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20 Game-Changing Women Leading the Way in Youth Sports Parenting

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20 Women to Follow in the Youth Sports Space

My social media feed is a daily source of inspiration, largely because of the incredible women who fill it with wisdom, passion, and positivity. These women are coaches, mentors, parents, and game-changers in youth sports. Each one brings a unique perspective – whether it’s on coaching strategies, mental training, parenting in sports, injury recovery, or athlete development – and their insights have helped me become a better advocate for young athletes. Supporting and elevating each other is powerful; when women support women, especially in youth sports, we create a ripple effect that empowers the next generation of athletes to thrive. Here are 20 remarkable women who influence my feed and whose voices are shaping youth sports for the better. Let’s celebrate their contributions and learn why they’re absolutely worth a follow.

Our Favorite Youth Sports  Ted Talks

1. Kirsten Jones – Peak Performance Coach & Sports Parenting Author

  • What I love: Kirsten’s grounded advice on nurturing strong, confident young athletes. Her interviews with coaches, parents, and pros are a goldmine of tips.
  • Links:
    • Website: kirstenjonesinc.com
    • Instagram: @kirstenjonesinc
    • Podcast: Raising Athletes
    • Book: Raising Empowered Athletes

2. Jennifer Breheny Wallace – Award-Winning Journalist Tackling Achievement Culture

  • What I love: Jennifer’s insights on achievement culture and its impact on youth sports. One of the best books I’ve read in years. Her work teaches how to focus on your kids’ well-being over pressure and perfection.
  • Links:
    • Instagram: @jenniferbwallace
    • Book: Never Enough

3. Shay Haddow – Confidence Coach for Girl Athletes

  • What I love: Shay’s relatable and actionable mindset tools that help girls build confidence and resilience in sports.
  • Links:
    • Website: shayhaddow.com
    • Instagram: @alphagirlconfidence

4. Linda Martindale – Mental Fitness Coach & Podcast Host

  • What I love: Linda’s focus on the human side of sports—comebacks, mindset shifts, and character-building moments.
  • Links:
    • Podcast: Game Changers
    • Website: Martindale Coaching

5. Jen Jones – Sports Dietitian for Young Athletes

  • What I love: Jen’s practical and realistic advice on fueling young athletes, making sports nutrition simple for busy families.
  • Links:
    • Website: jenjonesnutrition.com
    • Instagram: @jenjones_nutrition

6. Kassie “Coach K” Gray – Founder of Female Footballers (Soccer Mentorship)

  • What I love: Kassie’s honesty about soccer culture and her focus on helping young female athletes develop confidence and leadership.
  • Links:
    • Website: femalefootballers.org
    • Instagram: @femfootballers

7. Leah Jantzen – Sports Mom & Performance Coach with “Car Ride Home” Wisdom

  • What I love: Leah’s practical, reassuring insights on how to support young athletes without overloading them with pressure.
  • Links:
    • Instagram: Leah Janzten

8. Gabby Reece – Legendary Athlete Turned Wellness Podcaster

  • What I love: Gabby’s down-to-earth interviews on parenting, youth sports, and wellness, always with actionable takeaways.
  • Links:
    • Podcast: The Gabby Reece Show

9. Emily Barnhart – “The Injury RD” (Sports Nutrition for Injured Athletes)

  • What I love: Emily’s niche expertise in helping injured athletes use nutrition to recover faster and return stronger.
  • Links:
    • Website: injuryrd.com
    • Instagram: The Inury_RD

10. Ally Tucker – Youth Sports Podcaster Telling It Like It Is

  • What I love: Ally’s candid take on the rapidly changing youth sports landscape, from burnout to rising costs.
  • Links:
    • Podcast: Youth $ports Podcast

11. “Coach Bre” Breanne Smedley – Co-Founder of The Elite Competitor (Confidence for Girls & Moms)

  • What I love: Coach Bre’s tools for helping young female athletes build confidence and teaching moms how to support them.
  • Links:
    • Website: elitecompetitor.com
    • Instagram: @elitecompetitorcoach

12. Erica Suter (a.k.a. “Fit Soccer Queen”) – Youth Female Performance Trainer and Educator

  • What I love: Erica’s science-backed training advice for young female athletes, emphasizing long-term development over quick wins.
  • Links:
    • Website: ericasuter.com
    • Instagram: @fitsoccerqueen

13. Celeste Gehring – Podcast Host & Women’s Sports Advocate

  • What I love: Celeste’s podcast covers everything from females who work in sports and how they got their jobs, sports parenting to coaching strategies, featuring top experts who share valuable insights on sports culture.
  • Links:
    • Podcast:GirlGigPodcast
    • Instagram: @celestegehring

14. “Coach Michelle” (Ace Volleyball Clinic) – Volleyball Coach & Content Creator

  • What I love: Michelle’s hilarious insight into the volleyball world! She is a coach, but her authentic and ‘real’ vibe resonate deeply with me and all volleyball parents.
  • Links:
    • Instagram: @ace.volleyballclinic

15. Emily Perrin – Mindfulness & Mental Training for Athletes

  • What I love: Emily’s mental strategies for young athletes, focusing on stress management, resilience, and confidence.
  • Links:
    • Website: perrinwellnessperformance.com
    • Instagram: @emilyperrinLMSW

16. Brianna Garza (“Shooters Shoot”) – Basketball Shooting Coach & Mentor

  • What I love: Brianna’s technical shooting drills and mental strategies, making skill development fun and accessible.
  • Links:
    • Instagram: @shootersxshoot70

17. My Rink Tribe – A Hockey Mom’s Life

  • What I love: There is a lot of humor AND practical advice in this fun hockey mom social channel.
  • Links:
    • Instagram: @MyRinkTribe

18. Libby Triolo – Athlete Mindset Coach & Counselor

  • What I love: Libby’s practical mental training advice, helping athletes navigate performance anxiety and build confidence.
  • Links:
    • Instagram: @libbytriolocoaching

19. Whitney Fleming – Writer Sharing the Heart of Parenting

  • What I love: Whitney’s honest, emotional takes on parenting that makes us all feel understood and less alone in the journey.
  • Links:
    • Website: ParentingTeensandTweens.com
    • Book: You’re Not a Failure

20. Chrissy Stragisher – Former WNBA Strength Coach Turned Motivational Leader

  • What I love: Chrissy’s expert training tips and mindset messages for athletes at all levels, blending physical and mental toughness.
  • Links:
    • Instagram: @chrissy.strags

 

Primary Sidebar

  • To The Parents Watching Their Last Game
  • ACL Injuries in Female Athletes: Finally, Someone’s Paying Attention
  • College Club Sports: The Best-Kept Secret in Youth Sports
  • When the Joy Fades: How to Help Your Child Through Sports Burnout
  • From Zero Stars to No. 1: What Cam Ward’s Story Teaches Every Youth Sports Family
  • To All the Sports Parents

Categories

  • A Healthy Athlete
  • Sports Parenting
  • Coaching and Team Culture
  • High Performance
  • Lifestyle
  • Mindset

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WHAT'S TRENDING IN YOUTH SPORTS?
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We Believe In The Power Of Sports

Injuries in young athletes have soared. Costs to compete have skyrocketed. Kids are quitting in record numbers. But we believe strongly in youth sports, and the many ways it improves our childrens’ lives.

We are here to help parents regain balance and sanity, and to help restore the joy, accomplishment, and core values derived from sports.

Begin your journey today.

 

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