Podcast Summary:

Youth Inc. with Greg Olsen
Episode: Abby Wambach & Julie Foudy on Raising Independent Kids in a Hyper-Watched World
Date: December 9, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, host Greg Olsen sits down with soccer legends Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy to talk about navigating youth sports today—especially for girls. With decades of elite-level experience as athletes, coaches, and parents, Abby and Julie discuss the shifting landscape of youth sports, the importance of preserving play and autonomy for kids, how to support children without overwhelming them, and the unique challenges of raising girls in the hyper-watched age of social media. The conversation is warm, candid, and packed with practical advice for parents and coaches alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Starting ‘Welcome to the Party’ with Billie Jean King

[02:19–06:43]

• Abby and Julie share the backstory of their new women’s sports podcast with Billie Jean King.
• Both took breaks from sports, but missed the camaraderie and joy.
• They highlight the rarity and value of capturing Billie Jean King’s trailblazing stories.
  • “She just turned 82…every day goes to bed, like, excited on what she’s gonna do the next day to change the world.” – Julie Foudy [06:22]

2. The Changing Landscape of Youth Sports

[07:39–13:56]

• Abby and Julie reflect on how youth sports have become commercialized.
• They caution against parents letting ego and ambitions overshadow their children’s enjoyment.
• Emphasis on the importance of play, experimentation, and lifelong joy in sports.
  • “The business of youth sport, in my mind, has kind of infected…what we really want our kids to gain out of playing youth sports.” – Abby Wambach [08:11]

3. Parenting Girls vs Boys in Sports

[10:21–15:40]

• Host Greg describes his own transition from a boy-dominated sports upbringing to being a “girl sports dad.”
• Julie notes the importance of adapting feedback to each child's willingness to receive it, rather than assuming all kids want or need parent-coaching.
  • “Every kid is different…My daughter…did not want mom and dad…to have any feedback.” – Julie Foudy [12:02]
• Both guests emphasize maintaining standards and competitiveness for girls, not “babying” them.
• They both stress that coaches and parents dictate the experience more than the kids themselves.

4. Communication & Psychological Differences

[15:40–17:09]

• Abby shares a practical coaching insight:
  • When addressing a team, boys and girls often interpret feedback differently; boys usually externalize criticism, while girls internalize it.
  • “A group of boys will think, ‘Oh, my God, he's talking to this guy.’…A group of girls…think the coach is talking to them.” – Abby Wambach [15:49]
• Advice: let girls set their own standards and goals; hold them to those, not the parent’s expectations.

5. Parents at Practice & Agency

[17:09–24:37]

• Abby believes kids need space to learn and grow without being watched constantly by parents.
  • “We need to create and carve out the space for our children to figure out how to be people without us watching them.” – Abby Wambach [18:53]
• Greg, as a coach, likes transparency and invites parents to observe, but values private space for kids as a parent.
• Julie underscores the importance of clear communication from coaches about team philosophy, goals, and values—not just technical skills.

6. Social Media and the Pressure to Perform

[26:07–28:42]

• Greg and the guests discuss the external validation pressures on today’s kids via social media.
• Abby points out that sports can be a rare escape from phones and digital scrutiny—essential for mental health.
  • “If your parents are sitting on the sidelines, they don’t even have that time to just be free and make mistakes…” – Abby Wambach [27:58]

7. Dealing with Parental Legacy and Expectations

[32:51–38:40]

• Both discuss how they handle their daughters playing in the shadow of famous moms.
• Consistent reassurance: “You don’t have to play soccer. Quit any time. Find your own joy.”
  • “You don’t have to play soccer…You will play a sport…but…find the joy in it, not us.” – Julie Foudy [34:06]
• Conversation is framed around life lessons and friendships built, not achievements or living up to parents’ careers.

8. Parent-Coach Boundaries and Involvement

[39:00–44:38]

• Abby shares her experience as a reluctant coach, providing occasional support with fitness and encouragement but largely letting the team’s actual coach lead.
• The importance of restraint: only stepping in as a coach-parent when it truly helps.
  • “You can’t nag them about everything…wait for the right moment...then their behavior actually adjusts.” – Abby Wambach [43:42]

9. Gendered Coaching Experiences & Team Culture

[46:47–51:06]

• Greg muses on the differences he noticed coaching girls vs boys: girls tend to support each other, listen better, and value team unity.
• Abby and Julie point out that girls often focus on working together and community building, a contrast with boys’ sometimes more individual focus.
  • “Women are community builders, they’re unifiers…what I love the most about…coaching.” – Julie Foudy [50:25]
• The take-away: sports are a canvas for life skills, not just athletic prowess.

10. The Parent’s Role: Volunteer, Don’t Just Criticize

[51:58–54:43]

• Greg vows never to be "that parent" who complains but won't volunteer.
• Julie and Abby stress that if you’re not coaching, you forfeit the right to criticize; always offer solutions over complaints.
  • “If we’re not volunteering our time to be coaching, then we have no right to criticize…” – Julie Foudy [52:51]
• Teach kids to address concerns directly to coaches, not complain to or through parents.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [06:22] Julie Foudy on Billie Jean King:
  “She just turned 82…every day goes to bed, like, excited on what she’s gonna do the next day to change the world.”

• [08:11] Abby Wambach on youth sports:
  “The business of youth sport, in my mind, has kind of infected…what we really want our kids to gain out of playing youth sports.”

• [15:49] Abby Wambach on team communication:
  “A group of boys will think, ‘Oh, my God, he's talking to this guy.’…A group of girls…think the coach is talking to them.”

• [18:53] Abby Wambach on practice:
  “We need to create and carve out the space for our children to figure out how to be people without us watching them.”

• [27:58] Abby Wambach on freedom:
  “If your parents are sitting on the sidelines, they don’t even have that time to just be free and make mistakes…”

• [34:06] Julie Foudy on choice:
  “You don’t have to play soccer…You will play a sport…but…find the joy in it, not us.”

• [43:42] Abby Wambach on feedback:
  “You can’t nag them about everything…wait for the right moment...then their behavior actually adjusts.”

• [50:25] Julie Foudy:
  “Women are community builders, they’re unifiers…what I love the most about…coaching.”

• [52:51] Julie Foudy on volunteering:
  “If we’re not volunteering our time to be coaching, then we have no right to criticize…”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:19: Founding the "Welcome to the Party" podcast with Billie Jean King
• 07:39: The shift in youth sports culture and parent involvement
• 12:02: Personalizing coaching and feedback for girls
• 15:40: Psychological differences in coaching boys vs girls
• 18:53: Why parents shouldn’t attend every practice
• 26:07: The impact of social media on youth athletes
• 32:51: Managing expectations as a parent with a sports legacy
• 39:00: Navigating being a coach-parent
• 46:47: Noticing gender differences in youth teams
• 51:58: Why parents should step up, not sit back
• 52:51: The "no volunteering, no criticizing" rule for parents

Tone and Style

The conversation is warm, personal, and direct—filled with anecdotes from both sports and parenting. Abby is candid and passionate; Julie is humorous and honest. Both stress joy, perspective, and the long-term lessons of sports, echoing Greg’s thoughtful, self-effacing hosting style.

Key Takeaways

• The best youth sports experiences focus on joy and learning, not professionalization or parent ego.
• Let kids lead in defining their own goals, and give them space away from parental (and societal) scrutiny.
• Communication styles need to be adjusted for gender and for individual kids.
• Social media has introduced new and intense pressures—sports can be a valuable counterbalance.
• To parent and coach well: volunteer, communicate, listen, and prioritize the child’s journey above all.

For listeners and non-listeners alike, this episode offers wise, practical advice—and a welcome reminder to keep youth sports about youth.