In this episode, Joe De Sena talks with Tom Farrey, author of Game On: The All-American Race to Make Champions of Our Children, about the state of youth sports in America.

Tom explains that only 1 in 4 kids are active, largely due to barriers in the U.S. sports system. Now leading Project Play, he works to make sports more accessible and fun for all children.

They discuss how Spartan Races promote self-improvement over competition, and how Norway’s child-focused sports model could inspire the U.S.

Tom emphasizes the importance of letting kids enjoy sports rather than pushing them into activities they don’t love. They encourage parents to listen to their children’s interests and prioritize fun and accessibility to keep kids engaged in sports.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:03 Mapping the Problem: Why Aren’t More Kids Active?
03:31 Youth Sports Around the World
05:46 Challenging Kids to Do Hard Things
07:46 Screens and Devices as a Competition to Youth Sports
10:23 Rethinking Competition for Kids
11:51 Breaking Through School Bureaucracies to Reach Kids
13:15 How Can Parents Support Their Child’s Interests
16:57 Should You Let Your Kid Quit a Sport?
19:01 Parents Overanalyzing Their Child's Performance
21:29 Norway: The World’s Best Youth Sports System
25:10 - What the U.S. Can Learn from Norway
26:16 - Final Thoughts: Creating Better Youth Sports Systems