Written by Tammy Appleton
July 23, 2025
This isn’t just about your kid’s season… it’s about their future.
I’ve been the quiet parent before.
I’ve told my kid to just push through.
I’ve tried to be easygoing, agreeable—even when my gut screamed something wasn’t right.
I didn’t want to be that mom. The one who asks questions, who rocks the boat, who gets labeled as “difficult.”
But then, someone else’s child ended up in the hospital.
And I realised something that shook me:
My silence didn’t make me respectful.
It made me complicit.
The Wake-Up Call We’ve All Been Dodging
Whether we mean to or not, every one of us is leaving a legacy in youth sports.
Every time we look the other way at something that doesn’t sit right…
Every time we stay quiet to avoid being “that parent”…
Every time we rationalise a coach’s behaviour with, “That’s just how it is”…
We’re not just surviving a broken system. We’re teaching our kids to shrink inside it. That might be uncomfortable to read. Good. It’s uncomfortable to write, too!
But if you feel your stomach flip a little, that’s not a sign you’re doing it wrong—it’s a sign that you care. That you’re ready for more than this.
And you’re not alone.
So What Do You Actually Do About It?
Let’s talk real action, not empty inspiration.
1. Ask the Hard Questions
You don’t need a degree in sports science. Just curiosity and courage.
Try this: “Can you walk me through the reasoning behind this workout?”
Simple. Direct. Respectful.
Let the silence do its job if they hesitate. You don’t have to fill every gap. Sometimes silence is the most powerful tool we’ve got.
2. Link Arms
Nervous to speak up on your own? Bring backup. Two or three parents asking the same question is hard to ignore.
Most of us are afraid to speak out. But here’s the truth:
Together, we’re louder than the whistle.
3. Model What Matters
Your kid is always watching—not just on game day, but in the car ride home, at the dinner table, in the quiet moments after something felt… off.
Show them what it looks like to stand your ground without burning bridges.
Let them see you use your voice with kindness and clarity.
That’s leadership. That’s legacy.
This Isn’t Optional Anymore
We’re done pretending abuse or outdated coaching is “just part of the game.”
We’re done applauding survival stories like they’re success stories.
We’re done confusing grit with silent suffering.
If you want to be the best kind of sports parent, don’t just show up for the wins and the highlights.
Be the one who leads with spine and soul.
The one who doesn’t whisper concerns but uses them to build something better—for your child and the ones behind them.
Your Move
Join the Upcoming Advocacy Workshop
Learn how to speak up in ways that get heard—and create lasting change.
Sign the Petition here
Because change doesn’t happen from the sidelines. It happens when we apply pressure.
Join the Peak Play Parent Network
Because you shouldn’t have to fight this fight alone.
Final Words (From One Sports Parent to Another)
You’re not crazy. You’re not dramatic. You’re a parent who gives a damn and that’s exactly what this system needs right now. It’s time to rewrite the story for your kid and for every kid who comes after.