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The Youth Sports Show is a podcast for parents, coaches, grandparents, officials, and community leaders who want a healthier, more balanced perspective on modern youth athletics.
Hosted by Gary Stocker and Joe Corabi — two longtime educators, coaches, referees, and youth sports veterans — the show cuts through the hype surrounding travel teams, scholarships, rankings, and elite competition to focus on what youth sports should really be about: building confident, resilient, and well-rounded young people.
Each episode blends practical sports insight with honest conversations about the realities facing families today, including specialization pressure, travel sports culture, financial strain, college recruiting myths, overuse injuries, coaching challenges, and the growing tendency for adults to define children by athletic performance.
The Youth Sports Show believes sports are a vehicle for developing life skills such as teamwork, discipline, communication, perseverance, emotional resilience, leadership, and self-confidence. Through personal stories, coaching experience, and future interviews with coaches, officials, counselors, physicians, parents, and athletes, the podcast provides thoughtful perspective designed to help families keep the joy and purpose in youth sports.
This is not an anti-sports podcast. It is a pro-child, pro-family, pro-perspective podcast dedicated to helping adults remember that the goal is not simply building better athletes — it is building better humans.
Gary Stocker (00:01.122)
Welcome back to the Youth Sports Show, the podcast that cuts through the noise of the travel team circuit and even the casual sports circuit to give parents some perspective about the truth about youth athletic youth athletics and youth sports. Hi, I'm Gary Stalker, alongside Joe Karabi. And whether we're talking about how to throw a curveball or hit a slice serve or special a specialization fatigue, the reality of college recruiting recruiting, or keeping the fun
In whatever sport, our goal is the same, Joe. Shifting the focus from trophies to the development of that young person. And Joe, we've got some questions that came to us from our show last week. Can I ask you the first question? First of all, thanks for joining me again today.
Joe (00:44.72)
Hey Gary, as always, love being here with you. You know that. Yeah, give me that first one. I'm I'm ready.
Gary Stocker (00:50.658)
So the first question, does does my student it doesn't identify boy or girl, does my student have to be an athlete to get college scholarships?
Joe (01:01.81)
it you know, we I'm I'm thinking in reference to what we talked about last week. I'm assuming our lit our listener was talking about primarily division three schools.
and the answer very simply is no. Alrighty. in fact I've always said as a former principal myself, I've always said to parents, you know, the money's in being smart brain cells. But no, you don't have to be an athlete to to get academic money. In fact, most academic money does not go to athletes. there I would be lying to you if I said that there aren't some schools.
that's coaches have where coaches have let's say a number of slots that they could bring in athletes and they may in conjunction with the admissions office and financial aid office kinda you know provide some assistance to an athlete because the coach really wants them but
Those those examples are are few and far between, but for the most part, no. You don't have to be an athlete to get a scholarship. Most division most scholarships given to kids who attend division three schools are really for academics anyway.
Gary Stocker (02:16.62)
And and I'll give a simple answer to that. No, absolutely not, because colleges need flute players, college needs needs trombone players and singers and dancers and computer specialists and just good old human beings. And remember, scholarships in almost all cases are discounts. They're not actual funds transferring from one to the other. So no. Be good at something. be academically sharp, Joe, as you said. And here's one that I I I would have trouble with. a question from Melissa from last week's show as well, I think.
Do athletes get preferential treatment on academic scholarships?
Joe (02:49.938)
Okay. well you know what? I'm gonna I'm gonna answer that question straightforward, Gary. And I and and if you were one of my students I would ask you this. Do you want me to give you the book answer or do you really want me to give you the answer? That's what I thought you'd really want. Look, here's the deal. most most
Gary Stocker (03:04.139)
I want the Joe Karabi answer.
Joe (03:11.868)
Coaches of Division III sports are extremely ethical. and and the answer to that question is.
No, they really don't get preferential treatment. But I would be lying to you if I didn't say that there are some colleges and universities out there, especially at the Division III level, that may be trying to let's say enhance their sports program or athletic program. And yes, they may be a little if everything else is equal, by the way, they may be a little bit more partial to giving that money to an athlete. yes, that does happen occasionally, but I'm gonna say
Gary Stocker (03:53.068)
And then the last question, if you have those questions, send them to me at to Gary at CollegeViability, Gary at college viability dot com for any topic that Joe and I talk about. The last one, a parent asked, I'm guessing they were focusing on finances, is it really worthwhile to spend lots of money or money on s youth sports in the hopes of a college scholarship? Joe, you take that first.
Joe (04:16.133)
Well, th I would have to ask that parent one thing, do you have a crystal ball? So that you can look into that crystal ball and and and try to anticipate what's gonna happen ten years down the road. you know, th there are so many parents who who
Gary Stocker (04:20.909)
Ha ha.
Joe (04:30.672)
buy into the concept of travel teams and expensive equipment and individual coaches and so on. I don't know how anybody can answer a question like that with without having a crystal ball. And I mean that seriously. You're taking a chance. not only are you taking a chance on your kids' athletic talent, whether the the talent is you know, is going to be at the level where he or she needs to to be, but you're also talking about the risk of injury
being burned out and so on. So I it's hard to answer that. Let me just end my comments by saying the only thing I would suggest to you is remember this, that for the most part, in order for a kid to get a chance at the next level, he or she must excel at the previous level.
So if your kid is excelling at the previous level, depending of course on the competition, well then maybe maybe the investment's gonna be there. But if your kid's sitting on the bench, maybe not.
Gary Stocker (05:35.48)
Well, Joe, you know me as Gary Stalker, and since we're doing since we're in record, we have video of each other going on that. If you look closely on my forehead, you see that also across my forehead says data nerd. And so I'm gonna answer this question from a data perspective, and absolutely not. Is it worthwhile if you're looking for a college scholarship? Because you've sh I think you started sharing this a few weeks ago. Then the odds are against you. Whatever the sport is, the odds are against you. So a simple question: is it worthwhile?
Based on the numbers, no. However, I quickly add, I have watched and participated in countless youth sports activities that provide value that probably even supersedes the value of a college scholarship. So if you want the child to play a youth sport, whatever it is, go for it. But the college scholarship piece, be realistic. It's not a likely scenario, Joe. And on to the topic, on to the theme for the day. And Joe, let's talk about team sports for your child.
Or or individual sports. And let's start off this way. What do you like about team sports and what do you like about individual sports?
Joe (06:42.352)
Yeah, I've always been a team sport guy myself. I mean I've listen, team sports to me are are wonderful. They're they're they teach so many life lessons. Aside from the you know, the athletic competition and the and the physical activity
Just the whole thing about working with other with other teammates, other kids, how about just the intangibles, making friends and you know, just life's lessons of being knocked down and and learning how to get up.
we all look at the glory stories where, you know, a kid hits a home run and everybody's jumping up and down. But how about the life's lessons of, you know, maybe you made the error and your team lost and and how to deal with that. in this day and age, maybe our kids maybe our kids need a little bit of reality and I think team sports can give them that reality. Gary, I I'm gonna let you take take that and and and maybe if we have some time I'd like to just add one more thing about
w my concern about team sports. But let me throw it to you first.
Gary Stocker (07:48.792)
So I'm gonna take a perspective, Joe, that is interesting. And I consider team sports a s a whatever the sport is, basketball, football, you name it, as all the participants are sergeants. And of course, sergeants are non-commissioned officers, and sergeants in whatever military branch are trained to lead troops. And whether you are a skilled basketball player, baseball player, volleyball player, or even lacrosse, sarcasm, even lacrosse, you are a sergeant.
You're learning the skills of your sport, just like sergeants learn the skills of whatever military branch they're in, and they learn leadership. And I'm not going beyond that because that's the value of team sports. You get the chance to learn how to lead at whatever level. And the older you are, the more you you you can develop that skill set. The individual sport, I like them because you can control the practices more, you can control your effort more.
You can control the types of tournaments you go to, the schedule of those tournaments, and and you can still hire coaches. you may lose a leadership aspect, but you can learn technical skills that you may not necessarily learn as much with team sports. On the other hand, as Tevier said in Fiddler on the Roof, on the other hand, the concerns about team sports are equity. many team sports are led by fathers.
And we all love our children and that might sometimes bias our playing choices. Team sports offer a higher risk of injury in my mind, I could be wrong. and team sports, again you lose control of your time. the the scheduling for practices and games and tournaments and all that kind of stuff. The downside of individual sports, where I started before, you you don't get the chance to be a sergeant. You learn the skills for sure, but the opportunity to lead, even in a team sport like tennis,
It's not really team sport, it's a bunch of individuals playing a team sport, Joe. What are your concerns?
Joe (09:45.818)
Yeah, well first of all you made that comment about lacrosse. I my very, very dear friend and high school buddy, Bobby DeMarco, is now the president of the World Lacrosse Association. So I I you know what, I I might have to tune Bobby into to this conversation now. so just be careful. If Bobby knocks on your door out there in Colorado, well, you know, just just know that I sent him.
Gary Stocker (09:56.97)
I made no comment like that whatsoever, Joe.
Gary Stocker (10:12.282)
What?
Joe (10:13.958)
You know, we talk about team sports, Gary. Here's my concern. My concern is, you know, and you put it a l a little different way, you talked about sergeants.
You see, I I'm not quite sure that everybody is the same. I think we'd like to think everybody's the same and and we're we lack of a better term, we we reward mediocrity. You know, every kid gets a trophy, every kid you know, every kid gets the same amount of playing time, whatever it might be. And here here's the thing that bothers me about that, and but I think this is a positive about team sports, is that kids kind of sort it out themselves. You know, kids
Kids know that some kids are better than other kids. And I think sometimes as adults, you know, we we kind of interfere and we we we set out these kinds of rewards with the thought that we would like it to be where every kid is the same. But the reality is the kids, and I think it's a great life's lesson that the kids do determine who's better.
And it goes back to the thing I know that people don't do anymore, but back on the playground, you know, we all knew who was going to be picked first. And we all knew who wasn't going to be picked at all. All right. Now I'm not saying that's a very sensitive thing to do, but there are life lessons in those in those in those things. So but anyway, that's you know, one of the things we do here, Gary is we tell the truth. So
Gary Stocker (11:41.485)
Mm.
Yeah, except for the lacrosse thing, that wasn't the truth.
Joe (11:47.398)
Well, listen, I'm gonna tell you right now, I got Bobby on speed dial right here. So you know, I'm giving him your number. So he might be calling ya.
Gary Stocker (11:54.798)
Just tell him I live right next to Pike's Peak.
Joe (11:59.375)
yeah, I don't think he likes to ski. But he does like to play the cross.
Gary Stocker (12:02.988)
So here's here's my last question for this for this show today, Joe. For a child or grandchild in your case. And they say, Dad or grandpa, should I choose a team sport or an individual sport? And you can only pick one, which would you choose to recommend to your offspring?
Joe (12:19.546)
Ooh, wow. Well, I have told my kids to never let their their kids put a helmet on until their bodies are mature. So I mean that would eliminate for me some team sports.
boy, boy. Well, how come you answer me that question? That is a difficult question, but I'm gonna answer it. Listen, I think there's more future in individual sports, to be honest with you. Golf, tennis, bowling, they're lifelong sports. They're they're they're sports that you can enjoy well into your 50s, 60s, and 70s. I I love team sports because I like to compete in that kind of an environment.
Gary Stocker (12:37.356)
Ha ha ha.
Joe (13:02.374)
But not everybody thrives in that kind of environment. Listen, there are many people who are excited about being able to swim. Like I said, into their fifties, sixties and seventies. Play golf, play tennis. So, you know, if your if your goal is to stay active, I think you gotta go with the individual sport. The individual sports are gonna be longer lasting, let's put it that way.
Gary Stocker (13:24.398)
Yeah, and you stole my response for the exact same reason. Individual sports can be lifelong sports. I I would worry about students about children losing that role to the opportunity to be leaders when they're younger. But given the absolutely having to pick one or the other, it would be individual sports from my perspective for that lifelong value. Well, Joe as we look ahead to next week's show. the topic is going to be youth sports.
officials, referees, umpires, whatever else you call them. And I'm guessing we might have some interesting discussions on that. And between now and then if you have questions about anything we've talked about in the previous shows, today's topic of team sports or individual sports, or you've got some youth sports officials questions, send them to me, Gary at college viability dot com. That's Gary at college viability dot com. And of course you've been listening to the youth sports show. We know navigating the landscape for the children you love so much is tough.
And and you don't have to do it alone. If you've got a story about after the game or getting pizza after the game or ice cream or the car ride home, and you want to share it, again drop me a note to Gary at College Riability. Let's let's all of us kind of work together to change the conversation from one game at a time to another to really the development on that young person for life to increase the odds of a lifelong pattern of success.
So for Joe Crabby, I'm Gary Stalker. Thanks as always for listening to the Use Sports Show. We'll be back next week.