In Part 1 of The Return on Investment Myth — Rethinking Youth Sports, Dr. Travis Dorsch joins Chat By The Pitch to explore what families are truly getting from youth sports. As a professor at Utah State University and founding director of the Families in Sport Lab, Dr. Dorsch shares how his research — and his own parenting journey — reveal the tension between performance, pressure, and purpose.

We unpack why so many parents chase the wrong outcomes, how goal misalignment drives kids out of the game, and what it really means to “invest” in your child’s sport journey. From NIL deals to the cost of club soccer, Travis challenges families to define success differently — not in scholarships or stats, but in the lessons that last a lifetime.

💬 Key Talking Points

• Why parents should expect a return on investment — but not the kind they think

• The dangers of chasing scholarships and pro dreams too early

• Goal alignment: how parents, coaches, and players get out of sync

• What keeps kids in the game past age 13

• The problem with commodifying young athletes

• Systems thinking: placing the child at the center of the sport ecosystem

• Communication tips for the car ride home

• What questions parents should ask after every game

• Modeling behavior and emotional control on the sidelines

• How family dynamics shape athlete development

• “Snowplow” vs. “scaffolding” parents

• Defining success beyond wins and goals

• Building lifelong movers instead of short-term stars

🗣 Quotes from Dr. Travis Dorsch

• “Parents should expect some form of return on their investment — but the real question is how we define that return.”

• “When parents define success as scholarships or contracts, the pressure skyrockets for everyone.”

• “Goal alignment is everything. If parents and kids aren’t chasing the same thing, conflict is inevitable.”

• “The child needs to remain at the center. When parents or coaches make it about themselves, that’s when problems start.”

• “If we can just get kids to come back next season, we’re winning.”

• “You can’t name Christian Pulisic’s U12 record — because it doesn’t matter. What mattered is that he kept playing.”

• “Parents are role models first. Kids don’t just hear us — they watch how we act.”

• “Ask better questions on the ride home. Not ‘Did you win?’ but ‘What was the most exciting thing you did today?’”

• “Work hard, listen to the coach, and have fun — that’s our family mantra.”

• “Youth sport is a vehicle to raise better humans, not just better athletes.”

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Connect with Dr. Travis Dorsch

🌐 Families in Sport Lab — Utah State University

▶️ TEDx Talk: “Should Parents Expect a Return on Investment?”

#YouthSports #ParentingInSports #SportsCulture #PlayerDevelopment #SportPsychology #YouthAthletes #TravisDorsch #FamiliesInSport #SportsParenting #ChatByThePitch #SoccerCulture #SportsEcosystem #PlayerCenteredDevelopment #NIL #ReturnOnInvestment #ParentCoachPlayer #YouthDevelopment #SportsEducation #AthleteMindset #PodcastDFW

Mentioned in this episode:

Reeplayer: Greater access to footage gives every young athlete the opportunity to develop and be seen. Reeplayer is committed to making footage accessible to teams, families, and athletes of all backgrounds.

Reeplayer

TeamPlayr: Find and join the perfect youth
soccer team

TeamPlayr

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In this episode, Tom Boyce, co-owner of Crossbar and London Calling TX, shares how these two soccer spaces are redefining culture in North Texas.

From weekday pickup and late-night leagues to homeschool sessions and family-friendly weekends, Crossbar has created a space where adults can play, relax, and connect while their kids grow up around the game.

Tom and Ian dive into:

• How the adult-first, kid-friendly model changes the soccer experience.

• The “winner-stays-on” pickup system that keeps games competitive and fun.

• Why Denton’s cash-rollover challenge became a local legend.

• The crossover between Crossbar and London Calling in growing community culture.

• How partnerships with leagues, gyms, and coaches expand opportunity across DFW.

This episode is a reminder that soccer isn’t just a sport — it’s a community heartbeat.

⚽ Key Talking Points

• Crossbar’s mission: create adult-first soccer community centers where parents can play too.

• Locations: Dallas (formerly Richardson) and Denton, both with full-service bars and turf.

• League nights: Open, Co-Ed, and Over-30 divisions.

• Pickup culture: 5v5, first to two goals, winner stays — no cleats allowed.

• GoodRec and FieldSpace apps for sign-ups and scheduling.

• The cash-rollover pickup pot that’s become part of Denton soccer lore.

• Daytime blocks for homeschoolers, youth training, and open play.

• Community partnerships with gyms, coaches, and local soccer groups.

• Expansion plans: new outdoor turf and long-term franchise potential.

• “Happy parents = better players.” The ripple effect of Crossbar’s culture.

💬 Quotes from Tom Boyce

“We’re adult-first, but kids are always welcome. It’s a soccer community center.”

“If parents are comfortable, coaches can coach and kids can just play.”

“Pickup should be fun — 5v5, winner stays, no pressure, no cleats.”

“That cash pot in Denton? It started small, now it’s legendary.”

“We’re not here to nickel-and-dime. We’re here to belong.”

“Think the Cheers bar — but for soccer.”

📲 Connect with Tom Boyce

📷 Instagram: @crossbar.dallas

📷 Instagram: @londoncallingtx

🌐 Websites:

🔗 www.crossbardallas.com

🔗 www.londoncallingtx.com

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#ChatByThePitch #Crossbar #LondonCallingTX #DallasSoccer #DFWSoccer #AdultSoccer #PickupSoccer #IndoorSoccer #DentonTX #RichardsonTX #SoccerCommunity #SoccerParents #YouthSoccerParents #TexasSoccer #NorthTexasSoccer #SoccerCulture #FiveASide #CommunitySoccer

Mentioned in this episode:

***Cursing Warning***

TeamPlayr: Find and join the perfect youth
soccer team

TeamPlayr

Thanks to Soccer Coach Weekly for supporting the podcast. Plan - Fast - Coach - Smart (GET YOUR 50% OFF WITH CODE IAN50) at Soccer Coach Weekly

Soccer Coach Weekly

Reeplayer: Greater access to footage gives every young athlete the opportunity to develop and be seen. Reeplayer is committed to making footage accessible to teams, families, and athletes of all backgrounds.

Reeplayer

Soccer Innovations: Award-Winning Soccer Equipment & Accessories

Soccer Innovations

In Part 2 of our conversation with Brenden Lee, founder of Project 214, we go deeper into how futsal connects people, purpose, and personal growth. Brenden shares the next phase of his vision — from partnering with Vanta Athletics to bring rooftop futsal to downtown Dallas, to shaping a mentorship culture built on empathy and expression. He opens up about the challenges that shaped him, the role of mental health in coaching, and how Project 214 is evolving into a creative hub where players, parents, and mentors come together through the love of the game. This episode is equal parts inspiration, vulnerability, and vision — a reminder that sport is just the beginning. (138 words)

Key Talking Points

• Partnering with Vanta Athletics to launch rooftop futsal at Plaza of the Americas

• How futsal becomes a platform for mentorship and community impact

• Creating safe spaces for kids and families to connect beyond the game

• Blending art, culture, and sport into a creative ecosystem

• Building confidence and self-expression through the game

• The importance of mental health and self-awareness for coaches and players

• Lessons from personal struggles and rediscovering purpose through service

• Bridging generations and cultures through pickup play and shared experiences

• The rise of futsal facilities and grassroots energy across North Texas

• How Project 214 is inspiring the next generation to play, create, and belong

Tune In to Learn

How Brenden Lee is redefining what futsal means for Dallas — as a game, a community, and a space for healing, growth, and connection.

Quotes from Brenden Lee

• “Project 214 feels like servitude — a way to give purpose and connection to something bigger than me.”

• “I want kids to feel seen, heard, and safe — that’s what this project is about.”

• “Futsal is just the bridge; what we’re really building is community.”

• “Vanta Athletics shares the same ethos — it’s about people coming together through the game.”

• “Sometimes you have to shed old versions of yourself to find the authentic you.”

• “Sports culture rarely talks about mental health — but it’s okay to say you’re down and seek help.”

• “Project 214 was born from pain but built on love — that’s what makes it real.”

• “The World Cup will bring energy, but our goal is to sustain that culture long after.”

• “Every kid deserves a place to belong, to create, to express who they are.”

• “My greatest inspiration is the little kid version of me who just needed a hug and a chance to be seen.”

📲 Connect with Brenden Lee

📷 Instagram (Personal): @brendenlee17

📷 Instagram (Project 214): @project_2.1.4

🌐 Website: theproject214.com

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#ChatByThePitch #BrendenLee #Project214 #DallasFutsal #VantaAthletics #RooftopSoccer #FutsalCulture #FutsalTraining #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerCommunity #SportsMentorship #CreativeCoaching #YouthSoccer #SoccerPodcast #TexasSoccer #MentalHealthInSports #GrowTheGame #StreetSoccer #DallasSoccer #PlayWithPurpose

Mentioned in this episode:

TeamPlayr: Find and join the perfect youth
soccer team

TeamPlayr

Thanks to Soccer Coach Weekly for supporting the podcast. Plan - Fast - Coach - Smart (GET YOUR 50% OFF WITH CODE IAN50) at Soccer Coach Weekly

Soccer Coach Weekly

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