Navigating Parental Influence in Youth Sports

Coach Wester is joined by renowned trauma and addiction recovery expert Tennie McCarty to examine how unresolved issues in parents and coaches often surface in their relationships with athletes, sometimes sabotaging the very growth they hope to support. From toxic overinvolvement to the silent consequences of unspoken trauma, this conversation explores how boundaries, self-awareness, and healthy advocacy can shift the athletic experience from pressure-driven to empowering. Tennie shares insights from decades of clinical experience and previews the tools she’ll be teaching at this summer’s Wrestling Prep Coach's Clinic, including how to confront dysfunctional patterns, build trust-based communication, and stop passing pain from one generation to the next. This is essential listening for coaches and parents committed to the long-term development of the athlete and the person.

In this episode:

Shades of Hope

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