Former NCAA Division 1 and professional soccer player John O’Sullivan, founder of Changing the Game Project, joins Scott Rintoul for a powerful and eye-opening conversation about the biggest issues in youth sports today – and how parents can fix them. From “joysticking” kids on the sidelines to early specialization, car-ride coaching, toxic environments, fear-based decisions, and the loss of free play, John breaks down why so many well-intentioned parents accidentally harm their child’s long-term development and what to do instead. 

You’ll learn: 

• Why shouting instructions (“shoot!”, “pass!”, “go wide!”) steals vital reps from kids 

• How to build motivated, resilient, self-driven athletes 

• The difference between talent selection and talent identification 

• What healthy sideline support ACTUALLY looks like 

• How parents, coaches, and clubs can work together 

• Why “I love watching you play” changes everything 

If you want your child to truly thrive in sports — physically, mentally, emotionally — this episode is essential. Subscribe for more conversations with world-class coaches, athletes, and experts improving youth sports.