Valiant Learning Search

Choosing Teams & Clubs

Looking beyond wins, rankings, facilities, and promises to find the right developmental environment.

Coach–Parent Relationships

Building productive relationships while knowing when and how to advocate for your child.

Confidence, Failure & Resilience

Helping athletes struggle, fail, compete, learn, and grow without rescuing them from every difficult experience.

Money & the Youth Sports Arms Race

Making informed decisions about private training, travel, showcases, camps, equipment, and escalating costs.

Pressure & Expectations

Helping athletes pursue goals without making achievement feel like the price of approval.

Be Smart. Don't Be Scared.

Todd Merkow sits down with Jonathan Carone — founder and host of Healthy Sports Parents, former youth and competitive athlete, youth sports coach, and sports parent. Jonathan describes himself as the epitome of a marginal athlete: good enough to make all-stars in rec league, never quite good enough to stick on a school team, and completely fine with that. He played rec basketball through eighth gr

Be There for the Journey

Todd Merkow sits down with Jeff Proctor — longtime friend, Valiant Sports Society board member, director, producer, game show creator, and now documentary filmmaker — for a wide-ranging conversation about what it means to be a sports parent when you've lived the athlete's life yourself. Jeff grew up in Carmel, Indiana, the child of divorced parents, playing everything — church baseball, hockey, t

Build a League Worth Believing In

Todd Merkow sits down with Christian Lavers — founder and president of the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League), former Director of Coaching and Methodology at FC Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin finance and soccer alumnus, holder of both an MBA and a law degree, and father of four young children ages four through eight. The ECNL has grown from 40 clubs and roughly 2,000 players at its founding in

Callista Elmore | Love the Game. Protect the Kid. | NCAA Champion & Sports Parent

Callista Elmore knows what it feels like to love a sport enough to build your life around it. Growing up in Tucson, softball became more than something she played. It became part of who she was. That journey eventually took her to the University of Arizona, where she played catcher for legendary coach Mike Candrea and became a two-time NCAA Division I softball champion. But Callista's story isn'

Compassionate and Competitive

Todd Merkow sits down with Crystalrae States — founder and owner of Boilermaker Softball Club in Pennsylvania, former Division II catcher and head coach, master's-level exercise and sport science professional, and mother of three young kids — for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually looks like to build a female-first youth sports organization from scratch, why development and winning

How do you encourage your child without too much pressure?

Encouragement can feel different to every child. What sounds supportive to a parent may feel like added pressure to an athlete. It helps to ask what support looks like from your child’s point of view. They may want a listener, a ride home without analysis, or simply someone in the stands. The relationship is the foundation. When a child knows they are supported, feedback can become easier to hear when they ask for it.

What does a healthy sports culture at home actually look like?

The sports culture at home is built in everyday moments: before practice, on the ride home, and when the game is not going the way anyone hoped. A healthy home culture leaves room for the athlete to be a whole person. It does not make love, attention, or belonging depend on performance. Parents can set a tone of curiosity and support while still helping their child learn from the experience.

What is the biggest mistake sports parents make?

Sports parents make decisions in a fast-moving environment, often with incomplete information and plenty of outside pressure. This question is an opportunity to return to the child at the center of the journey. What do they need? What do they want? What is helping them grow? A parent does not need to make every decision perfectly. They can slow down, get informed, and choose what fits their family.

Why Be Valiant? Play Fearless.

Being valiant is not about having every answer. It is about choosing to be thoughtful, informed, and steady in a sports environment that can sometimes feel overwhelming. Parents have tremendous influence over a child’s experience. Their choices, questions, and everyday support can help create a healthier path. Playing fearless begins with a child who knows they are valued beyond the game.

My child puts a lot of pressure on themselves. What do I do?

Some athletes set a demanding standard for themselves long before anyone else says a word. Parents may notice the pressure even when it is not spoken aloud. The goal is not to remove every challenge. It is to help a child separate their value from a single performance or result. A calm, open conversation can make it easier for a young athlete to share what they are carrying.

10 Misconceptions About Kids Sports — and How Parents Can Push Against Them

From 'winning leads to advancement' to 'you need to specialize early,' Steve Borelli breaks down the 10 most common delusions sports parents hold — and what the research actually says about each one.

April 26, 2026

What a College Coach Wants Sports Parents to Know: Cori Close on Burnout, Character, and What Kids Actually Remember

UCLA women's basketball head coach Cori Close has watched talented players arrive at the college level completely burned out. In a conversation with USA TODAY, she shares what she wishes more youth sports parents understood — before it's too late.

July 2024

A Question Every Sports Parent Should Be Asking

Great article on "I Love to Watch You Play" covers the question, "Is all this investment — financial and emotional — truly helping our kids?"

July 2024

A Must Watch for Every Sports Parent Regarding Mental Health

The Kansas City Royals, in collaboration with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, have produced a compelling documentary that every youth sports parent, coach, and club organization needs to see.

July 2024

The Great Hambino Grew Up. His Advice for Sports Parents Is Worth Hearing.

Patrick Renna — who played 'Ham' in The Sandlot — is now a baseball dad himself. His take on keeping youth sports fun, staying quiet during games, and what the ride home is really for is a refreshing reminder of what sports is supposed to feel like.

July 5, 2026

Aspen Institute Project Play

Research, policy, and practical tools focused on making sports more accessible, enjoyable, and developmentally appropriate for all kids.

MomsTEAM Institute

Evidence-based resources for sports parents on safety, concussions, mental health, and creating healthier youth sports environments.

Positive Coaching Alliance

Training and resources for parents, coaches, and administrators to create a positive, character-building youth sports environment.

TrueSport

A national movement promoting the values of sport — respect, excellence, fun, and community — for athletes, coaches, and parents.