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This Week’s Playbook. To buy, or not to buy…..that is the question. We want the best for our kids, but does your 8 year old need the $300 bat? And does your 10 year old need the $250 soccer cleats? Generally the answer is “no” but as sports parents, we do recognize the power of FOMO. So this week we address how to make some of these important sport parenting decisions, and how to keep youth sports affordable.
This Week's Features
REAL TALK PLAY OF THE WEEK
“Struggle is not the enemy of our kids. It’s the training ground for them.”
—Ian Goldberg, Signature Media | Read More →
One Simple Scoop For Better Health
The best healthy habits aren't complicated. AG1 Next Gen helps support gut health and fill common nutrient gaps with one daily scoop. It's one easy routine that fits into real life and keeps your health on track all day long. Start your mornings with AG1 and keep momentum on your side.
PARENTS’ CORNER
Six Expenses That Catch Sports Parents Off Guard Every Season
You did the math. Registration, equipment, uniform. You paid the bill and thought: okay, we're set. And then the emails started. Tournament fees. Team photos. Fundraiser obligations. New cleats because the old ones suddenly don't fit. Youth sports have a way of nickel-and-diming families into exhaustion, not because anyone's being sneaky, but because the real cost of a season is almost never captured in that first number. We break down the six hidden expenses that catch parents off guard and how to plan for them so you're not scrambling mid-season. Your wallet called. It wants you to keep reading.
Or find other tips for sideline parents here:
TOOLS FOR YOUR ATHLETE
Your 9-Year-Old Does Not Need a $300 Bat
Your kid is struggling with something. A skill that won't click. A confidence dip. And somewhere in the back of your mind, a thought creeps in: maybe they need better equipment. It's tempting. Gear is something you can control. But here's the truth that's easy to forget in the sporting goods aisle: a kid who takes 500 swings with a hand-me-down bat will outperform a kid who takes 50 swings with a $400 bat. Every single time. We break down what actually builds confidence, when gear matters (and when it really doesn't), and what to say when your kid asks for the latest model of everything. Put down the credit card and read this first.
Or add some other tools to your athlete’s toolbox:
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Thought Leaders
Follow our sport parents and athletes building the future of youth sports.
Follow Maddie Soviero, 10,000+ hours as a youth sports coach, program director, league director, and camp director
Follow Ian Goldberg, 10,000+ hours as a seasoned sport parent (#girldad), volunteer coach, and youth sports Editor-in-chief
Follow Kim Pope, 10,000+ hours building youth sports — a former D1 athlete and a new sports mom navigating the journey with fresh eyes
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