In this episode of The Pure Athlete Podcast, hosts Britt and Brad sit down with Madison Gates, VP of Marketing at i9 Sports and former University of Michigan soccer standout, D1 player, and coach.
They explore one of the biggest challenges parents face today: how to introduce young kids to organized sports in a positive, healthy way. With youth sports shifting toward earlier specialization, intense travel teams, and skyrocketing pressure, many families feel overwhelmed and worried their kids will fall behind or burn out.
Madison shares her personal journey—from multi-sport youth athlete to college star—and discusses the real issues plaguing youth sports: parental “keeping up with the Joneses,” early burnout, overuse injuries, and the loss of simple childhood fun. She explains how i9 Sports offers a refreshing, contrarian approach: fun-first, multi-sport leagues for ages 3–14, with just one practice and game per week, age-appropriate coaching, and a strong emphasis on building confidence, character, and a sense of belonging.
The conversation dives deep into i9’s Games for Girls campaign, which aims to get 500,000 girls playing annually by 2030. They discuss survey insights on what girls and parents value most (spoiler: winning is at the bottom), the importance of positive coaching, girls-only programming, and strategies to keep girls in sports through the critical middle school years when dropout rates spike.
Whether you’re a parent trying to make the right first sports decision, concerned about burnout, or looking for a more balanced youth sports experience, this episode delivers practical wisdom, encouragement, and actionable advice.
Tune in for an honest, hopeful conversation that puts kids first.
Listen now and visit i9sports.com to find a local program near you.
