Raising Competitors Without Losing the Child

How do we raise children who compete with excellence without believing their worth is determined by their performance?

In this special episode of Redeeming the Game, I sit down with my two brothers and my sister for an honest conversation about growing up as athletes and now raising athletes of our own.

Together, we reflect on what our parents modeled, the challenges facing today’s youth sports culture, and the responsibility parents and coaches have to develop the child before the competitor.

We discuss the pressures of travel sports, comparison, playing time, social media, success, and failure—and why our greatest responsibility is not simply raising successful athletes, but sons and daughters who know they are deeply loved by God and made righteous through Jesus Christ.

Whether you’re a coach, parent, grandparent, or mentor, this conversation will encourage you to shift your focus from performance to identity and from temporary success to eternal significance.

Because one day the games will end.

The trophies will collect dust.

The recruiting calls will stop.

But what our children believe about themselves—and about God—will shape the rest of their lives.

In this episode you’ll discover:

How to raise competitors without sacrificing the heart of your child.
Why beloved righteousness must come before athletic performance.
Practical ways to respond to wins, losses, pressure, and comparison.
What today’s athletes need most from the adults who lead them.
Why winning the child will always matter more than winning the game.

If I could go back and talk to my younger self as a coach, these are the 10 things I’d tell him first.

I put them all into a free guide called “10 Things I Wish I Knew as a Young Coach.”

No fluff. No playbooks. Just real lessons from years of coaching, leading, winning, losing, and learning.

If you’re early in your coaching journey, or you want to coach with more purpose and clarity, grab it for free below.

👇 Free download linked below 👇

www.redeemingthegame.com/10things

matt@redeemingthegame.com