Show Notes

Episode 75. Youth Sports: Inspiring or Insane? w/ Matt Birk

Episode 75. Youth Sports: Inspiring or Insane? w/ Matt Birk

"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win."
~ 1 Corinthians 9:24

Are youth sports helping or hurting our kids?
Can sports be a healthy way of honoring God?
How can my children and I stay grounded in the midst of their sports?

In Episode 75 of This Whole Life, hosts Pat and Kenna sit down with Super Bowl champion Matt Birk for a lively, honest, and heartfelt conversation about the realities of youth sports today. From hilarious football stories to hard-fought lessons on resilience and parenting, Matt shares his journey as both an elite athlete and a dad navigating the pressures of today’s competitive youth sports culture. Together, they explore the joys and challenges of childhood athletics, the growing professionalization of youth sports, and the importance of keeping play fun and rooted in faith. Whether you’re a parent on the sidelines, a coach, or just a fan of sports and good conversations, this episode is full of wisdom, practical advice, and perspective on how sports can help shape not just athletes, but healthy, resilient human beings—mind, body, and soul.

Matt Birk is a CEO, a fifteen year NFL veteran, and a Super Bowl champion. He played college football at Harvard and graduated with a degree in economics before going on to be drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1998. He played for the Vikings for eleven years and then for the Baltimore Ravens for four years, where he won Super Bowl XLVII. Matt was named the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2011 for his accomplishments on and off the field. Since retiring from the NFL in 2013, Matt has been a vocal pro life advocate, he has cofounded a Catholic high school, and authored a book called All Pro Wisdom. He and his wife have eight children.

Show Notes

  • It is an incredible gift to just let children PLAY and to support their play - in sports, but especially in unstructured family or neighborhood play.

  • The hard, but invaluable, lessons of being faced with hard things in the transition to college and building resilience

  • There is great value in going through a difficult time in community with others, and members of a sports team are a powerful example of this community

  • Matt struggled most when his identity was wrapped up in his job as a football player, not as a son of God.

  • “Nobody’s ever played the perfect game.”

  • The huge investment of time & money by parents can lead to an unhealthy pressure - and unruly behavior - around youth sports.

  • Professionalization and specialization are big problems with the current state of youth sports.

    • That child will almost certainly NOT get a college scholarship. Let youth sports just be a great opportunity for joy, growth, and virtue.

  • Returning to my values and constantly evaluating whether youth sports are pulling me away from my values.

  • There are great benefits to playing football: there’s a place for everyone regardless of skill set & body type, there are no cuts, and by nature it can’t be a 12-month sport that takes over.

  • Parents: go out of your way to make sure that your kids are having FUN.

  • Honor the Lord by using the gifts He gave you. “God made me fast. He likes it when I run fast.”

Check out 4HG: For His Glory, a movement to create a healthy sports culture in Catholic schools. They believe that athletics, when done right, serve as an invaluable tool for developing well-rounded children.

Challenge By Choice

Go PLAY a sport with a child

  • Get out there and play a sport - truly PLAY - with your child, a niece/nephew, a grandchild, or a younger sibling

  • Don’t coach them, judge them, or correct them; just spend time together and enjoy the sport together

Reflection Questions

For personal reflection or group discussion

  1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?

  2. What have your experiences with sports been?

  3. What are the benefits of youth sports? What are the dangers?

  4. Why is it so tempting for parents to attach their identity to their childrens' sports?

  5. What does a healthy approach to sports look like for a family?