Year One as President

What Youth Sports Taught Me About Leadership

Going into my second year as president of a youth sports organization, I can say this without hesitation, it’s been a wild ride.

I took over an organization with no money and in debt. Twelve months later, we paid off that debt and finished the year with reserves in the bank. That didn’t happen by accident. It came from sleepless nights, constant problem-solving, and what feels like thousands—maybe even a million—conversations.

Some lessons only come from being in it. Here are mine.

1. This Isn’t a Hobby—It’s a Business

Youth sports is often treated like a side project or volunteer gig. It’s not. It’s a year-round business.

There are budgets to manage, people to lead, expectations to meet, and a reputation to protect. If you don’t treat it like a business, it will eventually expose you.

2. The People Around You Will Make or Break It

You cannot do this alone; and you shouldn’t try.

The people in your circle have to care as much as you do, if not more. They need to be willing to have real conversations, make tough decisions, and put the organization ahead of personal feelings or special treatment.

Friendships can complicate this. It doesn’t mean you can’t have friends involved, but it needs to be limited. This role requires accountability, not comfort.

3. Listen to Your Parents—But Don’t Try to Please Everyone

Parents are your clients. They invest their time, money, and trust into your program, and that matters.

But here’s the reality: you will not make everyone happy.

You have to be okay being the “bad guy” in someone else’s story. If you’re making decisions based on what’s right, not what’s easy, you’ll earn more respect than you lose.

When you cut through the emotions, most parents want the same thing: a fair shot for their kids.

And that’s where the real challenge is.

Because fairness isn’t always what people think it is. Some kids show up every day, put in the work, and still don’t get the opportunities they deserve. Favoritism—“daddy ball”—is real, and people see it.

If the focus shifts too far toward winning at all costs instead of development, you’re failing the very athletes you’re supposed to prepare for the next level.

I like winning. That’s part of why I stepped into this role. But winning the right way; by developing players, teaching fundamentals, and building character, that’s the standard.

4. Set Boundaries or Burn Out

Accessibility can become a weakness if you’re not careful.

There will always be another call, another text, another email. And during the season, it doesn’t stop—parents, coaches, board members, officials—all needing your time.

Sometimes, you have to let it go to voicemail.

Sometimes, the response can wait 24 hours.

Delegation isn’t optional—it’s necessary. Trust your executive team, but keep it small. Once it gets too big, clarity and accountability disappear.

5. Transparency Builds Trust

This might be the hardest one, but it’s also the most important.

Be honest. Be clear. Communicate often.

Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when the message isn’t what people want to hear.

Transparency builds trust, and trust is what carries an organization through the tough moments.

Year one taught me more than I expected, about leadership, people, and myself.

We made progress. We fixed problems. We built something stronger.

But there’s still more to do.

Year two isn’t about surviving anymore—it’s about building something that lasts.