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Coats in ConversationAuthor: Kendrique Coats
Coats in Conversation is a mental health podcast hosted by Kendrique Coats, a licensed therapist who works with couples and athletes. Each episode features authentic, powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, and mental health professionals who share their personal journeys of struggle, resilience, and growth. The show also offers educational insights from experts on topics such as performance anxiety, relationships, mindset, and emotional wellness. New episodes drop twice a month. Follow, rate, and leave a comment to support the show and help Coats in Conversation reach more listeners. Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Mental Health Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Youth Sports Crisis: What Well-Meaning Parents Need to Know | Dr. Travis Dorsch
Episode 22
Tuesday, 4 November, 2025
What’s it really like to grow up in a sports-centered household?In this episode of Coats in Conversation, host Kendrique Coats, LMFTA sits down with, Dr. Travis Dorsch, former Purdue University All-American, former NFL athlete, and now an Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Families in Sport Lab in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State University, as we discuss the emotional, psychological, and relational dynamics that shape youth athletes and sports families.We explore what most parents misunderstand about raising young athletes, the pressures of youth sports culture, and how a child’s sense of identity can become tangled up in their performance. As our Dr. Dorsch shares, “Good sports parenting is just good parenting.” But in today’s near $40 billion youth sports industry, that simple truth often gets lost.We talk about what happens when families become emotionally invested in performance. “We’re emotional creatures,” and Dr. Dorsch reminds us, and those emotions can either strengthen or strain parent, child relationships. With youth athletes now spending 20–30 hours a week training and competing, the line between healthy development and performance pressure is getting thinner. Dr. Dorsch reflects “We’ve professionalized youth sports,” and with that comes higher expectations, and higher emotional costs.This conversation sheds light on the mental health challenges, family sacrifices, and cultural pressures behind youth sports. As Dr. Dorsch cautions, “Most kids will not advance to the highest levels, and we need to be careful about glamorizing professional sports so much.”Whether you’re a sports parent, coach, or youth athlete, this episode will challenge you to rethink what success really means, and how to create a more balanced, connected, and mentally healthy sports experience for the whole family.Check out previous episodesThe Pain They Don't See: Injury, Grief, and Identity: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0tGcWubkj5fFQ7NQV6b9DN?si=N9oo7xuUT8qILxUvY9TgmwMore Than an Athlete: Identity, Loss, and Mental Health: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4BXwpfJg6vAjSXlOOlVnS8?si=NfettVRSQi20NNcOSvJajwSurviving D1 Athletics: Transferring, Injuries, and Athlete Mental Healthhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/6la9xzxIPeSvDKq0yE8efs?si=aOlcEUHYQmas4EygQyjxtwAbout Kendrique Coats: Kendrique Coats is Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate based in Bloomington, Illinois working with couples and athletes in Alabama and Illinois. Coats in Conversation Podcast features authentic, powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts, and mental health professionals who share their personal journeys of struggle, resilience, and growth. Disclaimer: This podcast (Coats in Conversation) is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health services. Kendrique Coats, Coats in Conversation, or any guest featured in this podcast, is not liable for any changes you make to your mental health plan without consulting a trained professional. If you require mental health support, please contact a licensed mental health professional. In case of an emergency, please call your local emergency services.
