BONUS MOTHER'S DAY EDITION: IG Influencer Nicki Marie's Best Youth Sports Takes

Summary

BONUS MOTHER'S DAY EDITION: IG Influencer Nicki Marie's Best Youth Sports Takes

Podcast: Youth Inc. with Greg Olsen
Episode Date: May 7, 2026
Host: Shelby Baumgartner (standing in for Greg Olsen)
Guest: Nicki Marie (youth sports mom & content creator)

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Overview

This special Mother's Day bonus episode of Youth Inc. spotlights the voices and experiences of moms in youth sports. Host Shelby Baumgartner welcomes Instagram influencer and field hockey alumna Nicki Marie to share honest, hilarious, and heartfelt perspectives on raising young athletes. Not only does Nicki offer an inside look at the realities of youth sports parenting—costs, expectations, and sideline stories—but the episode also kicks off a new monthly segment titled “Mom Talk,” aiming to foster a supportive (and entertaining) community for sports moms.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing “Mom Talk” – A New Community Segment

• Shelby explains "Mom Talk" is a new monthly feature bringing together sports moms from every background to share stories—funny, chaotic, and real (00:44).
  • Quote: “Moms deserve a place to laugh, cry, vent, and have that community with one another.” — Shelby Baumgartner (00:58)

2. Nicki Marie’s Approach to Parenting in Youth Sports

• Nicki, a former star field hockey player at UConn, describes her style as hands-off and child-led:
  • She lets her children take the lead in their athletic journeys, believing that desire and drive must come from the kids themselves, not parental pressure (01:46).
  • Quote: “If you’re an elite athlete, you cannot make your kid be like you. At least I don’t believe in that.” — Nicki Marie (01:56)
  • She embraces the communal, social side of youth sports over hyper-competitive outcomes.

3. Caving to the Costly Realities of Modern Youth Sports

• Nicki admits that despite initial reluctance, she’s now paying high fees for club teams and travel tournaments (02:56).
  • Quote: “I am completely against it, but I’m doing it and I’m paying the bill.” — Nicki Marie (03:02)
  • She expresses a tension between nostalgia for simpler times and the new norm of investing big money in youth sports.

4. Letting Kids Develop at Their Own Pace

• Nicki relays her daughter's dreams (e.g., playing for UNC at age 11) and clarifies that although she supports these dreams, she avoids projecting her own ambitions:
  • She notes that kids’ work ethic and passion may kick in later—or never—and that's okay (03:53).
  • Quote: “Let her be a kid. She’s 11. It will be fine.” — Nicki Marie (03:56)

5. A Recent Humbling Mom Moment (04:02)

• Nicki recounts her son’s journey from being an anxious, reluctant athlete to falling in love with basketball—on his own terms, with her support but without pressure:
  • Her story emphasizes patience and the positive, formative role of great coaches (04:02–05:26).
  • Quote: “To the parents who think that their kids at 7 are already determined as to what they’re going to be into, it’s not right… He fell in love with basketball, and I can guarantee you he will be playing it for all the years ahead.” — Nicki Marie (04:32–05:34)

6. Mom Superpowers: Communication and Connection

• Nicki’s “superpower” as a mom is her ability to communicate openly and empathetically with her kids, especially during tough conversations about boundaries and devices (05:40).
  • Quote: “I know how to be on their level...My superpower is strong communication… Just trust that I’m on your team.” — Nicki Marie (05:42–06:32)

7. The Financial Pressure and Anxiety of Modern Youth Sports

• Nicki expresses concern over how high costs can distort expectations and create stress for both parents and kids (06:40).
  • She fears her child may internalize pressure or confusion if results don’t match the investment (07:02).
  • Quote: “There’s something funky, like, once money’s in the mix…My nightmare is that my kid comes off the field not knowing where she stands, not knowing if she’s improving, not knowing what she could do better.” — Nicki Marie (06:41–07:27)
  • She humorously recalls the days of oranges at halftime versus today’s elaborate snack culture (08:01).

8. Sideline Snapshot: Over-the-Top Snack Culture

• Jokes about the evolution from simple snacks to “snackle boxes” and restocked SUVs at games (08:03–08:17).

9. Conversations with Other Sports Moms (e.g. Kylie Kelsey)

• Nicki talks about her friendship with Kylie Kelsey, another high-profile field hockey mom, and how their backgrounds may make them less likely to push their kids too hard (08:17–09:32).
  • Quote: “I feel like people who have done it really well on their own… we are the least of the culprits of, like, driving it into our kids. I don’t think they’ll expect that from their kids. They will be similar to me...Let my kid lead the way.” — Nicki Marie (08:51–09:22)

10. Encouragement to Other Sports Moms/Content Creators

• The host thanks Nicki for being an inspiration in content creation and parenting, to which Nicki responds with encouragement to enjoy the journey (09:34–09:49).
  • Quote: “Just have fun with it.” — Nicki Marie (09:49)

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Memorable Moments

• The Nightmare Day Scenario: Nicki’s fears about modern youth sports—mixing money, expectations, and confusion—ring true for many parents (06:40–07:27).
• Snack Wars: The banter about elaborate snack setups at games brings laughter and nostalgia for simpler times (08:03–08:17).
• “Let Them Lead” Philosophy: Nicki’s repeated, genuine insistence that parents should let kids discover and own their athletic journeys stands as an episode refrain.

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Timestamps of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 00:44–01:23 | Introducing “Mom Talk” | | 01:46–02:50 | Nicki on her parenting style | | 02:56–03:08 | Paying for club teams | | 03:16–03:56 | Kid dreams & letting kids be kids | | 04:02–05:34 | Humbling youth sports moments | | 05:40–06:32 | Communication as a mom superpower | | 06:40–07:27 | “Nightmare Day” and financial pressure | | 08:03–08:17 | Snack culture humor | | 08:17–09:32 | Talking about Kylie Kelsey and parenting approaches | | 09:34–09:49 | Wrapping up; advice for others |

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Summary Takeaways

• This episode provides an open, relatable, and often funny look at youth sports from the perspective of a real sports mom and former athlete.
• Nicki Marie champions the value of following your child's lead, prioritizing fun and communication over competition and pressure.
• The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of youth sports, the growing financial burden, and the comforting camaraderie among moms navigating the same journey.
• “Mom Talk” welcomes listeners to join and share their own stories—because as Shelby says, every sports mom deserves a cheer.

Follow Mom Talk Sports on Instagram to add your own stories to the mix.

Transcript

[A]

Hey, everyone, it's Shelby Baumgartner. And welcome back to Youth Inc. Happy almost Mother's Day. To every single mom out there. Greg has taken the day off because honestly, this day is for the moms. Whether you're coaching the team, packing the orange slices, cleaning off that grass stained jersey, or simply yelling go as loud as you possibly can. We appreciate you and we love you. This week we have a very special episode. Our first ever Mother's Day edition with the one and the only Nikki Marie, a youth sports mom, a content creator, and probably the funniest mom ever to lose a shin guard in the back of a minivan.

[B]

Just had possibly the worst motherhood moment of my career. Top one I'll remember happened at the Cracker Barrel.

[A]

This episode is also kicking off something that we're so excited about here at you think it's called mom talk. And no, not that mom talk that you're probably thinking of. Every month we're in a sit down with sports moms. Famous, not famous, everywhere in between to show the funniest, the chaotic, and honestly, the most unhinged sideline stories. Stories that you can imagine. And the best part, you can follow Mom Talk Sports on Instagram right now and slide into our DMs and share your funniest youth sports mom stories. We want to hear it because moms deserve a place to laugh, cry, vent, and have that community with one another. All right, moms, this one is for you. So let's get into it.

[C]

Youth sports in America are at a crossroads and I'm here to help lead the conversation forward. I'm Greg Olson. Each week we're sitting down with top athletes, coaches and more to talk about what's working, what's broken, and what's next. Welcome to you think.

[D]

You were a star field hockey player at UConn and now you're a youth sport parent. What type of youth sports parent are you?

[B]

Believe it or not, I am like, I let my kid take the lead entirely a few years. So my, my, this we're coming right fresh off of youth basketball season. Okay, so you've got, my daughter is doing co ed fifth, sixth grade. My son is doing third, fourth. So it's like, you know, instructional and minor, whatever the heck they call it. And I am helping my son's team and I sit there and I guess my position in youth sports is like, you can't make your kid be like you. So if you're an elite athlete, you cannot make your kid be like you. At least I don't believe in that. I think if my kids have anything from me, it will be this, like, innate desire to do well in their sport. I don't think that comes at 11. I don't think it comes at 9. I think it comes later, potentially, or never. And that's okay. I'm just enjoying the community part of it, the friendship, getting my family together to sit there and cheer my kids on. Like, that's it.

[D]

What is one thing that you swore you would never do as a sports parent but now do?

[B]

Pay for a crazy expensive youth field hockey club experience? I mean, I don't want to insult the club. I am completely against it, but I'm doing it and I'm paying the bill.

[D]

I remember the first interaction that we had. We were like, yeah, I'm going to Disney. Don't ask why we're going to a tournament. She's 12. What's going on?

[B]

11, going on 47. And the Bills are real. And I don't think it's necessary, but. But it's like, once you buy in and you see these other kids, you realize, like, she's not going to get that exposure to the sport. Even in middle school, she's not. So she's telling me she's ready to go to you. Ready? 11 years old. Not. She's. Not that she's, like, into it, but not that into it. She's already going to unc. She's going to play for Coach Aaron, like. And I'm like, girl, if you want that, we will build it, right?

[D]

Like, you can't deny it. But, like.

[B]

But she doesn't. She doesn't have the work ethic now. And I'm not telling her that. It's not my job. Let her be a kid. She's 11. It will be fine.

[D]

What is a humbling sports mom moment that you've had recently?

[B]

All right, I guess this is humbling. I think it's like if. If you saw my son three years ago, you couldn't get him to show up to the baseball field without, like, tears. Okay? So for me, that was weird because my. My kid's dad, that he played Division 1 baseball. I was an all American softball player. My whole upbringing was like, me out on the softball field with, like, my dad being one of the coaches. Like, my entire childhood, the vision of it was like, I was on a field. I couldn't get my son to go. I couldn't even get him to go to the golf swim camp that he went to. Super introverted, super head case, overly anxious Overthinker. And this year, he fell in love with basketball. So to the parents who think that their kids at 7 are, like, already determined as to what they're going to be into, it's not right. You just have to keep offering, like, what's here in front of you. Maybe you want to try this? If it makes you feel better, I'll help coach the team so that I'm kind of your, like, blanket on the sideline. I'm your comfort spot. And me doing that and letting him lead the way. He fell in love with basketball, and I can guarantee you he will be playing it for all the years ahead, and he will develop in the entire way he wants to. So humbling is like, oh, I. I'm humbled by him deciding to fall in love with the game without anybody else telling him to. He had a great team, a great coach. We cannot underestimate youth coaches. It's what he fell in love with this year.

[D]

So I love that. That's amazing. What is your mom's superpower?

[B]

I. I think my. My mom's superpower is that I am such a kid at heart that, like, I know how to get on their level. I almost said get down on their level. It's not down at all. I know how to be on their level. And I know that I was yearning for strong communication when I was a kid. So my superpower is strong communication. If my daughter, if there's something I want to talk to her about, I communicate the why. I know this is a tough conversation. I know this sucks for you. Here's what I'm worried about. Just trust that I'm on your team. You're not going to see it with the devices, right? She's 11. She wants the device. She wants it in her room and to have the tough conversations, like, I have to remember what she feels like. And I think that's truly my superpower. My kids probably wouldn't say that that was a strength of mine, but I know it is, is to communicate on a level that they can, like, know where I'm coming from, period.

[D]

I love that. What is your nightmare day as a youth sports mom?

[B]

My nightmare day. Oh, this is going to sound like. This is going to feel therapeutic to say. My nightmare day is that we are spending all this money, and with that comes an expectation that your kids improving and your kids want it, right? Because there's something funky, like, once money' the mix. It's like the. The. The trending memes that are like, you know, the song and the kids in the car eating like a bag of cheit, and the dad's like, I just bought you a $500 bat and you struck out four times. You know, like. So my nightmare day is that I start creating stories in my head because I'm spending money on a sport that, like, I didn't grow up having to. My parents didn't have to invest this heavily in me at 11. So my night year day is that my kid comes off the field not knowing where she stands, not knowing if she's improving, not knowing what she could do better. And then she's not picked up for the next tournament and doesn't know why that's. My nightmare is because the head case. It's too young for kids to have mind games going, no, truly. And then can we get Chick Fil A and apply a bowl on the way home? Because I'm starving and I'm like, it's Sunday closed. It used to be cut up oranges in a ziploc bag, and those were the best.

[D]

Like a halftime orange slice. Sign me up.

[B]

Now it's the charcoal the snackle boxes are out of. I see some of the youth moms, and I'm like, wow, you have an entire, like, it's almost like a restock of the gmc. Like the back of the suburban.

[D]

You're really close with Kylie Kelsey, both really big in the Phillocky landscape. What type of youth sports parent is she? And what type of youth sports parent are you in Phillocky landscape in your eyes?

[B]

She's on her. She looks at me as like, oh, this is what I have coming up. So those are the conversations we have. I think her as a coach is probably very matter of fact. Like, she dry matter of fact, boss. Like, I just love her. She is exactly offline as you'd want her to be. Like, she's the voice memos. And we both will go days without responding to each other. And then I'll apologize. And she's like, why no, don't apologize for not being in your text messages. But I think the. The youth sports parent she's gonna be. And this is my theory, and I don't want to insult anybody. I feel like people who have done it really well on their own, I think that we are the least of the culprits of, like, driving it into our kids. I think we like probably Jason and Kylie. Him playing it the level that he's played at. I don't think they'll expect that from their kids. They will be similar to me is what I would guess from their personalities. Yes. Like, let's let my kid lead the way if they want to be a dancer, cheerleader. I'll maybe cringe a little bit at cheering, but I'll be there.

[D]

I love it.

[B]

I'll be there.

[D]

Well, this has been, like, I wish I had all the time in the world. I hope, I hope. I hope we can cross paths someday. Like, you're truly an inspiration to me. Like, I just started content creating. You truly are a blueprint for me with everything that you do. So thank you.

[B]

Thank you so much. Just have fun with it.