Youth sports are supposed to be fun but what happens when the game becomes a business? In this episode of The Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast, Coach Justin Furtado explores the hidden cost of turning kids’ sports into serious pipelines for scholarships, endorsements, and revenue.⚠️ Youth sports isn't about kids anymore! Stop pushing your 10-year-old like a professional. The ‘Youth Sports Industrial Complex’ is booming — and your child’s joy is the price.By high school, many young athletes are already burned out, not because they hate the game, but because of relentless schedules, unrealistic expectations, and a system that values wins over growth. Coach Furtado calls it a “slippery slope,” and it’s something every parent, coach, and youth sports organizer needs to see.We also explore solutions. From BTG Basketball’s “Dogs of the Day” recognition system to giving kids real decision-making power in their training, there’s a way to bring joy back to the court while still teaching discipline and teamwork. It’s about keeping the athlete, not the scoreboard or dollars, at the center.💡If you care about creating meaningful youth sports experiences and preventing burnout, this episode is packed with actionable ideas that can change the culture around kids’ athletics. CHAPTERS:00:00 The Hidden Risks of Professionalizing Youth Sports01:16 Systemic Problems in Youth Sports02:08 Why Over Half of Kids Quit by 1302:56 Making Sports Fun While Balancing Commitment03:41 Intentional Programs with Clear Standards04:27 Lessons from Pro Sports & Pay-to-Play Pitfalls05:39 Parent-Coach Collaboration for Athlete Growth06:27 Building Trust & Psychological Safety in the Digital Age08:10 Rewarding Effort: “Dogs of the Day” Explained09:04 Balancing Structure, Freedom, and Agency for Kids10:46 Modern Parenting & Discipline in Youth Sports11:12 Policies That Protect Athlete Well-Being13:20 Preparing Athletes for Life & Future Coaching==========================================⁠⁠Make Money Coaching Sports⁠⁠: https://www.makemoneycoachingsports.com/btg==========================================CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:⁠⁠Coach Furtado IG⁠: https://www.instagram.com/coachfurtadoo/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast IG⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_scoreboard_pod/ ⁠⁠⁠BTG Basketball IG⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/btg_basketball/ ⁠⁠BTS Newsletter⁠⁠: https://btgbasketball.org/bts-newsletter-subscribe⁠⁠⁠BTG Website⁠: https://btgbasketball.org/==========================================

About Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast:

The podcast that goes beyond the game to uncover what it takes to create a transformative experience for athletes. Tailored for coaches and parents, this show empowers you to elevate your impact, helping athletes grow as leaders on and off the court. We dive into leadership, mindset, and holistic athletic development each week with insightful guests. Beyond the Scoreboard challenges you to think critically, lead purposefully, and transform the next generation of athletes.

Checkout our website: btgbasketball.org#youthsports #basketball #sports #sportspodcast #aau

Beyond the Scoreboard is committed to creating an audio experience to help you develop into the best leader you can be, so you can transform your athletes to reach their full potential both on and off the court.

Burnout, frustration, and the real struggles of coaching—what every coach and parent needs to hear right now.

In this episode of The Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast, Coach Justin Furtado, as a high school and club basketball coach, shares his raw experiences with burnout, workload pressures, and the toxic culture of entitlement in youth sports.

⚠️ Over 85% of coaches feel burnt out and nearly two-thirds have seriously considered quitting. This isn't just talk; it’s a wake-up call for anyone involved in youth athletics.

If you're feeling overwhelmed or questioning whether to keep going, this episode offers fresh insights from a veteran coach navigating the chaos of youth sports.

Discover how high standards, clear boundaries, and self-care can revive your passion and protect your sanity.

You'll uncover:

✅️ The hidden toll of "pay-to-play" models fueling entitlement and discontent among athletes and coaches alike.

✅️ Practical strategies to set firm boundaries, from enforcing punctuality to establishing consequences, that actually work.

✅️ Why shifting parent expectations around playtime and results can save your child's confidence and your own mental health.

✅️ The importance of fostering character, resilience, and community over winning at all costs.

✅️ How prioritizing life outside the gym or court can make you a better coach, parent, and person, even during your most stressful seasons.

The stakes are clear: without addressing burnout and misaligned expectations, many talented coaches and passionate parents risk abandoning the sports they love—and depriving kids of meaningful growth.

This episode is perfect for coaches feeling the weight of pressure, parents wanting to support their child's development, and anyone frustrated by the culture of youth sports today.

💡If you’re ready to refocus on purpose and preserve your passion, this conversation offers actionable insights and a reminder that you’re not alone in this.

Because when you take care of yourself, you can truly impact the next generation—beyond just the game.Tune in now—your mental health and your athletes depend on it.

CHAPTERS:

00:31 - The startling stats on burnout and abuse.

01:57 - Raw lessons from the sidelines: Justin’s personal burnout story.

03:25 - Why discipline is the ultimate form of care for an athlete.

04:19 - Setting the Standard: Punctuality, consequences, and character.

06:08 - The Parent Playbook: Supporting development without the pressure.

08:31 - Investing in the person, not just the player.

10:29 - Practical self-care for the high-performance coach.

13:52 - Making an impact to young athletes and avoiding burnout

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Make Money Coaching Sports⁠⁠: https://www.makemoneycoachingsports.com/btg

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CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:⁠⁠

Coach Furtado IG⁠:

https://www.instagram.com/coachfurtadoo/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠

Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast IG⁠⁠⁠:

https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_scoreboard_pod/ ⁠⁠⁠

BTG Basketball IG⁠⁠⁠:

https://www.instagram.com/btg_basketball/

⁠⁠BTS Newsletter⁠⁠:

https://btgbasketball.org/bts-newsletter-subscribe⁠⁠⁠

BTG Website⁠:

https://btgbasketball.org/

#sports #basketball #sportspodcast #youthsports #aau

Beyond the Scoreboard is committed to creating an audio experience to help you develop into the best leader you can be, so you can transform your athletes to reach their full potential both on and off the court.

👉 Is your child in an “elite” sports program that feels more like a factory than a playground?

In this episode of The Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast, Coach Justin Furtado pulls back the curtain on the toxic “win-at-all-costs” culture in youth basketball, AAU programs, and club sports that are burning kids out before they even hit high school.

⚠️ 70% of kids quit sports by age 13. Why? Because too many programs treat 10-year-olds like professional athletes, pushing them to perform, train, and win instead of develop.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why the “elite” label is often a red flag for parents
• How programs with high standards but no support crush confidence and love for the game
• The dangers of old-school “Bobby Knight” style coaching
• How overuse injuries like Achilles problems are creeping into youth sports
• The difference between accountability with care vs pressure that destroys motivation

💡 Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about youth sports. It’s time to take back sports from the trophy-chasing factories and focus on growth, confidence, and mental toughness.

CHAPTERS:

0:37 Problems With Elite Youth Sports

1:30 Why Kids Drop Out of Sports

3:00 High Standards vs High Support

4:30 Balancing Coaching and Accountability

5:30 Conceptual Offense and Practice Structure

6:30 Building Mental Toughness and Confidence

7:30 Focus on Development Over Winning

8:30 Tips for Coaches and Parents

🎯Spoiler: If your kid’s program is all about wins, medals, and rankings… it might be doing more harm than good.

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⁠⁠Make Money Coaching Sports⁠⁠: https://www.makemoneycoachingsports.com/btg

==========================================

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

⁠⁠Coach Furtado IG⁠: https://www.instagram.com/coachfurtadoo/?hl=en

⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast IG⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_scoreboard_pod/

⁠⁠⁠BTG Basketball IG⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/btg_basketball/

⁠⁠BTS Newsletter⁠⁠: https://btgbasketball.org/bts-newsletter-subscribe

⁠⁠⁠BTG Website⁠: https://btgbasketball.org/

#sports #basketball #sportspodcast #youthsports #aau