Coaching with Heart: How Strong Relationships Lift Youth—and Coaches—Higher

Why connection, care, and mental wellness matter more than stats in today’s youth sports world

The Conversation We Need in Youth Sports

If you’ve spent any time around youth sports—on the sidelines, in the car after practice, or trying to decode a teenager’s mood—you know the scoreboard never tells the full story. That’s why this latest episode of the Generation Youth Podcast hit home for me.

I had the chance to sit down with two incredible leaders: Janine Tucker, the legendary former Johns Hopkins women’s lacrosse coach, and Tracey Currey, the powerhouse founder of ISNation, a community dedicated to athlete and coach wellness.

What unfolded wasn’t a discussion about drills, championships, or college recruiting. It was about something deeper—how kids and coaches are quietly struggling, how connection heals, and how sports can become one of the most life-giving spaces if we’re willing to lead with heart.

When a Coach Shows They Care, Everything Changes

One moment from our conversation still rings in my ears. Janine said:

“If they know you care about them far more than the goals or the assists, then they are more willing to give of themselves to you and be vulnerable with you.”

That’s the whole game right there.

Janine didn’t just coach athletes; she built relationships that lasted decades. Her players still call her, still ask for advice, still see her as an anchor long after the final whistle. That doesn’t happen because of a perfect record. That happens because she chose to know their hearts.

Tracey echoed this from her own family’s story. She spoke openly about how a caring coach literally helped save a life during a dark season—proof that sometimes a coach becomes the person a young athlete will trust when they can’t talk to anyone else.

Those moments remind us: athletes don’t rise because someone yelled at them to work harder. They rise because someone saw them, valued them, and kept showing up.

The Pressure Isn’t Just on Kids—Coaches Are Carrying It Too

As we talked, something else became painfully clear: everyone in sports is under strain.

Kids feel pulled in a thousand directions—school, social media, expectations, comparisons, pressure to be perfect. They’re overwhelmed.

But coaches? Many of them are barely hanging on.

Janine put it bluntly:

“Coaching is really hard these days. On every level.”

She’s right.

The pressure to win. The constant critique. The emails. The meetings. The parents. The job security. The feeling that every decision is dissected. It wears people down.

And Tracey reminded us that without support, coaches often end up isolated—expected to be strong for everyone else while silently running on fumes.

This isn’t just a youth issue. It’s a human one.

So What Do We Do? Four Shifts That Make a Difference

Our conversation kept circling back to four practical shifts that can change the whole environment—on and off the field:

1. Put relationships first. Always.

A quick check-in. A thoughtful text. A moment after practice to ask how someone is doing. These small gestures build the trust that young athletes crave.

Families place a massive amount of trust in coaches. Honoring that trust is the foundation of everything.

2. Build community—not competition—among adults.

Coaches need their own “team”—assistant coaches, other staff, supportive parents, trusted peers. Coaching wasn’t meant to be done alone.

When adults support each other, kids thrive.

3. Keep the communication honest and open.

The triangle of coach–athlete–parent works best when no one is guessing or assuming.

As Janine shared, “We are in a partnership.”
That partnership is strengthened when we talk early, talk openly, and talk often.

4. Prioritize mental health—for everyone.

This is where Tracey’s work with ISNation is a game changer.

They offer:

• daily inspiration

• practical mental health tools

• stories from real coaches and athletes

• a space to breathe, connect, and not feel alone

It’s exactly the kind of resource the sports world needs right now.

The Real Win: Helping Kids Become Their Best Selves

One of my favorite lines from the entire episode came from Janine:

“We’re using sports to help them become the best versions of themselves.”

That’s the heartbeat of great coaching.

Yes, we want kids to learn grit. Yes, we want them to work hard, bounce back from mistakes, and grow their confidence. But the real win is who they become along the way.

And coaches? When they’re supported, cared for, and connected, they become the catalysts who spark that transformation.

A Better Way Forward—Together

This episode reminded me of something I say often:
When we empower the adults who serve youth, we elevate an entire generation.

If we want healthier athletes, we need healthier coaches.
If we want better teams, we need stronger relationships.
If we want lasting impact, we need to put people over performance—every time.

If you missed the episode, it’s one of the most heartfelt conversations we’ve had on the podcast. And if you want to take the next step:

👉 Check out ISNation for tools and daily encouragement
👉 Share this post with a coach who needs a lift
👉 Commit to one small act of connection this week

Small seeds grow big futures—especially in the world of youth sports.

Let’s keep raising a generation of athletes and coaches who know they matter.