How Parents are Ruining Kids Sports | Ed Uszynski and Brian Smith

Description

On this episode of Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, Ed Uszynski and Brian Smith sit down to unpack the pressures of youth sports and how Christian parents can navigate them with wisdom, grace, and purpose. In a culture that often equates success with performance, Ed and Brian challenge parents to rethink their role—not as performance managers, but as disciple-makers. From sideline behavior to post-game conversations, they share how to create an environment where kids thrive spiritually, emotionally, and relationally—not just athletically. 🔹 Why more investment in youth sports can actually decrease a child’s joy 🔹 The hidden pressure kids feel—and how parents unintentionally create it 🔹 How to shift from performance goals to process goals 🔹 What it means to be a “missionary in the bleachers” 🔹 Simple ways to connect with your child instead of correcting them Get their book, "Away Game" here: https://bit.ly/47PuAVN --- Chapters: 0:00 – The Real Responsibility of Parents 0:22 – The Cost of Youth Sports & Declining Joy 3:00 – When Parents Project Their Own Dreams 6:06 – A Better Purpose for Youth Sports 9:30 – Being a “Missionary in the Bleachers” 12:44 – Performance vs. Process Goals 17:16 – Talk Less, Connect More 21:47 – Keeping an Eternal Perspective --- Check out Focus on the Family on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusonthefamily Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focusonthefamily X: https://twitter.com/FocusFamily --- #FocusontheFamily #ChristianParenting #YouthSports #ParentingTips #FaithAndFamily #RaisingKids #ChristianLiving #SportsParenting #FamilyDiscipleship #ParentingAdvice