Here’s the trouble: His son is good at soccer—probably too good for the small Christian school team he’s on. But when my pastor looked into other local teams, they required travel, games on Sunday, and more than $2,500 per season.

“Youth sports feels like all or nothing,” he told me.

It absolutely does. The booming youth sports industry rests on the ambition and fear of parents—that if our kids aren’t signed up for the team or the camp or the individual coaching, they’ll fall behind or leave an opportunity on the table.

As Christians, we want our kids to care for their bodies, work hard, and compete well. But we also know that our life here is fleeting (James 4:14) and that physical training is not our ultimate goal (1 Tim. 4:8).

So what are we supposed to do? How can Christian parents love and support youth sports without idolizing it? Is there any space to exist between never playing anything and travel team games every weekend?

For my latest Recorded podcast episode, I spent months talking to professional players, coaches, parents, pastors, and student athletes. They were wise, thoughtful, and godly, and they gave me new perspectives, biblical principles, and practical ideas.

If you’ve ever wondered if you should sign your child up for that travel team, or how to balance church and team commitments, or why kids’ sports seem so much more intense now than it did a few decades ago—this one’s for you.