The Pressure To Specialize: What Sports Moms Need To Hear Right Now

Are you feeling the pressure to have your daughter specialize in one sport or position too early? You’re not alone. In this powerful episode, I sit down with Carrie Dever Boaz – a D1 softball coach, sports parenting expert, and leader at Extra Inning Softball – to unpack the truth about early specialization and how to navigate it without sacrificing your child’s love for the game. What You’ll Learn: ✅ The hidden risks of early specialization. Why pushing kids into one sport too soon can backfire. ✅ When (and if!) specialization actually makes sense. Carrie’s surprising take on the right age. ✅ High school vs. travel ball. Why BOTH experiences matter more than you think. ✅ How to handle pressure from coaches, without becoming "that parent". ✅ The power of failure. Why letting your athlete struggle is the best thing you can do. ✅ Real talk on burnout and how to know if it’s time to push through or walk away. ✅ Carrie’s top parenting advice and what she wishes she knew sooner about raising athletes. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now! This conversation is packed with game-changing insights you won’t want to miss. P.S. Need help with the mental side of sports? Our Elite Mental Game (EMG) program gives athletes and parents the tools to thrive. Episode Highlights: [00:00:00] Introduction to Early Specialization. The topic of early specialization in youth sports and the pressures parents face to have their kids focus on one sport or position too soon. [00:01:09] Meet Carrie Dever Boaz. Introduction of Carrie, a longtime coach, sports parent, and representative of Extra Inning Softball, who shares her expertise on navigating youth sports. [00:01:53] Shoutout to EMG Community. Acknowledgment of the Elite Mental Game (EMG) program and how it helps athletes and parents manage the mental side of sports, including burnout and confidence. [00:04:35] Carrie’s Background & Experience. Carrie shares her journey as a multi-sport athlete, college coach, and sports parent, highlighting her unique perspective on youth sports. [00:06:51] The Mission of Extra Inning Softball. Carrie explains how Extra Inning Softball supports athletes, parents, and coaches with resources, rankings, and mentorship programs like the Commit Crew. [00:12:29] Defining Specialization in Sports. Discussion on what specialization really means – whether it’s focusing on one sport or one position – and why it’s becoming more common at younger ages. [00:17:32] High School vs. Club Sports. The differences between high school and elite club sports, and why both experiences are valuable for young athletes. [00:23:47] Handling Pressure from Coaches. How parents can advocate for their kids without overstepping, and why communication between athletes and coaches is crucial. [00:30:49] Parenting Wisdom: Love & Let Them Struggle. Carrie’s heartfelt advice on parenting young athletes—loving hard, celebrating failures, and keeping family bonds strong. [00:40:03] Avoiding “Lawnmower Parenting”. The dangers of overprotecting kids in sports and why letting them face challenges builds resilience. [00:43:39] Closing Thoughts. Coach Bre wraps up with gratitude for Carrie’s insights and encouragement for parents navigating youth sports. Next Steps:Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms - How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter"s Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You DoVisit our podcast website for more great episodes Thank you in advance for joining us on our mission and leaving a rating and review on