Listen "Episode #5: Lets Talk Youth Sports - Playing at the college level"
Episode Synopsis
This is the third episode in our series on youth sports. In this episode, we open up about the whirlwind journey of watching our son transition from high school athlete to college athlete and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
We talk candidly about what it means to parent a student-athlete at the college level—managing academics, sports, and the business side of today’s evolving collegiate landscape. NIL deals, scholarships, coaching changes, and the transfer portal have redefined what it means to "commit" to a program. We share our family’s real-life experiences through those changes, including hard decisions, setbacks, and moments of growth.
This episode dives into seven core lessons we’ve learned, including:
The emotional and mental transition from child to adult
Why academics should remain the top priority—even in the face of athletic opportunity
The importance of flexibility and resilience when everything changes unexpectedly
Why trust, honesty, and discernment are crucial during recruitment
The need to stay grounded in your community and give back
How relationships and reputation can make or break future opportunities
And above all, recognizing the privilege and responsibility of playing at this level
Whether you're just beginning this journey with your athlete or you're in the thick of it, we hope this conversation gives you encouragement, insight, and maybe even a little peace of mind. We’re learning as we go, and we’re grateful to walk this road alongside you.
We talk candidly about what it means to parent a student-athlete at the college level—managing academics, sports, and the business side of today’s evolving collegiate landscape. NIL deals, scholarships, coaching changes, and the transfer portal have redefined what it means to "commit" to a program. We share our family’s real-life experiences through those changes, including hard decisions, setbacks, and moments of growth.
This episode dives into seven core lessons we’ve learned, including:
The emotional and mental transition from child to adult
Why academics should remain the top priority—even in the face of athletic opportunity
The importance of flexibility and resilience when everything changes unexpectedly
Why trust, honesty, and discernment are crucial during recruitment
The need to stay grounded in your community and give back
How relationships and reputation can make or break future opportunities
And above all, recognizing the privilege and responsibility of playing at this level
Whether you're just beginning this journey with your athlete or you're in the thick of it, we hope this conversation gives you encouragement, insight, and maybe even a little peace of mind. We’re learning as we go, and we’re grateful to walk this road alongside you.
More episodes of the podcast The Spoken Over You Podcast
Episode #10: Turning Heaviness Into Holiness
26/11/2025
Episode #9: A Life of Thanks
13/11/2025
Episode #8: The Gift of Jesus
21/10/2025
Episode 7: Forgiveness Isn't Optional
15/09/2025
Episode #6: Living A Life Of Influence
25/08/2025
Episode #1: What's Your Story?
22/04/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.