Agape Freedom Sports LLC

WHAT YOUTH SPORTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE:

Written By: Jeric Yurkanin | Staff |Agape Freedom Sports

Have you ever reached the point where you just can’t stand youth sports anymore? The way some coaches think. The way some parents act. Honestly—many of us are there.

Here’s a thought: the youngest teams are often led by well-meaning but inexperienced parent-coaches. What if, instead, we invited a handful of great elementary education teachers—people who already excel at connecting with kids, challenging them appropriately, and helping them grow while still being a favorite adult—to help lead youth teams? If you can inspire students with diverse needs in a classroom, you can certainly teach a game with patience and joy. I’m convinced we’d see more growth than we do under some of today’s “win-first” approaches.

Everything I’ve learned about coaching didn’t come from chasing wins. It came from studying the philosophies of the greats—and none of them started with “winning at all costs.” It was always about what happens in between.

John Wooden: Effort Over Scoreboards

John Wooden, the legendary UCLA coach, won 10 national championships in 12 years—yet he never obsessed over the score. His definition of success:

“Peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best you are capable of becoming.”

For Wooden, the real victory was effort, preparation, teamwork, and character. His Pyramid of Success emphasized industriousness, enthusiasm, loyalty, cooperation, and self-control.

A “loss” with your best effort wasn’t failure; it was growth. He believed the real battle was within—so after games he asked, Did you do your best? Did you play together? Did you prepare properly? Ironically, that mindset produced less pressure and more championships.

Geno Auriemma: Relationships Before Talent

Like Wooden, UConn’s Geno Auriemma built a dynasty on people first.

“Coaching is about relationships. If you don’t care about your players, they won’t care about what you’re teaching.”

He chooses character over ego because talent without humility wrecks chemistry. He’s demanding and honest, but players trust him because the standard is for their growth, not his image. At UConn no one is bigger than the team—superstars included. As Geno says, “We don’t talk about winning championships. We talk about becoming a championship team.”

Herb Brooks: Great Moments From Great Opportunities

1980 U.S. Olympic coach Herb Brooks proved determination can outrun raw talent.

“Great moments are born from great opportunities.”

He chose young, hungry players who would sacrifice for the group. His focus was discipline, belief, and being ready when the moment comes. That belief turned preparation into history.

Why This Matters for Youth Sports

Wooden, Auriemma, and Brooks point to the same truth: winning is a byproduct, not the goal. The real targets are effort, relationships, character, and determination. That’s the foundation youth sports should be built on.

For me, ages 4–12 should start with one word: fun—not endless discipline drills, not parental pressure, not chasing imaginary NIL or pro futures. At that age, sport should shape better humans: love the game, respect others, show kindness.

Real coaching earns respect and leads with care. Kids should follow because they want to—because they know you’re for them. Teach a positive attitude, coachability, and work ethic—not just for personal dreams, but for the team.

My Coaching Lesson:,

In eight years as a head coach in an adult men’s softball league—and the past two years as an assistant—I’ve learned that philosophy matters more than trophies. As a head coach (2016–2023), my teams reached three league championships and three semifinals. As an assistant (2024–2025), we reached two more semifinals.

One of my former squads went on to win 42 straight games and back-to-back titles (2020–21). Their only real obstacle? My new team—we held them to four runs in the playoffs when they averaged 25. We lost 4–3, but the way we competed proved the philosophy works.

My standard every year was to compete for the title—but how we got there mattered most and was about everything in between. Most seasons, half the roster was brand new to the game. I preferred it. It wasn’t about collecting talent—it was about shaping teammates.

I even passed on “experienced” players who played only for themselves. Some bragged about skill levels, state tournaments, or semi-pro titles, but those things didn’t impress me. Labels don’t win for you—character does. I once released a very skilled player with high-level experience because he lacked the attitude, work ethic, and team-first mentality we needed.

For me, the only things that mattered were:

Are you coachable? Are you a good teammate? Do you put the team above yourself?

That’s what sports are supposed to be: not win-at-all-costs, not selfishness—learning, growing, and becoming better people together.

Where Youth Sports Go Wrong:,

Too often, I’ve seen coaches yell at kids—sometimes their own—right in front of the team. That’s not discipline; it’s humiliation. It embarrasses, crushes confidence, and poisons the culture.

I’ll never forget a 5–7-year-old in youth football with autism and ADHD. Instead of patience and support, he got harshness. He left the sport. Stories like that aren’t rare. Two of my family members quit youth football—not because of the game, but because of how adults acted.

So I have to ask: What gives any adult the right to scream at a child?

At those ages, it should be about teaching and joy, not tearing kids down. Parents can unintentionally fuel the problem by insisting kids obey a coach “no matter what,” even when the approach is wrong. When we measure success only by wins and “toughness,” we lose sight of joy and growth.

The Truth Youth Sports Must Remember

The single most important part of coaching is building a positive, trustworthy relationship with your athletes. When kids feel safe and respected, they give you everything they’ve got. When they feel humiliated, they shut down—and sometimes they don’t come back.

Wooden got it right. Auriemma got it right. Brooks got it right. The greatest coaches showed that trust, character, and belief create the conditions for winning. If they lived by that standard, youth sports can, too.

It doesn’t have to stay the way it is. If we choose love over ego, patience over screaming, and growth over politics, we’ll give kids what sports are supposed to be: a place to learn, to grow, and to fall in love with the game. Get those pieces right, and team success follows.

🏀🏈⚾ JERIC’S COACHING GUIDE

The Big Three Lessons

John Wooden (UCLA) → Success = effort and character, not scoreboards. Geno Auriemma (UConn) → Relationships and accountability before talent. Herb Brooks (USA Hockey) → Opportunity + determination create great moments.

What This Means for Ages 4–12

Fun first — not drills, pressure, or parent dreams. Relationships before results — kids need to know you care. Character & teamwork — build better humans, not just athletes. No screaming — correction without humiliation. Parents: support, don’t enable poor coaching behaviors.

Jeric’s Challenge to Coaches & Parents

✅ Choose love over ego

✅ Choose patience over screaming

✅ Choose growth over politics

👉 Winning isn’t the goal. Becoming a better person and teammate is.