Sideline Sisters

11 - Kirsten Jones talks about why kids are abandoning youth sports

February 28, 2024 Jenny Cheifetz Season 1 Episode 11
11 - Kirsten Jones talks about why kids are abandoning youth sports
Sideline Sisters
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Sideline Sisters
11 - Kirsten Jones talks about why kids are abandoning youth sports
Feb 28, 2024 Season 1 Episode 11
Jenny Cheifetz

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Kirsten played Division I volleyball in college and worked for over fourteen years at NIKE. She is currently a motivational speaker, writer and Peak Performance Coach who works with both teen and pro athletes, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. She is one of the hosts of the #RaisingAthletes Podcast. Her book, Raising Empowered Athletes, is now available everywhere.

Kirsten and her husband, Evan, are currently raising three teenage/young adult athletes in Los Angeles. She guest writes about the challenges of raising not only strong athletes but extraordinary people as a guest expert on websites including GrownandFlown.com and ILOVETOWATCHYOUPLAY.com.

Kirsten's Notes from the Sidelines:

  1. The message kids get when parents get involved and bribe, manipulate, and micromanage their athletic career is that they're not enough being who they are and that they need their parents to take care of things for them. It robs them of a sense of self, sense of agency, and a feeling of doing it on their own. It's making love conditional, telling kids, "I'll love you when you win."
  2. 70% of youth are dropping out of sports by age 13 because it's not fun, due to the professionalization of youth sports.
  3. Sitting around watching videos leads to depression.
  4. "When we give back, we are our best selves," so go volunteer. 
  5. Friends, fun, and fundamentals are key elements to youth athletics. Parents need to leave out the 4th F... FOMO. Access is the goal in this pay-to-play world.
  6. Life is all about being a beginner. 
  7. We need to fail more and learn to get up.
  8. The only 6 words kids need to hear from parents are, "I LOVE TO WATCH YOU PLAY."

Other nuggets I did not mention on the air were:

  • The book: Where You Go is Not Who You'll Be -  Kirsten referenced this book and the idea that your destiny is based on how curious you're willing to be
  • Done is better than perfect
  • Model failure for your kids
  • To be a peak performer, you have to have a certain level of narcissism (Kobe Bryant)
  • Competence builds confidence
  • Mindset + capability + tools = magic (in reference to all the greatest athletes)
  • If you really want anything... KEEP GOING

Kirsten's website

🔥JOIN THE SIDELINE SISTERHOOD!🔥

🌐Check out https://www.jentlecoaching.com for more information about Jentle Coaching.
And be sure to follow @jentlecoaching on Instagram to stay up-to-date on all the latest news/offers.

📣Join the Sideline Sisters Facebook Group and be a part of our growing community.

☎️Book a CONNECTION CALL with Jenny from Jentle Coaching to get information about coaching and breathwork services.

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🕊Download Jenny's FREE MEDITATION

Sign up for Podcast like a Mother: Podcast Creation Course

**The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to constitute legal or medical advice; all information, content, and material available on this site are for general informational purposes only. This podcast contains links to other third party websites. Such links are only for the convenience and enjoyment of the reader, user, or browser.

Show Notes

Send us a Text Message.

Kirsten played Division I volleyball in college and worked for over fourteen years at NIKE. She is currently a motivational speaker, writer and Peak Performance Coach who works with both teen and pro athletes, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. She is one of the hosts of the #RaisingAthletes Podcast. Her book, Raising Empowered Athletes, is now available everywhere.

Kirsten and her husband, Evan, are currently raising three teenage/young adult athletes in Los Angeles. She guest writes about the challenges of raising not only strong athletes but extraordinary people as a guest expert on websites including GrownandFlown.com and ILOVETOWATCHYOUPLAY.com.

Kirsten's Notes from the Sidelines:

  1. The message kids get when parents get involved and bribe, manipulate, and micromanage their athletic career is that they're not enough being who they are and that they need their parents to take care of things for them. It robs them of a sense of self, sense of agency, and a feeling of doing it on their own. It's making love conditional, telling kids, "I'll love you when you win."
  2. 70% of youth are dropping out of sports by age 13 because it's not fun, due to the professionalization of youth sports.
  3. Sitting around watching videos leads to depression.
  4. "When we give back, we are our best selves," so go volunteer. 
  5. Friends, fun, and fundamentals are key elements to youth athletics. Parents need to leave out the 4th F... FOMO. Access is the goal in this pay-to-play world.
  6. Life is all about being a beginner. 
  7. We need to fail more and learn to get up.
  8. The only 6 words kids need to hear from parents are, "I LOVE TO WATCH YOU PLAY."

Other nuggets I did not mention on the air were:

  • The book: Where You Go is Not Who You'll Be -  Kirsten referenced this book and the idea that your destiny is based on how curious you're willing to be
  • Done is better than perfect
  • Model failure for your kids
  • To be a peak performer, you have to have a certain level of narcissism (Kobe Bryant)
  • Competence builds confidence
  • Mindset + capability + tools = magic (in reference to all the greatest athletes)
  • If you really want anything... KEEP GOING

Kirsten's website

🔥JOIN THE SIDELINE SISTERHOOD!🔥

🌐Check out https://www.jentlecoaching.com for more information about Jentle Coaching.
And be sure to follow @jentlecoaching on Instagram to stay up-to-date on all the latest news/offers.

📣Join the Sideline Sisters Facebook Group and be a part of our growing community.

☎️Book a CONNECTION CALL with Jenny from Jentle Coaching to get information about coaching and breathwork services.

⭐️Want to get Jenny's newsletter?

🕊Download Jenny's FREE MEDITATION

Sign up for Podcast like a Mother: Podcast Creation Course

**The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to constitute legal or medical advice; all information, content, and material available on this site are for general informational purposes only. This podcast contains links to other third party websites. Such links are only for the convenience and enjoyment of the reader, user, or browser.