17. Are We Sacrificing Our Kids on the Elite Sports Altar? with PCM host Catie Senour, PA-C and former collegiate athlete

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Episode 17 is with me, your host Catie Senour, PA-C and former DII collegiate athlete, and is available on all major podcast platforms. I’m sharing a podcast version of my Substack series Are We Sacrificing Our Kids on the Elite Youth Sports Altar?

I originally published this three-part series, The Gamble, The Risk, and The Reward? in June 2026 during Pope Leo XIV’s monthly intention for sport. As I discuss in this episode and in the series, I love sports. I was a two-time State participant for track and an NCAA DII scholarship athlete and captain. I still play sports and my kids play sports. At their best, the benefits of sports are endless. They unify, strengthen, and build confidence.

And yet… After nearly a decade of caring for kids with sports injuries in clinic, I was curious if the rise in early sport specialization, elite club sports, and year-round training was a fluke related to my little sample size of patients or if this was a nationwide trend. And if this all really was as rampant as it seemed, is it worth it?

I talk about:

  • The pros and cons of the hyper-elite youth sports movement, and explore if these high-level youth athletic clubs actually lead to collegiate and professional careers
  • The literature and data surrounding risk for injury, abuse, burnout, and long-term outcome in elite youth sports
  • The potential pitfalls and benefits of an all-consuming youth sports culture on our Catholic faith

To read the original trio of articles, or to explore articles referenced in this post as well as abuse prevention resources:

For more on Practicing Catholic Medicine:   

As always, the views expressed by my guests and myself are not those of our employers, and this podcast is not meant to intended to replace medical advice from a licensed provider. Please see your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

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