Are We Ruining Youth Sports? Why Today’s Athletes Are Burning Out

Youth sports have never been more competitive.
Athletes are specializing earlier, playing more games, training year-round, and facing more pressure than ever before. But is all of that actually helping them develop, or is it leading to burnout?
In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, former Division I and professional baseball player Kyle Attl shares his perspective on athlete development, coaching, technology, and the challenges facing today’s young athletes.
Drawing from his experiences as a player, coach, parent, and leader in sports technology, Kyle discusses the balance between development and enjoyment, the impact of modern training tools, the evolution of player development, and why keeping the game fun may be more important than ever.
Whether you’re a coach, parent, athlete, or sports leader, this conversation offers valuable insight into building better athletes without losing sight of what makes sports meaningful in the first place.
Topics include:
⚾ Youth sports burnout
⚾ Playing too many games at a young age
⚾ Athlete development vs. athlete overload
⚾ Coaching philosophies that build confidence
⚾ The role of technology in modern sports
⚾ Lessons from Division I and professional baseball
⚾ Helping athletes stay motivated and engaged
⚾ Why the best development plans focus on the long game
🎙️ Listen now to discover how coaches, parents, and athletes can pursue excellence without sacrificing the joy of the game.

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/jAIKjnRTu0I?si=t3lzJOJYb0lLMt7y

Everyone Wants the Shot. Few Want the Work.

What separates good athletes from great ones?
According to Deshawn Woods, it’s not talent. It’s the willingness to embrace the work that happens long before anyone notices the result.
In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, Tony Gilio sits down with basketball coach, league commissioner, founder, and NIL advocate Deshawn Woods to discuss his journey from playing college basketball at Wiley College and Texas A&M to coaching, building professional opportunities for athletes, and creating pathways through the Women’s Basketball Association.
Deshawn shares lessons learned from every stage of his career, including what young athletes often misunderstand about success, why self-awareness is one of the most valuable leadership traits, and how NIL is changing the future of sports for athletes and their families.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
🏀 Why the best athletes focus on growth, not hype
🏀 The reality of playing professionally overseas
🏀 How NIL opportunities extend beyond superstar athletes
🏀 The importance of personal branding and marketability
🏀 Leadership lessons from coaching and entrepreneurship
🏀 Why staying grounded creates long-term success
🏀 What athletes, parents, and coaches need to know about today’s sports landscape
Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, educator, or leader, this conversation offers practical insights on development, opportunity, and the mindset required to keep growing.
🎙️ Subscribe to The Coach & Counselor for more conversations about sports, leadership, personal growth, and the people creating opportunities for others to succeed. #basketball #coaching #athlete #sportspsychology

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/WTgSs5EkQi4?si=1LXCcQSk-egYta0h

Raising Competitors, Not Just Athletes

Sports are about more than wins, losses, and championships; they’re one of the greatest classrooms for life.
In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, Tony Gilio sits down with Russ Romano, founder of D1 Mindset Coach, former Division I pitcher, and certified mental performance coach, to discuss what it truly means to develop competitors, not just athletes.
Russ shares the mental performance strategies used by elite athletes and championship programs, while exploring why confidence, resilience, leadership, discipline, and self-belief matter far more than talent alone. Together, they dive into the importance of focusing on the process, overcoming adversity, controlling the controllables, and helping young athletes build a foundation for long-term success both on and off the field.
Whether you’re a coach, parent, athlete, educator, or leader, this conversation offers valuable lessons on developing people who can thrive under pressure, embrace challenges, and carry the lessons of competition into every area of life.
Because the ultimate goal isn’t just raising better athletes, it’s raising better competitors, leaders, and human beings.

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/3iEP4cwhsSI?si=wW_GiOKTxC3JZzCr

Beyond the Jersey: What Truly Builds Great Athletes

In this episode of The Coach & Counselor Podcast, we sit down with Axie Estrada, author, mentor, coach, and founder of Legendary Built, for a powerful conversation about what truly builds great athletes beyond the game itself.
With more than 14 years of coaching experience and over 300 athletes mentored, Axie shares her perspective on mindset, resilience, leadership, overcoming adversity, and helping athletes recognize their worth both on and off the field. From guiding athletes through failure and pressure to building confidence and mental toughness, this episode dives into the lessons sports can teach far beyond the jersey.
Axie also opens up about her personal journey through loss, hardship, motherhood, and rebuilding her life experiences that inspired her book Legendary Built, available now on Amazon.
Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or leader, this conversation delivers valuable insight on growth, perseverance, and becoming the best version of yourself through every challenge life throws your way.

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/dn8o7TvmTeM?si=7zdjU77e2DH-C8uR

The Journey Nobody Saw: The Reality of Chasing the Dream| Jonathan De Marte

Olympian and former professional baseball player Jonathan De Marte shares the side of the athlete journey most people never see — from multiple arm surgeries and independent baseball to signing with the Chicago Cubs and competing in the Olympics for Team Israel.

In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, Jonathan opens up about resilience, identity, athlete development, parenting in sports, injury prevention, and why mentorship and foundational athleticism matter more than ever in today’s youth sports culture.

A powerful conversation for athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone navigating growth, adversity, and performance both in sports and in life.

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/3n_Wj_3XY3Y?si=nNqphCbjvuvzUjTZ

Communication, Ownership, and Coaching That Actually Works: Aron Villegas

Aron Villegas, Director of Coaching at Rodeo Soccer Club, has built his career developing players from the ground up working his way from grassroots coaching to leading at the academy level in youth soccer.

In this episode, he breaks down what coaching actually demands beyond drills and tactics. From communication and ownership to building trust with players and parents, Aron shares the principles that separate average coaching from real leadership.

The conversation dives into player development, decision-making, and the importance of creating an environment where athletes can grow not just perform. Aron also shares lessons from navigating burnout, leadership challenges, and building a player pathway within the game.

This is a real look at coaching, culture, and what it takes to lead the right way.

🎙️ Coach & Counselor Podcast Watch here: https://youtu.be/Zw8l915eWi0?si=38Y9-Mc28jjBTFng

The Truth About Making It Today: The Separation Isn’t Skill

What does it really take to make it as an athlete today? In this episode of Coach & Counselor, NBA G League player and former Division I athlete Blaise Threatt breaks down the truth most athletes overlook—it’s not just about talent. From having no college offers to walking on at a Division II program, to becoming a top performer at Weber State and earning his shot in the NBA G League, Blaise shares the mindset that changed everything. This conversation dives into: The difference between hearing coaching and actually applying it Why being coachable, adaptable, and ready matters more than skill What separates athletes when everyone is talented The reality of the G League and chasing the NBA Lessons on discipline, resilience, and long-term growth Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or parent, this episode gives a real look at what it takes to grow, develop, and stand out in today’s game.

🎧 Listen to the full episode and tap into a mindset that goes beyond sports. https://youtu.be/w5tsWikA7Lo?si=jp9RQCXQV4Ydom-W

👇 Drop a comment: What’s one mindset shift that helped you grow?

#CoachAndCounselor#BlaiseThreatt#AthleteMindset#Basketball#NBAGLeague#PersonalGrowth#Leadership

The “Normal” Path in Sports… Is Why Most Athletes Struggle: Trey Woosley

Most athletes are told there’s a “right way” to make it play year-round, get exposure, and commit early. But what if that path is actually holding them back? In this episode of Coach & Counselor, we sit down with Trey Woosley, a former professional baseball player, Division I athlete, and current athletic director and high school coach in Colorado, to break down what the journey really looks like. From navigating junior college, D1, and NAIA baseball to earning a shot in pro ball, Trey has lived the path most athletes never fully understand. Now, he’s helping the next generation do it better. In this conversation, we cover: The truth about recruiting and exposureWhy the junior college route can be a game-changerWhat actually matters to coachesThe reality behind playing time and “favorites.”How mindset and environment shape development If you’re an athlete, parent, or coach trying to navigate the next level, this is a perspective you don’t hear often, but need to. 🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on coaching, development, and performance. #sports#recruiting#baseball#athletes#coaching#mindset#sportsparent#podcast#development

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/S3zGtfdAiu8?si=Fywxu5fLpAGde01n

Why High Performance Doesn’t Equal Fulfillment

This week on Coach & Counselor, we’re joined by Sheri Riley, founder of Exponential Living, peak performance coach, and trusted advisor to elite athletes, executives, and global organizations.
After achieving her dream career in the music industry, Sheri found herself successful but unfulfilled. That turning point led her to uncover a powerful truth: success without personal development isn’t sustainable.
In this episode, we dive into what’s really missing behind high performance, why so many athletes and high achievers struggle with confidence, communication, and self-worth despite external success.
We explore the difference between drive and confidence, the dangers of relying on validation, and how constant connectivity is quietly breaking down real communication.
This conversation goes beyond sports; it’s about building people, not just performers, and learning how to show up fully in every area of life.

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/PDdOiheTFJk?si=DUy-hm4fTPvh4GxN

The Coach Behind the Coach: The Hidden Side of Leadership

After coaching at elite high schools and the collegiate level, including multiple championship runs and NCAA tournament appearances, Cooper saw a gap in the game—there was support for athletes, but almost none for the coaches leading them. Today, he works with coaches across multiple sports, helping them manage pressure, lead with clarity, and build success that actually lasts.

But for Cooper, coaching has never just been about results.

In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, we dive into what it really means to perform at a high level as a leader—from navigating burnout, imposter syndrome, and isolation, to building systems that allow coaches to show up present, confident, and in control.

We also explore the hidden side of coaching, the realities of leadership in today’s game, and why separating identity from wins and losses is critical for long-term success.

If you’re a coach, athletic director, or leader operating in a high-pressure environment, this episode offers a perspective you don’t often hear—but one that can change how you lead and live.

🎙️ Subscribe to The Coach & Counselor for more conversations on coaching, leadership, and high performance.

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/Bcp_JQTxcAA?si=Dvok84SybkvI4aAn