 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 1: demand fun and showcase fun like the most important part. 215 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: Like I make three statements after every single game. We 216 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 1: don't talk about hits. We don't talk about home runs, 217 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: we don't talk about touchdowns, because again, Nick, if I'm 218 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: asking about that, that means I'm putting emphasis on results 219 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:46,319 Speaker 1: and outcomes, and I don't care about results and outcomes. 220 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 1: I'm like, listen, Lea Nicholas, did y'all have fun? That's 221 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: Lea Nicholas. Did y'all try as hard as you could? Yes, sir, 222 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 1: Lea Nicholas. I love you, whether the worst player on 223 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 1: the field or the best player in the field, don't care. 224 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 1: And those are three things that I always say to 225 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: my kids to remind them, like, this is a game, 226 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: this is fun. I want you to give all you got. 227 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: And here's another thing too, When the game's over, you 228 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: watch these kids, they're like, let me go get a 229 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: juice box, let me get my snacks. They're over in 230 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: two seconds. It's us parents, us idiots that literally still 231 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:19,719 Speaker 1: over it and let us bother us for weeks and 232 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 1: weeks and weeks and make everybody around them miserable. So 233 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: trust me, I've been in that book. You're bringing up 234 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 1: my my My partner at Octagon, Peter Carlile, is actually 235 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: Michael Phelps's longtime agent. UM. He's a youth sports advocate 236 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: also and just an athlete advocate. But he uh, his 237 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: quote me way back when is so long as we 238 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:43,719 Speaker 1: value short term performance over long term development, the end 239 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 1: will never justify the means. And you know he talked 240 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: about Michael Phelps simone bios, these great athletes at his 241 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: firm at Octon represents, I mean the battle with Olympians 242 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: and I don't know if you can touch on this 243 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 1: at all. Would come in public and talking about mental health, 244 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: right and I don't think people quite understand because we're 245 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: talking about the physical side right now. You talk about 246 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: hits that kids take in football, and well it's the 247 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: same thing in baseball. You know, if you have you know, 248 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: you only have so many bullets in your arm right 249 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: before eventually you just you run out of bullets man. Right. 250 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: Jacob Agram played shortstop at Stetson. Lenny DeNardo, who played 251 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: for the Socks, told me an interview is like dude, 252 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 1: he didn't pitch at all at Stetson Harley. No, all 253 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 1: of a sudden he throws a hundred because he has 254 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: all of his bullets left. So we're talking about the physical, 255 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: but the mental side, right, And there's people out there 256 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 1: who really don't think that sports is taxing. Will you know, 257 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: take a look around. You brought up, you know, and 258 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: I've seen it with my own kids. Initially, you know, 259 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: you're going from middle school ball to a trek league 260 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: to it. I see people going to three different baseball 261 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: teams in the same season, and then the kids go home, 262 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: do homework, they're in bed at midnight. It's like, dude, 263 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:40,959 Speaker 1: can you talk about mental health is a big thing. 264 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: More and more athletes are talking about it. Can you 265 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: speak from your experience maybe some instances or some examples 266 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 1: you can see where you know, from an emotional development standport, 267 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 1: how mental health can play into this over maybe specialization, 268 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 1: but just over emforatis on performance at these young ages 269 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: while these kids are still developing, do you think about 270 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: it even so good A put so much on them 271 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 1: to be X and to be why and to always 272 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: do this or that, Like your expectations of them are 273 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: are so big at such a young age a lot 274 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: of times. And listen, Michael Phelps and Simone Biles or two, Um, 275 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 1: you're talking about the other seven percent to play college sports. 276 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: They're like the point zero zero zero one percent of 277 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 1: the world that absolutely dominated. But I guarantee you both 278 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: of them will tell you about the sacrifices that they 279 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:25,839 Speaker 1: have made throughout their lives to be where they are. 280 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 1: And whether you know, I remember vividly Michael Phelps talking 281 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 1: about like he hated getting into pool. It was cold, 282 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: it was dark, and um, you know, I just I 283 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 1: don't want that for my kid. Listen, Michael Phelps is amazing, 284 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 1: and Michael Phelps and what he does is amazing. But 285 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: here's the deal, Like, what is your goal? Are you 286 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: constantly talking to your kids about college It's so why 287 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: are you talking to your kids about the NFL, the NBA, 288 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 1: that Major League throws mnastics? Why we take away the 289 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: emphasis of being a kid, Like the point of being 290 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: a kid is to have no cares, have no worries, 291 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: let it rip, have fun. Like when we start projecting 292 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 1: those things on kids and we start talking about you 293 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 1: going to get next lines and listen, Nick, there's always 294 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: kids that are built different too. Um, there's kids that 295 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: like love to grind and they can grind a lot. 296 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 1: I'm one of those people that I've always been a grinder, 297 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 1: Like I can grind. I just I've always been able 298 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: to do that, and that's always been something that since 299 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: I was little. I've always liked to grind and I've 300 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: always you know, master the craft and always want to 301 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 1: take time. But here's the thing. Most of the time, 302 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: when you're that kind of a person and you're taxing 303 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:30,959 Speaker 1: somebody that kind of a person, at some point, you're 304 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 1: going to lose it. And then listen, mentally, if you're 305 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: gonna put all that strain on people, mentally, they're gonna 306 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: get to the point where they just kind of bucket 307 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:40,079 Speaker 1: and say, I don't care, and we just gotta stop. 308 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: I think we gotta stop putting the emphasis on the 309 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 1: future so much. If my son and daughter play three 310 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: sports in high school and they're worse at every single 311 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: one of them. There they're worse at softball and baseball 312 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: and basketball, is you know if they're worse at football 313 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: and all these sports because they play off three and 314 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: they had a blast and they stayed out of trouble. Like, 315 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: to me, that's winning, that's that's absolutely winning. But when 316 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 1: I make basketball season, you know, year round, they absolutely 317 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: have a point where mentally it's just a breaking point 318 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 1: and it's like it's like riding a bike. Another thing, too, 319 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:16,839 Speaker 1: is ai U that that I see people used to 320 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: be so competitive in basketball and play hard on a 321 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: weekend reakount basis. I think you watch people now it's 322 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 1: not the same. You know why because they always have 323 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: another game. Jim Calhoun said the exact same thing to me. 324 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: I don't mean interrupt you. Yes, he literally said exactly 325 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: the same thing. I mean because I watched these kids 326 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: and like, guess what if you lose this one, you're 327 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: in the loser's bracket. Okay, now I'll go over here 328 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: to the losers bracket. If I lose that one, I 329 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 1: go in another bracket. For God's sakes, Like you just 330 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: keep playing and there's no consequences, Like it's funny. We 331 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: pick up basketball at my house and I remember vividly 332 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: explaining this to the kids about a year and a 333 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: half ago. I'm like, listen, if you lose, you sit 334 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: like you sit on the bench, and then the losing 335 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: team if there's somebody left over who's not waiting. You 336 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 1: get picked up. Like those are things that like you 337 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: used to understand when you played pick up basketball, like 338 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 1: oh crap, I gotta sit. I don't want to I 339 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: don't want to lose. But now everybody's got a game. 340 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: You know, you go into different brackets, so there's always games, 341 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: there's always there's seventeen different divisions. My god, everybody gets 342 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: a ring every weekend because you can go in a 343 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: different division and go in a different ring. That's David Pollock, 344 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: former NFL football player and current host of ESPNS College 345 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: Game Day. When we returned, we discussed the importance of 346 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: versatility and why it's so imperative kids be allowed to 347 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: develop through struggle in youth sports. Welcome back to the 348 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 1: Reformed Sports Project podcast. Where David and I left off, 349 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: we were about to discuss the importance of being versatile 350 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: and how resiliency is developed through struggle and failure. You know, 351 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: I think as I'm listening to you know, I'm going 352 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 1: you know what we're taking away and this comes up 353 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 1: a lot is what I think the greatest things you know, 354 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: sports teaches us all on here what sport it is 355 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 1: I'm getting ready to watch my kids wrestling tournament tomorrow. Man, 356 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: I love that sport. Never wrestled day in my life. 357 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: But when you lose, you lose. You can't blame the ball, 358 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: I can't blame the umpire, and you can really self reflect. 359 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: And one of the greatest gifts I got from my 360 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 1: sport experience was the failure and resiliency that came through 361 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: working through that. And if all we're doing is, you know, 362 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 1: bouncing from team to team, we're not starting shortstops. So 363 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go start my own team, which is like 364 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: I say this a lot of interviews, but it's like, 365 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 1: for some reason, so many parents think that, like if 366 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: they're kids are halfway decent athlete, if they're not playing shortstop, 367 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: it's like the unbelievable, Like how is that not possible? 368 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: Like dude, like what why? What is up with shortstop? 369 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: Like I get it, but like you gotta go start 370 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 1: your own team, Like what's wrong with telling your kid, Hey, 371 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: you want to get better, maybe you need to work 372 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: on your game a little bit. So and so in 373 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: front of you is a little bit more advanced. You know, 374 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 1: go find a way to play left field. Because Tim 375 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 1: Corbin told me in our interview, you can listen to it. 376 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: He's like, Nick, we might have nine shortstops because traditionally 377 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 1: your shortstop usually is the best athlete on the field. 378 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: In many instances, only one shortstops on our field. So 379 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: what happens. One of them could play left field if 380 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: he competes. One can end up being a catcher if 381 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: someone gets on the bump and start shoving throwing nine 382 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: Like adversity, you learn resiliency and also versatility. I know 383 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: I'm using a bunch of words there, but I feel 384 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,680 Speaker 1: like we're taking those things away from our kids by 385 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,920 Speaker 1: constantly preparing the path for them as opposed to preparing 386 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: them for the path. Can you get into that a 387 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: little bit, those lessons that you learned. One of my 388 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 1: kids on my three football team gave me assurance the 389 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 1: end of the season. He's like, I'm trying to find 390 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:26,880 Speaker 1: some point. I found something that's perfect, he said, lessons, 391 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: not losses. And I thought it was great. I thought 392 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:33,439 Speaker 1: it was an awesome point. And that's the reason, right, Like, 393 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: we've got to learn from our failures. We've gotta learn 394 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: from our losses. And here's the thing I think long 395 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:41,640 Speaker 1: term we can't think now like perfect example, right now, 396 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,119 Speaker 1: my son is seventh grade kid. Right, he's a seventh 397 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: grade board that plays on the eighth grade boys team. 398 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 1: There's a lot of kids on the team. There's a 399 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 1: lot of kids on the team that he's better at that. 400 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: He doesn't play a lot. He doesn't play a lot 401 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: at all. Okay, Well, guess what I can do as 402 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 1: a parent. I can do one of two things. I 403 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: can support the coach and support the team. Or I 404 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: can support the player and be like, oh, you should 405 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: play more. And when I do that and I tell 406 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: him that, guess what I do? I cause a toxic environment. Now, 407 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: now he doesn't listen to the coach because the coach 408 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:12,640 Speaker 1: doesn't know what he's talking about. He's just playing his kid. 409 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:15,640 Speaker 1: He's just playing X, Y and Z, or undermining coaches 410 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: because we think you should be X. Why don't you 411 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 1: just let your kids play and see what they turn into. Like, 412 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: I don't think it has to be right now. It 413 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: has to be shortstop, it has to be a third base. 414 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: You don't know what your kids going to be long term. 415 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 1: You have no clue. But I do know that there 416 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: is so much value in telling your son or your daughter. 417 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 1: Every day, Hey, go show up and be the best 418 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: you can be. And wherever they put you, that's where 419 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 1: you are. And guess what. Sometimes in life, you're gonna 420 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,639 Speaker 1: give me everything you have and it's not gonna be 421 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 1: good enough. And that's a reality, by the way, Like 422 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: you've experienced that. How unick, Like you've given your best 423 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,880 Speaker 1: and you want X, and you want so and so job. 424 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 1: That's the job I want. I'm gonna go get it. 425 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: Somebody else gets promoted, Oh they didn't deserve it. Guess 426 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 1: what somebody else got promoting. So how do we teach 427 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:05,399 Speaker 1: our kids that, no matter what the altime is, just 428 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:09,400 Speaker 1: keep fighting, keep working, keeping proving, keep playing, keep having fun. 429 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: But I think a lot of that comes from parents, 430 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 1: and parents steal the joy because parents say it's because 431 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: he's a coach's son. Oh, it's because he shouldn't be 432 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: playing over you, but he is. Daddy balls. Just go 433 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 1: out and find your role. Find a role. What did 434 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: Doug Collins used to say, Know your role, starring your 435 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,560 Speaker 1: role and stay in your role, Like like, just go 436 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:32,959 Speaker 1: out there and succeed no matter what it looks like. 437 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: It doesn't have to be the star roll, the shortstop roll, 438 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: and every single every single outing. David, I'm listening to you, 439 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: I feel like there's veins. I can't see you, but 440 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 1: I would imagine there's a vein coming out of your neck. 441 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 1: You're getting fired You're getting me fired up, getting me 442 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 1: fired up. Take a couple of minutes. There are a 443 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: lot of kids, there are a lot of parents, a 444 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: lot of people are trying to find the right information. 445 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 1: They're trying to find the way to properly navigate it. 446 00:19:58,119 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: You know, you're someone who's been to the highest level. 447 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 1: What can these parents and kids do to put themselves 448 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,400 Speaker 1: in the best position to be, you know, to get 449 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,440 Speaker 1: the most value extracted from the youth sports experience. And 450 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 1: also if some of these kids want to be able 451 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 1: to get themselves because listen, you go on Twitter nowadays, 452 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:15,440 Speaker 1: every other human being is telling you how to get seen, 453 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 1: how to get recruited, which, by the way, that's the 454 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: easiest way to sell people to take their wallets out right. So, 455 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: how do you believe is the best way for kids 456 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:24,159 Speaker 1: to get on coaches radar and the best way to 457 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:28,199 Speaker 1: extract value from their amateur youth sports experience. Well, I 458 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 1: think that I think parents. Can you can find atmospheres 459 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 1: that aren't toxic. You can find atmospheres that are positive. 460 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 1: Do you have to look? Yeah, you will have to look. 461 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: I mean, for example, church is a priority in our household. 462 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: Sunday's church is a priority. We're not playing on a 463 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: baseball team that plays every Sunday, that plays every weekend. 464 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,640 Speaker 1: Like that's just something we're not gonna do. We found 465 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:51,880 Speaker 1: a great team that we played with now for five, six, 466 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: seven years, um, and guess what, we played two weeks 467 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: out of the weekend or out of the month. We 468 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: don't have to play. We we're gonna play for a 469 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: four months, three or four months, and we're done with baseball. 470 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 1: Like I think you can find atmospheres to find positive coaches, 471 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: positive role models. Here's the thing. If if it's all 472 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,160 Speaker 1: about competition for you and that's all you care about, 473 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: and you think you have to be on a certain team, okay, 474 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: we'll play a youth organization close nearby and just play 475 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 1: your kid up a year or two. Like, you don't 476 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 1: have to go travel the globe. You don't have to 477 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:26,440 Speaker 1: find a travel team that makes you commit to ten 478 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 1: months out of the season, go play out during soccer 479 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: season where you're planning against thirteen and fourteen year old 480 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 1: if you're an eleven year old, like, that's gonna push you, right, 481 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: that's gonna make you better if if that's your accomplishment, 482 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 1: that's your goal. Here's the thing. Sit down with your 483 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: kids and have them to find their goals and dreams. 484 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: Not you sit down with them and go what do 485 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 1: you want? I did this with my son and it 486 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,719 Speaker 1: was really eye opening. I'm like, buddy, what's your spiritual goals? 487 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: What do you want to get? A compliment? Like, what 488 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 1: are some things you are you want to get that? 489 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: What's your academic goals? What's your sports goals? Or the 490 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: sports goals during basketball team He's like, Daddy, I want 491 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: to go out every day of the week and shoot 492 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 1: two hundred jump shots. And I said, buddy, that's a 493 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 1: great go to half. I said, but you don't have 494 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 1: to do that every day. And here this is where 495 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 1: the parent comes into play. This is where your parent 496 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,679 Speaker 1: comes in and tries to help guide your kids and 497 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 1: help them find balance, because guess what, if your kid 498 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:21,439 Speaker 1: loves video games, just because they're passion about video games 499 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: and excited about video games doesn't mean you let him 500 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,160 Speaker 1: sit on them all day long, doesn't real real quick? 501 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:28,160 Speaker 1: I saw, I saw, I saw that tweet you put 502 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 1: out a little while ago. Not to interrupt you because 503 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: you said just like that, but no, I didn't interview him, 504 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 1: but no, mar Garcia Paris said, I read in a 505 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: blog a few years ago. He goes, my kids like 506 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 1: to eat ice cream, right, and if you don't know, 507 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 1: who know margarciapar was just go pull up the Red Sox. 508 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: You know. He's one of the best ever play short 509 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: stop there for the fans out there who don't know 510 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: he is. And he's also married to Mia Hamm right 511 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:50,679 Speaker 1: most decorated American soccer player women's side in the country. 512 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 1: He says, my kids love to eat ice cream doesn't 513 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:54,480 Speaker 1: mean I'm gonna give it to him every meal. I 514 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 1: gotta be the parent. I gotta be the one to 515 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: tell him, now, go ahead. I didn't interrupt you. Well now, 516 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 1: and that's perfect though. It's just running the same story, 517 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: like we have to. We have to help our kids 518 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 1: have balance. You can say, all my kids super motivated. 519 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: My kid wants to you know, he wants to make 520 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: his dreams come true. He wants to do this that's great. 521 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: We still have to guide them, We still have to 522 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,199 Speaker 1: give them. Like I can tell my son to go 523 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 1: shoot two hundred shots a day, and guess what, he's 524 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 1: not gonna want to shoot the hunder shots today when 525 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: he gets in high school, because he's gonna be sick 526 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 1: and tired of shooting two hundred shots today starting in 527 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 1: fifth grade. You know, Like I just so we got 528 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: we gotta help them define their goals, to find their 529 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: dreams and then give them baby steps to get there. 530 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:34,160 Speaker 1: But finding good teams, Um, listen, it's not easy. It's 531 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,640 Speaker 1: not an easy thing to do. But look forward. Don't 532 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 1: don't compromise just to be on a certain team. And 533 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: don't compromise. You know, what you think is to me 534 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: that the atmosphere is the most important thing, Like I 535 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: need to I don't care about competition as much as 536 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 1: I care about it. Better be a positive atmosphere. They 537 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:50,879 Speaker 1: better be talking to my kid in a positive way. 538 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:52,879 Speaker 1: They better not be swearing around my kid like that. 539 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 1: We ain't put up with that bull crap Like that's 540 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 1: not you know, you're not gonna talk to puye kids 541 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:59,159 Speaker 1: but that so you know, I think, sit down with 542 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 1: your kids help them outline goals, help them make realistic dreams, 543 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:06,680 Speaker 1: realistic goals. But let's not work on you know, things 544 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:09,680 Speaker 1: that are seventeen years down the road. Help create positivity 545 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 1: and whatever they're doing, help them be the best they 546 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: can be. Don't play multiple sports at a time like you. 547 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 1: Don't think you're burning your kid out like crazy. You 548 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 1: think they're gonna love baseball if they practice baseball year 549 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: round and then practice baseball all durn peas in sevil 550 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 1: times a week like I just I think you find 551 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 1: those good positive outlooks and those teams and and stay 552 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:32,679 Speaker 1: with them and keep looking until you find David Pollock. 553 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 1: Good luck to you, man. I can't thank you enough 554 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 1: for coming on and truly appreciate your brother. That's David Pollock, 555 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: former NFL football player and current host of ESPNS College 556 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 1: Game Day. Thanks for listening to the Reform Sports Project 557 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 1: podcast dom Nick Boncore and Our goal is to restore 558 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 1: a healthy balance and perspective in all areas of sports 559 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:55,479 Speaker 1: through education and advocacy. For updates, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, 560 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 1: and Instagram, or check out our website by searching for 561 00:24:58,400 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: the Reform Sports Project