Youth Sports: Building Resilience with Greg Olsen & Dr. Michael Gervais
Join Greg Olsen and Dr. Michael Gervais on the Youth Inc. podcast to learn how to build resilience in youth sports and prevent burnout caused by pressure.
Best quote from Youth Sports: Building Resilience with Greg Olsen & Dr. Michael Gervais
Resilience only comes when we face adversity; instead of seeing a bad game or a mistake as a failure, we should frame it as a gift and an opportunity to build tensile strength.
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Frequently Asked Questions
According to the Youth Inc. podcast, nearly 70% of children drop out of youth sports by the age of thirteen. While these kids often still enjoy the game itself, they cite negative experiences such as excessive pressure from parents and coaches as the primary reason for leaving. This weight of expectation can turn a developmental environment into a chore, leading to early burnout instead of long-term athletic growth.
In their conversation, Greg Olsen and Dr. Michael Gervais explore shifting the focus from the scoreboard to the mental side of the game. To nurture resilience, parents and coaches should move away from high-pressure expectations that cause burnout. By changing how they handle moments like the car ride home and focusing on growth rather than just winning, adults can create a supportive environment that helps children appreciate the sport and develop essential life skills.
Greg Olsen and world-renowned psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais dive deep into sports psychology and the foundation of raising kids in a competitive world. They discuss why well-meaning involvement from adults often backfires and how to stop obsessing over scores. Their conversation highlights practical ways to foster resilience in athletes, ensuring that the energy of youth sports remains focused on growth and positive development rather than the stress of performance.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
