Youth Sports Today: Recent Episodes

Matthew Stelmaszek

Podcast host, Matt Stelmaszek, discusses topics relating to youth sports.

With over a decade of experience, Matt interviews different industry professionals to get their opinion on some of the issues in and around youth sports.

You can reach Matt via email at youthsportstodaypodcast@gmail.com if you have questions about an episode, have a topic you'd like to see discussed, or anything else related to youth sports.

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Terri Lakowski and Olympic gold medalist, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley discuss Play Sports Coalition's $8.5 billion dollar youth sports relief fund proposal. They ask that you share this information with at least 10 people to help rally more champions in congress.

We also talk about who would get the relief money and discuss some return to play ideas.

Join the Coalition as an organization or as an individual

Contact your congressional representative

Book mentions: Pressure is a privilege by Billy Jean King


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Mark Spiegel, founder of Make Your Own Ball Day and current Director of Coaching at Dynamo FC in Indianapolis talks about how to make connections with your players, offers advice to new coaches, modeling behavior for coaches, giving players the space to be kids, child-like versus childish, having routines with your teams, Pokemon cards, and how he is using Zoom to stay connected.

Mentioned in the Podcast:

John O’Sullivan and Changing the Game Project

Becoming better grown-ups by Brad Montague

The Learner Lab

The Way of Champions Podcast


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In this episode Nick Hargett and Matt discuss having paid recreational trainers or group coordinators, recruiting volunteer coaches, where to recruit those trainers and who to partner with, what our programs might look immediately following the pandemic, referee mentoring, in house referee programs, NAYS certifications, Soccer’s coaching education application to other sports, matching personalities of assistants, and Nick shares his favorite memory about preparing for baseball season


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Darren and Matt discuss a recent article in the New York Times, some struggles of being a recreational youth sports coach, what league directors, can do better,  we offer some tips for running a successful practice sessions, ideas for adjusting lopsided games, Darren's new perspective as a first time parent,  dad's who can't hit a fast-pitch softball, and we predict some of the possible outcomes from the COVID19 pandemic

Darren Gallagher is the Seniors Director at Total Futbol Academy (TFA) in Cincinnati. He spent 2019 on staff at University Cincinnati (NCAA DI), held roles in MLS as Scouting Manager and Team Operations; in USL as Director of Operations and Asst. General Manager. 13 seasons coaching college NCAA DI-DII-III, NJCAA. USSF National B, US Soccer National Youth, Bachelors of Education (Kinesiology), Masters of Educational Leadership with Sport Administration emphasis.


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Our guest and I discuss what educational technology is, how we use it in both formal education and youth sport settings, we offer some tips to those quickly transitioning to use these platforms, Nick fills us in on how his coaches are using it at the soccer club, and Peter offers advice on how we move forward during the current circumstances.

Nick Hargett is the current Assistant Director of Coaching at South Central Soccer Academy located in Indianapolis. He holds a Masters Degree in Education from Indiana University. Nick worked as a digital learning coach in K -12.

Peter van Leusen is a Manager of Instructional Design for EdPlus, Strategic Design & Development at Arizona State University. Peter worked as the Assistant Director in the Office of Instructional Consulting in the School of Education at Indiana University and previously taught middle and high school German. Peter holds a PhD in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University

Recommendation Resources:

  • https://www.learningkeepsgoing.org
    • https://www.instructables.com/
    • https://video.ibm.com/apple-edu-learning-series
    • https://asuforyou.asu.edu/
    • https://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/30-ideas-to-consider-when-implementing-school-online-and-offline-during-the-coronavirus/

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