Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness How To Fix Youth Sports with Greg Olsen
Sep 9, 2025
In this discussion, Greg Olsen, a former NFL All-Pro tight end and founder of Youth Inc., shares insights on the pressures of youth sports from both a pro athlete and a parent’s perspective. He advocates for a healthier, balanced approach and emphasizes the need for fun in sports over winning. Greg reflects on personal setbacks and the lessons learned, highlighting the importance of the journey in sports rather than just scholarships. He introduces innovative ideas like a unique scoring system that promotes teamwork and positive behavior among young athletes.
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Timeline Has Been Shifted Too Early
- Youth sports have been professionalized so early that kids must specialize by pre-teen years to keep up.
- That compresses development, removes experimentation, and robs kids of learning to fail and grow.
Make Participation Kid-Driven
- Let kids choose and drive their sports participation; require demonstrated commitment before enrollment.
- Avoid forcing kids into year-round play just to make a middle school roster.
Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Losses
- Early micro-training raises skill at 12 but undermines athleticism by 20.
- Losing multi-sport, gross-motor development produces less versatile athletes long-term.
