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Especially for Athletes PodcastAuthor: Especially for Athletes
Especially for Athletes (E4A) is a movement designed to inspire athletes, and those with whom they associate, to maximize their athletic potential and to use their talents, social influence, and their "Sportlight" to assist and lift others. E4A is seeking to build a culture of athletes focused on changing lives through better use of the attention and influence that accompanies their position. E4A provides education, training and motivational tools to inspire athletes to focus on doing more, and becoming more than just a great athlete.Schools, teams, youth organizations, and individual athletes are encouraged to become E4A certified and join the growing group of athletes of all ages and skill levels including college and professional athletes in committing to the E4A promise and wearing proudly their Eyes Up-Do the Work wrist band. Language: en Genres: Education, Education for Kids, Kids & Family, Self-Improvement Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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155. Episode #155 — Featuring Former College QB & Coach Paul Peterson
Episode 155
Tuesday, 9 December, 2025
In this week’s E4A Podcast, we sat down with longtime friend and football coach Paul Peterson, who has coached hundreds of college athletes and raised five boys of his own. His message to parents: we must be more intentional.Paul sees a growing trend—kids struggling not because they lack talent, but because well-meaning adults unintentionally teach them to rely on excuses. He put it simply: “Kids know when you’re fluffing things for them. They see right through it.” When parents blame the coach, the refs, the playing time, the system, or the circumstances, it sends a quiet but dangerous message:“Your growth is someone else’s responsibility.”The best parents—and the best athletes—reject that mindset.1. Don’t Clear the Path. Teach Them How to Walk It.Paul talked about the shift in modern parenting: “We used to hover. Now we snowplow—moving everything out of the way.” But adversity is not the enemy—it’s the classroom. Kids gain confidence only by facing difficulty, not being protected from it.2. Redirect Excuses Toward Ownership.When a child wants to blame the environment, the coach, or the situation, Paul suggests helping them focus on the only things they can actually control: effort, attitude, preparation, and response. Those are the muscles that create resilience.3. Be Their Biggest Fan—Not Their Second Coach.Paul shared that his sons know he loves them regardless of performance. That kind of clarity gives kids freedom to try hard, fail, learn, and try again. The best post-game conversation is often just:“I love watching you play.”4. Encourage Them to Earn Opportunity—Not Expect It.As we discussed on the episode, kids today need the reminder:“Perform your way into opportunity, don’t pout your way into it.”Nothing builds character like working hard, staying ready, and letting your actions—not your frustration—speak for you.⸻Especially for Athletes: • Website: https://e4a.org • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspeciallyForAthletes/ • X: https://x.com/E4Afamily • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/especiallyforathletes/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbWc7diAvstLMfjBL-bMMQJoin the conversation using #TheSportlightPodcast⸻Credits: Hosted by Shad Martin Produced by Shad Martin and IMAGINATE STUDIO
