I coached youth football for 8 years in an organization with 4 age groups about 200+ boys every year. The fallout rate of kids that didn’t even play ball in high school is extremely high. We had only 1 kid make it to D1. Just enjoy athletics & physical fitness.

Same thing happens in music. My wife is a piano teacher. Parents don't understand why their 6 yr old can't play Beethoven after their 2nd lesson... and they go ballistic.

My son has the makings of a varsity athlete. 🏆

My brother has my nephew in Rugby. And why, I cannot explain. It’s never been a thing in our house growing up. It’s an interest of exactly no one in our family. My brother himself doesn’t like any athletic competitions. Bowling was too much. My nephew is not good at it. He is just taking hits for what I believe is absolutely nothing. There are 167 Division 1 men’s rugby scholarships available. Only 739 across all collegiate divisions. There is no American professional league that has any real following whatsoever. And, my nephew isn’t the type of person who is getting into college anyways. I just cannot wrap my head around why you would choose that. There’s many other sports where he could play, maybe get some kind of a future with it (although probably not). He could make friends in his school, get in good exercise. But his school doesn’t have a rugby team, they’re playing in a private league with a bunch of random kids from all over the city. He’s not getting in good exercise because the kid sucks and rides the bench most of the time. When they’re done with the game they go to McDonald’s. When he is in the game he just gets wrecked. WTF are we doing here?

Imagine putting all your money into your kid hitting it big as a pro athlete instead of just saving your money for retirement.

Most parents don't even realize that if you're both under 6' you're not going to get a 6'4 monster of an athlete and that's usually what a lot of pro sports leagues are filled with

My kid's not going to be an athlete, he can barely tie his shoes.

I had a nice sports career and played premier level rugby until I was 32. I was lucky my reward was traveling the world and playing some of the best. My Mum drove me to every game until I was 16. She would bring Oranges 🍊 for both teams and clap for both teams in soccer and tell me to stop spitting haha. I loved sports and had zero pressure. My school had ex international rugby players as coaches I was so lucky. I was really lucky as I had God given speed. I saw so many parents and coaches screaming at their kids. One of my coaches played for Scotland and I could hear him with 5000 people there in a low voice when I was close say oh Chris and most the time we would have a quiet chat after as I was the captain. Thank you Mum and all coaches for being so cool

Absolutely awesome interview! Thanks Rich!!!

Thank you Rich!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have seen parents drop academic programs so their 12-14 year old boys could practice everyday after school.

I'm glad my parents never did this for me. They let me play what I wanted, even if that was not the sport I was best at.

anyone else think this guy looks like peyton manning a bit ?

Sadly it has alot to do with parental politics often

ALL parents and coaches should take Youth Mental Health & First Aide certified courses.

Professional athletes are far better than people realize. 99% of D1 athletes don’t make a professional roster. Let that sink in. My sons high school football team won 4 state championships in a row, at the highest division. They won 101 consecutive games. They had ONE player make it to a major D1 program. And that guy barely sniffed the field when he got there.

"My kid is still better" - some parent probably

Just for the value of teamwork...thats what sports is for..life lesdons

this could be the "bully beatdown" of wrestle-dads, baseball-dads, football-dads, soccer-dads.... Holy Smoke - Rich...make it so. go to the parents of some of these kids and square them away.

Wait until the kid is 17 will he love it as much? Once girls and partys and friends become more important..happens all the time..

Just ask your kids what they want to do. Do they want to play ball? Do they want to skateboard? play video games? etc... just ask

Couldn't agree more, parents are ruining the experience of youth sports.

This just sounds like common sense, hence why it needs to be taught

Smart parents raise their kid to get a college athletic scholarship so they don't have college debt. You don't need to make the pros.

you can't think like this though, I mean I get some parents go over board with this, but if you don't push your kid and believe in them then they FOR SURE won't go pro. Stop making it seem like going D1 is impossible.

Don’t forget the parent who begins their child’s first practices each year by saying, “Remember, you might not be good enough this year. It’s okay.” Every. Single. Year. Anybody else here receive that dagger to your soul from your psycho parents?