{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Youth Sports Show","title":"What is a highly skilled athlete? - On The Youth Sports Show May 13, 2026","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1080,"description":"In this episode of The Youth Sports Show, Gary Stocker and Joe Corabi take on a question many parents quietly ask: what actually makes a young athlete “highly skilled”?The conversation challenges the common tendency to identify athletic talent too early, reward production over development, and mistake early size, speed, or success for long-term athletic potential. Gary and Joe walk through how skill development can look different at ages 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 — while reminding parents that growth, maturity, effort, attitude, and enjoyment matter just as much as performance.The episode also explores the difference between being a skilled athlete and being an elite athlete, why there is always another level of competition, and why late bloomers should not be overlooked or discouraged. Along the way, Gary and Joe return to one of the show’s central themes: youth sports should help develop better human beings, not just better stat lines.This episode is a thoughtful reminder for parents, coaches, and families to look beyond wins, hits, speed, and trophies — and to focus instead on patience, perspective, character, fun, and long-term development.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/SAfUgn5iJptc83SwWDEv_CfhQM7nR0nxNwIx1ZlhHys/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9mNGRj/NzZkMzU4Y2EyNWJk/ODhmMWQ3OWQ2ZWFj/NGNkYi5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}