What happens when the adults in the gym become the biggest problem on the court? After this conversation, you will never look at a youth sports sideline the same way.Coach Justin Furtado sits down with Darrel Cole — 30-year coaching veteran, Thousand Oaks High School assistant, nonprofit travel program founder, and basketball dad — to talk honestly about what travel basketball culture is doing to our kids, and what coaches and parents can actually do about it.About Darrel: Darrel Cole walked onto the Oakland University basketball program after years of relentless work, went on to coach youth athletes at every level, and founded SoCal Splash to give underserved kids in both rural and urban communities a real shot at the game. He is as thoughtful as he is direct.Five Key Moments:0:00 — The Origin: How a chance meeting at a tournament led to this conversation about what youth sports has become2:00 — The Incident: Darrel describes a weekend tournament where a parent nearly attacked a coach, a ref said it was 'above my pay grade,' and the game just... kept going9:00 — The Walk-On Mentality: How being told 'no' repeatedly shaped everything Darrel teaches young athletes today14:00 — The Dad vs. Coach Tension: How Darrel navigates coaching his own son without projecting his own playing career onto him20:00 — The Kids Being Left Behind: Why the middle-talent athlete in rural and urban communities is the real gap in youth basketball development
==========================================⁠⁠Make Money Coaching Sports⁠⁠: https://www.makemoneycoachingsports.c...==========================================CONNECT WITH US:Coach Darrel IG: https://www.instagram.com/darrelwcole/Coach Furtado IG: https://www.instagram.com/coachfurtadoo/?hl=enPodcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_scoreboard_pod/BTG Basketball IG: https://www.instagram.com/btg_basketball/Newsletter: https://btgbasketball.org/bts-newsletter-subscribeWebsite: https://btgbasketball.org/==========================================Beyond the Scoreboard is the podcast for coaches and parents who know winning isn't the whole point. Hosted by Coach Justin Furtado of BTG Basketball, each episode digs into the leadership, mindset, and culture that shape young athletes into people, not just players. Because the most important things happening in youth sports never show up on the scoreboard.

Most youth coaches are accidentally ruining their players' development.In this episode of the Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast, Coach Justin Furtado sat down with Matt Poland aka Coach Gaffa, head coach of FC Naples in USL League One and discuss the #1 mistake destroying youth athletes: joystick coaching.Here's the truth most coaches won't tell you: Your job isn't to win every game. Your job is to prepare players for the moments when you're not on the sideline. The moments when they have to problem-solve under pressure. The moments when they face failure and have to bounce back.Matt's philosophy is simple: Guide on the side, not sage on the stage. Stop micromanaging. Start asking questions. Teach the why. Create players who own their decisions.In this conversation, you'll discover:1. Sports must be more than the dream of going pro, use it as a microcosm to prepare athletes for life's obstacles, teamwork, and resilience2. When you don't communicate clearly, athletes will create their own narratives about your decisions, often spiraling in directions you never intended3. You can hold the same standard across your entire team, but how you coach each athlete to that standard must be completely individualizedWhether you coach recreational league or competitive travel teams, whether your kid plays soccer, basketball, or baseball, this episode will completely transform how you approach youth sports.It's time to play the long game.

ABOUT COACH GAFFA: Matt Poland is the Head Coach and Sporting Director for FC Naples (USL League One). After a four-year professional playing career in Scandinavia, a catastrophic knee injury forced him into coaching at 24 — where he's built a reputation for player-first leadership and cultural intentionality.

FIVE KEY MOMENTS:

1:22 — The Injury: When the dream ends and the pivot begins

4:22 — Trial by Fire: Coaching guys who were your teammates six months ago

6:15 — Sports as Life Prep: Why the scoreboard can't be the only goal

8:33 — The Communication Gap: What happens when you don't give clarity

10:50 — Same Standard, Different Roads: Coaching to the individual without compromising culture==========================================⁠⁠Make Money Coaching Sports⁠⁠: https://www.makemoneycoachingsports.c...==========================================CONNECT WITH US:Coach Gaffa Website: https://www.coachpoland.com/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coachgaffaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-poland-9a7749172/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattpolandsoccer/Coach Furtado IG: https://www.instagram.com/coachfurtadoo/?hl=enPodcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_scoreboard_pod/BTG Basketball IG: https://www.instagram.com/btg_basketball/Newsletter: https://btgbasketball.org/bts-newsletter-subscribeWebsite: https://btgbasketball.org/Beyond the Scoreboard is the podcast for coaches and parents who know winning isn't the whole point. Hosted by Coach Justin Furtado of BTG Basketball, each episode digs into the leadership, mindset, and culture that shape young athletes into people, not just players. Because the most important things happening in youth sports never show up on the scoreboard.#youthsports #basketball #sports #sportspodcast #aau

How has coaching today’s athletes changed and what does it take to truly develop leaders in youth sports?In this episode of the Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast, Coach Kathy Taylor (former Colgate University National Champion) breaks down the reality of modern coaching, athlete development, and parental involvement in youth sports.If you're a basketball coach, youth sports coach, or sports parent, this conversation dives into the biggest challenges in AAU basketball, athlete burnout, leadership development, and building team culture and how to navigate them effectively.You’ll learn how to balance accountability and psychological safety in coaching, develop resilient athletes, and avoid the common traps that are hurting today’s players.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:1. Athletes today still want to be coached—but need clear purpose (“why”) behind training2. High standards + high support = real psychological safety (not lowered expectations)3. Over-involved parenting can limit resilience, independence, and athlete growthWE COVER:1. Why building resilient athletes requires allowing pain, failure, and disappointment—not overprotecting kids2. How constant parent communication in youth sports breaks coach-athlete trust and limits independence3. The boundaries on parental involvement in sports at the college level—and why most of them fail4. Why psychological safety in coaching isn’t about comfort, but about care + non-negotiable standards5. The generational shift in youth sports coaching—from trust to heavy parent intervention, and how to handle itWhether you're coaching at the youth, high school, or AAU level, or you're a parent navigating the modern sports landscape, this episode will challenge your approach to coaching, training, and athlete development.ABOUT THE PODCAST: Beyond the Scoreboard is a youth sports and basketball podcast for coaches and parents focused on leadership, mindset, team culture, and long-term athlete development—because success in sports goes beyond winning.

ABOUT KATHY TAYLOR: Kathy Taylor is a national championship coach with 30+ years of experience across high school, NCAA Division I, II, and III athletics. Former president of the IWLCA, she specializes in building championship cultures and developing leaders through sport.CONNECT WITH US:Coach Kathy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-taylor-311b28318/Website: https://coachkathytaylor.com/Coach Furtado IG: https://www.instagram.com/coachfurtadoo/?hl=enPodcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_scoreboard_pod/BTG Basketball IG: https://www.instagram.com/btg_basketball/Newsletter: https://btgbasketball.org/bts-newsletter-subscribeWebsite: https://btgbasketball.org/CHAPTERS:00:00 Coaching Standards & Core Values 01:37 Modern vs Old-School Coaching 02:26 Athlete Motivation & Purpose (“Why”) 03:29 Parent Influence in Youth Sports 04:24 Coaching Independence & Trust 05:15 Athlete Communication Boundaries 07:13 Coach-Parent-Athlete Dynamics 08:05 Growth Through Adversity in Sports 09:09 Building Athlete Resilience 10:24 Safe Environment vs Accountability 11:20 Discipline & Effort in Athlete Development 13:11 Athlete Leadership Development 14:24 Entitlement in Youth Sports Culture 15:36 Developing Leadership Skills in Athletes 18:48 Fixing Team Culture Issues 20:41 Equal Standards in Team Sports 28:45 Authentic Leadership in Coaching 30:59 Mental Toughness for Coaches 34:38 Advice for Young Coaches 39:23 Athlete Growth Beyond Sports

42:16 Discipline & Team Commitment

44:35 Competitive & Fun Practices

48:12 Recovery & Long-Term Athlete Development#youthsports #basketball #sports #sportspodcast #aau

We're seeing kids burn out of sports before they ever reach high school — and most parents don't realize they're part of the problem.

In this episode of The Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast, Coach Justin Furtado sit down with Dr. Toby Brooks, a performance scientist and coach who has worked with gold medalists, NFL athletes, Navy SEALs, and youth athletes alike.

They break down the real reasons behind youth athlete burnout, why early sport specialization backfires, and what the research actually says about ACL injuries in female athletes.

For basketball coaches navigating athlete development in an age of early specialization, this conversation reframes what holistic basketball training actually looks like.

WE COVER:

- Why seniors are burned out before state playoffs even begin

- The travel team trap and how the "it team" culture exploits parental fear

- Sports specialization vs. movement library development

- Developmental windows and why your 8-year-old needs to move like a 8-year-old- Feed

-forward vs. feedback skills in athletic training- How to evaluate youth development programs beyond marketing hype

- The 99-to-1 problem: training everyone for the 1% who'll play collegiately

Whether you're an AAU director, high school coach or sports parent questioning the travel team grind, this episode challenges the status quo with evidence and empathy.About the podcast:

Beyond the Scoreboard is the podcast for coaches and parents who know winning isn't the whole point. Hosted by Coach Justin Furtado of BTG Basketball, each episode digs into the leadership, mindset, and culture that shape young athletes into people, not just players. Because the most important things happening in youth sports never show up on the scoreboard.

About the Guest:

Dr. Toby Brooks is a performance scientist and coach specializing in athlete identity transitions and setback navigation. He has spent two decades decoding how high performers rebuild through adversity, and how those same lessons apply to helping kids develop resilience, identity and mental toughness on and off the court.

==========================================⁠⁠

Make Money Coaching Sports⁠⁠: https://www.makemoneycoachingsports.com/btg

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CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Dr. Toby Brooks IG: https://www.instagram.com/tobybrooksphd/

Website: https://tobybrooksphd.com/Dr. Toby Brooks

Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/becomingundonepod/Becoming

UnDone Podcast Website: https://undonepodcast.com/

⁠⁠Coach Furtado IG⁠: https://www.instagram.com/coachfurtadoo/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠

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BTS Newsletter⁠⁠: https://btgbasketball.org/bts-newsletter-subscribe⁠⁠⁠

BTG Website⁠: https://btgbasketball.org/

#youthsports #basketball #sports #sportspodcast #aau

Feeling burnt out and questioning why you coach? You're not alone.

85% of coaches are burning out.

Let’s be honest: Youth sports has shifted from a mentorship model to a business transaction, and it’s destroying the heart of the game.

When parents pay "X" and demand "Y," the transformational bond between coach and athlete is replaced by a cold, transactional receipt.

In this episode of Beyond the Scoreboard, Coach Justin Furtado explores how coaches can combat burnout by reconnecting with their purpose, the importance of understanding why we coach beyond winning, and practical ways to keep your motivation alive through tough seasons.

This is real talk from someone who coaches for a living, operates in the competitive West LA club basketball scene, and has lived both sides of the transactional vs. transformational coaching divide.

We dive into:

✅ Reconnecting with your purpose when winning isn’t enough.

✅ How to protect the coach-athlete bond from "pay-to-play" expectations.

✅ Why discipline is a form of care, not just a punishment.

✅ Real-world stories of athletes evolving from immature kids to purposeful adults.

✅ Tactical self-care to prevent "Quiet Burnout" and sustain your energy through the season.

Whether you’re in the gym for youth, high school, or elite club ball, this is your blueprint for finding fulfillment in the grind.

💬Join the Conversation:

What is the single biggest hurdle you face when trying to develop a player off the court in today's climate? Let’s talk in the comments.

🚀 Subscribe! New episodes drop weekly: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJNIHI6YztpSpv-Jv5eAt-w

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Why Transformational Coaching is the Future of Sport

00:29 Stories of Athletes Succeeding in Life After Sports

00:57 Purpose-Driven Leadership and Athlete Retention

1:26 How to Build Meaningful Player-Coach Relationships

2:16 Solving the Modern Coaching Paradox

2:42 Sport as Social Change

3:07 Resilience Strategies for Burnt-Out Coaches

3:53 Why Every Coach is a Life Architect in Disguise

4:18 Balancing Elite Standards with Radical Empathy

4:34 Coaching Gen Z & Alpha

5:21 How Psychological Safety Drives Long-Term Accountability

5:45 Beyond Your Own Self-Standards

6:32 Watching Athletes Find Their Identity

6:56 Essential Self-Care for High-Stakes Coaches

7:23 Reclaiming Your Original Coaching Motivation

==========================================

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CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

⁠⁠Coach Furtado IG⁠: https://www.instagram.com/coachfurtadoo/?hl=en

⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast IG⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_scoreboard_pod/

⁠⁠⁠BTG Basketball IG⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/btg_basketball/

⁠⁠BTS Newsletter⁠⁠: https://btgbasketball.org/bts-newsletter-subscribe

⁠⁠⁠BTG Website⁠: https://btgbasketball.org/

About Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast: The podcast that goes beyond the game to uncover what it takes to create a transformative experience for athletes. Tailored for coaches and parents, this show empowers you to elevate your impact, helping athletes grow as leaders on and off the court. We dive into leadership, mindset, and holistic athletic development each week with insightful guests. Beyond the Scoreboard challenges you to think critically, lead purposefully, and transform the next generation of athletes.

Checkout our website: btgbasketball.org

#youthsports #basketball #sports #sportspodcast #aau

Youth sports are supposed to be fun but what happens when the game becomes a business? In this episode of The Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast, Coach Justin Furtado explores the hidden cost of turning kids’ sports into serious pipelines for scholarships, endorsements, and revenue.⚠️ Youth sports isn't about kids anymore! Stop pushing your 10-year-old like a professional. The ‘Youth Sports Industrial Complex’ is booming — and your child’s joy is the price.By high school, many young athletes are already burned out, not because they hate the game, but because of relentless schedules, unrealistic expectations, and a system that values wins over growth. Coach Furtado calls it a “slippery slope,” and it’s something every parent, coach, and youth sports organizer needs to see.We also explore solutions. From BTG Basketball’s “Dogs of the Day” recognition system to giving kids real decision-making power in their training, there’s a way to bring joy back to the court while still teaching discipline and teamwork. It’s about keeping the athlete, not the scoreboard or dollars, at the center.💡If you care about creating meaningful youth sports experiences and preventing burnout, this episode is packed with actionable ideas that can change the culture around kids’ athletics. CHAPTERS:00:00 The Hidden Risks of Professionalizing Youth Sports01:16 Systemic Problems in Youth Sports02:08 Why Over Half of Kids Quit by 1302:56 Making Sports Fun While Balancing Commitment03:41 Intentional Programs with Clear Standards04:27 Lessons from Pro Sports & Pay-to-Play Pitfalls05:39 Parent-Coach Collaboration for Athlete Growth06:27 Building Trust & Psychological Safety in the Digital Age08:10 Rewarding Effort: “Dogs of the Day” Explained09:04 Balancing Structure, Freedom, and Agency for Kids10:46 Modern Parenting & Discipline in Youth Sports11:12 Policies That Protect Athlete Well-Being13:20 Preparing Athletes for Life & Future Coaching==========================================⁠⁠Make Money Coaching Sports⁠⁠: https://www.makemoneycoachingsports.com/btg==========================================CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:⁠⁠Coach Furtado IG⁠: https://www.instagram.com/coachfurtadoo/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast IG⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_scoreboard_pod/ ⁠⁠⁠BTG Basketball IG⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/btg_basketball/ ⁠⁠BTS Newsletter⁠⁠: https://btgbasketball.org/bts-newsletter-subscribe⁠⁠⁠BTG Website⁠: https://btgbasketball.org/==========================================

About Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast:

The podcast that goes beyond the game to uncover what it takes to create a transformative experience for athletes. Tailored for coaches and parents, this show empowers you to elevate your impact, helping athletes grow as leaders on and off the court. We dive into leadership, mindset, and holistic athletic development each week with insightful guests. Beyond the Scoreboard challenges you to think critically, lead purposefully, and transform the next generation of athletes.

Checkout our website: btgbasketball.org#youthsports #basketball #sports #sportspodcast #aau

Beyond the Scoreboard is committed to creating an audio experience to help you develop into the best leader you can be, so you can transform your athletes to reach their full potential both on and off the court.

Burnout, frustration, and the real struggles of coaching—what every coach and parent needs to hear right now.

In this episode of The Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast, Coach Justin Furtado, as a high school and club basketball coach, shares his raw experiences with burnout, workload pressures, and the toxic culture of entitlement in youth sports.

⚠️ Over 85% of coaches feel burnt out and nearly two-thirds have seriously considered quitting. This isn't just talk; it’s a wake-up call for anyone involved in youth athletics.

If you're feeling overwhelmed or questioning whether to keep going, this episode offers fresh insights from a veteran coach navigating the chaos of youth sports.

Discover how high standards, clear boundaries, and self-care can revive your passion and protect your sanity.

You'll uncover:

✅️ The hidden toll of "pay-to-play" models fueling entitlement and discontent among athletes and coaches alike.

✅️ Practical strategies to set firm boundaries, from enforcing punctuality to establishing consequences, that actually work.

✅️ Why shifting parent expectations around playtime and results can save your child's confidence and your own mental health.

✅️ The importance of fostering character, resilience, and community over winning at all costs.

✅️ How prioritizing life outside the gym or court can make you a better coach, parent, and person, even during your most stressful seasons.

The stakes are clear: without addressing burnout and misaligned expectations, many talented coaches and passionate parents risk abandoning the sports they love—and depriving kids of meaningful growth.

This episode is perfect for coaches feeling the weight of pressure, parents wanting to support their child's development, and anyone frustrated by the culture of youth sports today.

💡If you’re ready to refocus on purpose and preserve your passion, this conversation offers actionable insights and a reminder that you’re not alone in this.

Because when you take care of yourself, you can truly impact the next generation—beyond just the game.Tune in now—your mental health and your athletes depend on it.

CHAPTERS:

00:31 - The startling stats on burnout and abuse.

01:57 - Raw lessons from the sidelines: Justin’s personal burnout story.

03:25 - Why discipline is the ultimate form of care for an athlete.

04:19 - Setting the Standard: Punctuality, consequences, and character.

06:08 - The Parent Playbook: Supporting development without the pressure.

08:31 - Investing in the person, not just the player.

10:29 - Practical self-care for the high-performance coach.

13:52 - Making an impact to young athletes and avoiding burnout

==========================================⁠⁠

Make Money Coaching Sports⁠⁠: https://www.makemoneycoachingsports.com/btg

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CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:⁠⁠

Coach Furtado IG⁠:

https://www.instagram.com/coachfurtadoo/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠

Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast IG⁠⁠⁠:

https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_scoreboard_pod/ ⁠⁠⁠

BTG Basketball IG⁠⁠⁠:

https://www.instagram.com/btg_basketball/

⁠⁠BTS Newsletter⁠⁠:

https://btgbasketball.org/bts-newsletter-subscribe⁠⁠⁠

BTG Website⁠:

https://btgbasketball.org/

#sports #basketball #sportspodcast #youthsports #aau

Beyond the Scoreboard is committed to creating an audio experience to help you develop into the best leader you can be, so you can transform your athletes to reach their full potential both on and off the court.

👉 Is your child in an “elite” sports program that feels more like a factory than a playground?

In this episode of The Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast, Coach Justin Furtado pulls back the curtain on the toxic “win-at-all-costs” culture in youth basketball, AAU programs, and club sports that are burning kids out before they even hit high school.

⚠️ 70% of kids quit sports by age 13. Why? Because too many programs treat 10-year-olds like professional athletes, pushing them to perform, train, and win instead of develop.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why the “elite” label is often a red flag for parents
• How programs with high standards but no support crush confidence and love for the game
• The dangers of old-school “Bobby Knight” style coaching
• How overuse injuries like Achilles problems are creeping into youth sports
• The difference between accountability with care vs pressure that destroys motivation

💡 Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about youth sports. It’s time to take back sports from the trophy-chasing factories and focus on growth, confidence, and mental toughness.

CHAPTERS:

0:37 Problems With Elite Youth Sports

1:30 Why Kids Drop Out of Sports

3:00 High Standards vs High Support

4:30 Balancing Coaching and Accountability

5:30 Conceptual Offense and Practice Structure

6:30 Building Mental Toughness and Confidence

7:30 Focus on Development Over Winning

8:30 Tips for Coaches and Parents

🎯Spoiler: If your kid’s program is all about wins, medals, and rankings… it might be doing more harm than good.

==========================================

⁠⁠Make Money Coaching Sports⁠⁠: https://www.makemoneycoachingsports.com/btg

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CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

⁠⁠Coach Furtado IG⁠: https://www.instagram.com/coachfurtadoo/?hl=en

⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast IG⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_scoreboard_pod/

⁠⁠⁠BTG Basketball IG⁠⁠⁠: https://www.instagram.com/btg_basketball/

⁠⁠BTS Newsletter⁠⁠: https://btgbasketball.org/bts-newsletter-subscribe

⁠⁠⁠BTG Website⁠: https://btgbasketball.org/

#sports #basketball #sportspodcast #youthsports #aau