The Questions Sports Parents Actually Want To Ask

Playing time. Quitting mid-season. Difficult coaches. Sideline drama. I answer the real questions you're dealing with every week.

Got one of your own? Email me at hey@heysammi.com Your question might be answered on the show.

27 episodes

• [Episode 39 September 10, 2026 6 minutes 36 seconds]
  Is it fair to be harder on my daughter just because I’m her coach?
  Coaching your own kid but afraid of playing favorites? Why being harder on her isn’t fair, and smarter ways to balance coaching and being her parent.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 38 September 9, 2026 6 minutes 49 seconds]
  How do I tell my kid his team is cutting players and he might be one?
  Your kid’s team is about to cut players and he doesn’t know yet. Here’s how to tell him, keep his trust, and handle the fallout without losing your season.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 37 September 8, 2026 6 minutes 45 seconds]
  My daughter is everyone’s favorite teammate, but she’s not getting better, should I worry?
  Worried your daughter’s not improving while cheering everyone on? Why being the glue kid is the real trophy, and how to know if you even need to worry.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 36 September 3, 2026 6 minutes 58 seconds]
  My son punched a teammate at practice, what am I supposed to do at home?
  Your son punched a teammate and you’re driving home in shock. Here’s how to handle it: no endless punishment, real repair, and the skill to prevent a sequel.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 35 September 2, 2026 7 minutes 9 seconds]
  What do we do when the club coach wants her to quit school ball?
  Club coach says skip school ball, school coach says stay. Here’s how to cut through coach agendas and help your kid make the call that actually fits her life.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 34 September 1, 2026 7 minutes 10 seconds]
  Should coaches act like losing by 14 goals is no big deal?
  Coaches shrugged off your kid’s 14-goal loss? Here’s why a calm sideline isn’t a failure, and the quick script that keeps heartbreak from taking root at home.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 33 August 27, 2026 6 minutes 58 seconds]
  Should I tell my son he’s not good enough to play college sports?
  Worried your kid’s college sports dream isn’t realistic? Here’s how to handle it without crushing their spirit, or your relationship in the process.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 32 August 26, 2026 6 minutes 37 seconds]
  Why did my kid look at me after scoring instead of celebrating with his team?
  Your kid scores, but his first look is for you, not his team. Sweet or a warning sign? Here’s how to spot the difference between sharing joy and checking for approval.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 31 August 25, 2026 6 minutes 47 seconds]
  What should I do when my 9-year-old says the coach has a favorite?
  Your 9-year-old swears the coach has a favorite. Here’s how to talk about fairness without wrecking her trust, or turning every game into a grudge match.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 30 August 20, 2026 7 minutes 16 seconds]
  Is driving ninety minutes each way to practice just too much for our family?
  Hauling your kid 90 minutes each way to practice and starting to wonder if it’s really worth it? Here’s how to weigh your kid’s needs, family sanity, and what the drive is actually costing everyone.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 29 August 19, 2026 6 minutes 58 seconds]
  Should I say something to the parents who won’t stop bragging about their kid?
  Teammate's parents bragging nonstop and your kid's starting to notice? Learn how to help your child tune out the noise and keep their confidence.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 28 August 18, 2026 6 minutes 3 seconds]
  Is my kid being benched just because we skipped a tournament for vacation?
  Missed a “mandatory” tournament for family and now your kid’s benched? Here’s how to handle the freezeout, talk to the coach, and protect your family’s priorities.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 27 August 13, 2026 7 minutes 17 seconds]
  My kid’s teammate just got recruited at 14, does that mean my daughter is behind?
  Your kid’s teammate just “committed” to college at 14 and now yours feels behind. Here’s how to cut through the recruiting panic and spot real progress.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 26 August 12, 2026 6 minutes 55 seconds]
  Are we on the wrong team if the other parents take youth sports so seriously?
  Feeling like the odd parent out on an intense sports team? Real talk on surviving the bleachers and protecting your kid’s joy.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 25 August 11, 2026 6 minutes 29 seconds]
  What should I do if my 12-year-old’s coach tells her to lose weight?
  A coach told your 12-year-old to lose weight. Here’s how to respond, protect your kid, and set the record straight without turning it into a crisis.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 24 August 6, 2026 5 minutes 17 seconds]
  Does my kid really need to play more than one sport?
  Barbecue talk says your kid needs more than one sport. Here’s what actually matters: movement variety, real offseasons, and protecting their love for the game.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 23 August 5, 2026 5 minutes 47 seconds]
  How do I fix things after my kid watched me yell at the referee?
  Lost your cool at a ref and your kid saw? Here’s how to actually repair the trust, what to say (and not say), and why three quiet games matter most.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 22 August 4, 2026 6 minutes 2 seconds]
  What do I do when my kid makes the team but her best friend gets cut?
  Your kid made the team, her best friend didn’t, and things are awkward. Here’s how to help your daughter handle the guilt and keep the friendship’s light on.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 21 July 30, 2026 5 minutes 23 seconds]
  What should I do if my kid is way better than her teammates?
  Your kid is bored because she’s the best on her team and her coach won’t move her up. Here’s how to handle it, without killing her love of the game.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 20 July 29, 2026 6 minutes 43 seconds]
  Should I let my kid rejoin the team after quitting in the middle of last season?
  Your kid quit mid-season and now wants back on the team? Here’s how to have the one conversation that matters before signing them up again.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 19 July 28, 2026 7 minutes 3 seconds]
  Why does my kid get physically sick before every game?
  Your kid’s stomach is in knots before every game? Here’s how to tell when it’s more than nerves, what actually helps, and why “toughen up” makes it worse.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 18 July 23, 2026 6 minutes 11 seconds]
  Is spending $8,000 a year on travel soccer really worth it for our family?
  Staring at an $8,000 youth sports bill? Here’s how to separate real growth for your kid from money spent on fear, and what actually matters to your family.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 17 July 22, 2026 6 minutes]
  Is it okay to hate the crazy travel team schedule my kid loves?
  Dreading your kid’s packed game schedule while she loves every minute? Here’s how to drop the guilt, spot what’s actually mandatory, and reclaim your weekends.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 16 July 21, 2026 6 minutes 59 seconds]
  What should I do if my kid’s coach yells at the players constantly?
  Coach yelling has your kid playing scared? Here’s how to figure out if it’s just loud coaching or something more and what to do if your kid is hurting.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 15 July 16, 2026 6 minutes 38 seconds]
  What if my kid only plays sports because he doesn’t want to let me down?
  Your kid says he’s only playing sports for you. Now what? Here’s how to separate your love from the scoreboard and give the game back to your child.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 14 July 15, 2026 6 minutes 36 seconds]
  What should I say to my kid after a really tough game in the car?
  Wondering if saying nothing after your kid’s tough game was enough? Here’s how to handle those silent car rides and show your support without over-talking.

  Listen to this episode →

• [Episode 13 July 14, 2026 6 minutes 39 seconds]
  Why does my 13-year-old suddenly want to quit the sport she loved?
  Your teenager wants to quit sports without explanation. Learn how to get the real story and keep trust strong, without pushing her away.

  Listen to this episode →