Courtside Conversations

Meet Chris Ryan CSCS, NSCA-CPT @chrisryanfitness

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 01:50:54 GMT

Chris Ryan @chrisryanfitness is a performance coach, entrepreneur, and father of three with over 15 years in the fitness industry. He has appeared on NBC’s STRONG, trained thousands of clients, and founded the Chris Ryan Fitness app focused on efficient strength and performance training for busy adults. As both a coach and sports parent, Chris speaks on how youth sports can build confidence, resilience, and lifelong health habits for kids while helping parents navigate the pressures of modern youth athletics. Other fun facts about Chris:

*Division 1 collegiate athlete

*Founding trainer for MIRROR/lululemon Studio

*Recognized as one of America's Top 10 Trainers

*Featured in Men's Health, Women's Health, Men's Fitness, Shape, GQ, Men's Journal, Muscle & Fitness, Golf Digest, Reader's Digest & other influential publications

*Represented premier fitness brands such as lululemon, Nike, UnderArmour, Everlast, Polo Ralph Lauren, Adidas & Polar

Chris is positive, inspirational, fun and has an infectious smile!

Meet Assistant Coach James & Player Nathan Charles of the KW Titans

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 01:31:10 GMT

Tune in with our special guests of the KW Titans - Assistant Coach James Robinson and player Nathan Charles. Listen to their valuable insight, journey and what has helped them achieve their goals and what it really takes to succeed in a high-level program from both the Coach & Player perspective.

“Are You the Player Coaches Want on Their Bus?” 2026-02-08, 3:42:38 PM

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 14:53:43 GMT

What separates the athletes who make it , from the ones who fade out?

In this powerful episode, legendary voices deliver a message every young athlete and parent needs to hear.

Coach K shares the life changing advice his mother gave him at 14:

"Make sure you get on the right but." a lesion about choosing the people , habits, and environments that shape your future.

Nick Sabin explains what coaches actually look for when deciding who gets a seat on their team and its not just talent!

Adam Sandler's character in Hustle asks the question that cuts deeper than stats or rankings: Do you play for attention ... or for the love of the game?

And Jimmy Butler closes with a raw reminder of the relentless drive, sacrifice, and passion required to complete at the highest level.

Together, these moments reveal a truth many athletes learn too late:

Talent opens the door

character keeps you in the room

Passion determines how far you go

For parents, this episode offers clarity about what truly matters beyond trophies and rankings.

For players, its a challenge to decide right now what kind of teammate , competitor, and person you want to become.

Because long before scholarships, championships, or highlights...

Your Choose your but.

You choose your mindset.

You choose your path

If your serious about growth on the court and in life don't miss this episode

Training Smart with Drew

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:51:52 GMT

In this episode we're joined by personal trainer Drew from Divide Fitness to talk about what youth athletes really need to do to get stronger, faster and more confident without overtraining or risking injury.

Drew breaks down age-appropriate strength training, common mistakes parents and players make and how smart training builds both physical ability and mental confidence.

We also discuss recovery, injury prevention and how parents can best support their athlete's development.

A must listen for parents, players and coaches focused on long- term growth and performance.

From Pressure to Power, Let's Get Mentally Strong

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:20:16 GMT

Mental toughness isn't about being emotionless, its about staying locked in. In this episode we break down what it truly means to be mentally strong, using real advice and insights from Imad Qahwash, Jason Tatum and many others. This episode was created for the parent, and the player so grab your youth and settle in courtside.

So… Your Kid Plays How Many Sports?

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 21:06:34 GMT

Episode Summary: “So… Your Kid Plays How Many Sports?”

A painfully relatable recap of Jenn and Cheryl’s deep dive into early sport specialization.

In this episode, Jenn and Cheryl tackle the wonderfully chaotic world of youth sports by sitting down with Tyler — a dad whose calendar looks like a color‑coded hostage situation. With two kids juggling multiple sports, Tyler brings the kind of honesty only a parent who has eaten dinner in a minivan can deliver.

They explore the perks of not locking kids into one sport too early: better overall development, fewer injuries, and the radical idea that childhood should still be fun.

Gain some wisdom from listening to Famous Coach K from Duke University to assist you elevating your parenting game.

Tournoment Season and Injury Support 101

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 21:04:53 GMT

Season 2 kicks off with a deep dive into summer tournaments- the travel the memories and the ups and downs that comes with them. We are joined by Michelle from Active Physio for a thoughtful conversation on injuries, recovery, and the role parents play in supporting their athletes during their most demanding moments.

You Can't Have A Game Without A Ref... 4/23/2025, 1:40:39 AM

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:12:00 GMT

In this episode, we take a closer look at the role of referees in youth sports - a job that's often misunderstood but absolutely essential. Whether you cheer them on or question their calls, referees are a part of every game your child plays.

Join us as we listen to a baseball coach and seasoned ref Mark, who share what makes a great referee, how tough calls can be turned into valuable teaching moments, and how parents can support a positive game environment. Learn how to model respect for the game- and help our kids grow both on and off the field.

Lullaby and Goodnight 5/12/2025, 10:55:31 AM

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 21:31:58 GMT

What is the one thing you can do for free to help improve your kids performance? Have a listen to this episode and get three simple tips for increasing their overall wellbeing as well as their performance. This is an episode that will not only help your athletes it will help you too.

Nutrition Questions 101 Is Candy Ok?

Sun, 25 May 2025 23:48:12 GMT

The kids asked the questions and we found expert dietician answers. This episode is definitely for the youth and the parents so grab your kids and have a listen. Want to know if you can still drink pop? What is the best hydration drink to buy for your kids or even what is the best lunch to pack for tournament days. This is one jam packed episode you wont want to miss.

Special thank you to the dietitians Kelsey Poulter and Jessica the sports RD that we follow on Instagram. They have so much youth friendly information that will benefit the parents and kids. Don't forget to follow them on Instagram for all of their tips, tricks and knowledge.

Also a shout out to all the kids that asked their questions. Knowledge is power boys hopefully this episode will help you on your journey.

Celebrating Moms & Exploring Hot Topics 5/12/2025, 11:08:02 AM

Tue, 13 May 2025 21:16:03 GMT

From celebrating Moms to highlighting youth sport hot topics this episode has something for everyone. Listen as Jen and Cheryl dive into some reddit posts and get some feedback from our courtside crew on top youth sport issues such as: drinking at youth sporting events, family vacations planning vs Youth Sports and is Youth Sports becoming more about the money then the kids. All of this and more in this weeks episode. Plus a special Mom shout out from the NBA players and Jen and Cheryl. Trust us you wont want to miss this one.

This episode is dedicated to all the wonderful Moms who show up every day for your kids. Your leadership and love will make this world a better place. Also to our Courtside Crew thank you for showing up for us always and being willing to participate and support our podcast we love you guys.

Getting Up Close And Personal, The Player Perspective

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 18:28:22 GMT

The reason behind our crazy sport parents lives. Meet our boys who have dropped in today to help us elevate our parenting games. From shoes and courtside gear to the pressures of being a youth athlete, they share it all. Want to know what snacks you should stock up on, how your cheering effects them? or even their advice for players new to the sport, its all jam packed into episode number 3.

We dedicate this episode to all the players out there. May you laugh, learn and grow during your next season. Special thank you to our players Joshua and Noah for supporting us on our podcast journey.

When A Team Becomes A Family...

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 01:54:24 GMT

Meet our basketball family as we invite them to a roundtable discussion about youth parenting in rep basketball. Listen as they share valuable experiences from on and off the court. All members are key in this episode as we chat with parents and siblings to bring you a broad perspective on the positive take aways. Get tips on what is the most important thing to take to a game, hear words of wisdom and even their favorite cheers. You won't want to miss out on this one!

This episode is dedicated to our U12 Red Impact Basketball Family. We love you all and are grateful for our time together.

Elevating Your Parenting Game 4/5/2025, 2:08:29 AM

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 16:59:21 GMT

Are you ready to elevate your parenting game... Join us for our very first episode of Courtside Conversations. In this episode we will dive into the world of youth sports. Our special guest Imad Qahwash will be joining us to share how his parents and family impacted his career which included playing professional basketball. His impact to youth sports in Canada has greatly influenced youth and parents as his hope is to use his journey to support others. Jump into advice for parents and share the heartfelt moments of being a youth sport parent with us.

This episode is dedicated to our sons Joshua and Noah. We love watching you chase your dreams. We will always be your biggest cheerleaders.

Love your basketball moms

Trailer Courtside Conversations

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 01:20:31 GMT

Join us as we dive into the highs and lows of youth sports, unwrapping effective strategies and sharing the laughter of parenting triumphs-even amidst the pressures of games day. Designed for parents who want to support their young athletes, We'll explore nutrition tactics, psychological insights, and capture the spirit of team success.