In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Dave Yoo — Founder at Onsides.ai and longtime youth soccer parent — to talk about presence, emotional intelligence, and what it really means to support a young athlete through their sports journey.

After years of being on the sidelines and building a company focused on youth sports, Dave has learned something that many well-meaning parents overlook:

Connection matters more than coaching.

Trophies, standings, and highlight reels may get attention, but a child's long-term relationship with sports is built on something deeper feeling supported, trusted, and emotionally safe with the people watching them play.

Dave explains that the most impactful sports parents aren't the ones with the most knowledge of the game. They're the ones who show up fully present, let their kids lead the way, and create space for joy instead of pressure. Skill development matters, but the emotional environment around a young athlete often determines whether they stay in love with the sport at all.

For young soccer players especially, growth goes far beyond touches on the ball and tactical understanding. Confidence, autonomy, and a sense of ownership over their own journey ultimately shape whether kids keep showing up — for soccer and for themselves.

From there, the conversation shifts into one of Dave's strongest beliefs as a parent:

Choice builds investment.

In today's youth sports culture, it's easy for parents to over-direct — picking the position, mapping the path, narrating every mistake from the sideline. But Dave believes those moments of letting go matter just as much as the moments of showing up.

When kids are given room to choose their own way — which sport, how hard to push, when to take a breath — they begin building intrinsic motivation and self-trust. Those lessons carry far beyond the field — into how they handle setbacks, relationships, and decisions for the rest of their lives.

He emphasizes that presence isn't about having answers. Sometimes it's simply about being there, without an agenda, so a kid knows they're loved regardless of the score.

Throughout the episode, Dave highlights the core principles that help young athletes thrive long-term:

- Being present without judgment, before and after the whistle blows

- Letting kids choose their sport, pace, and path

- Leading with curiosity instead of correction

- Recognizing effort and character over outcomes

- Creating a home environment where mistakes are safe

- Prioritizing the relationship over the results

One of the biggest takeaways is that great sports parenting isn't about producing the next star — it's about helping kids feel seen, supported, and free to enjoy the game on their own terms.

Dave's perspective reflects both his work at https://www.onsides.ai/ and his lived experience as a parent navigating the emotional side of youth sports.

This episode is a must-listen for soccer parents, coaches, and anyone trying to find the balance between supporting an athlete and letting them grow into themselves.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com/ — the nation's leading platform for private sports coaching. We connect athletes and families with elite coaches who help players build strong fundamentals, confidence, leadership, and lifelong habits through sports.

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