Episode 11 · 11 min
Why your kid quit—and how to bring them back
Burnout isn't always loud. The signs, the conversations, and the patience it takes to fall back in love with the game.
A Documentary Series & Newsletter
Dear Soccer Parents,
Honest conversations about the sideline pressure, the car ride home, and what your kid actually needs from you. New episode every Sunday.
Latest Episode
The Car Ride Home: what to say (and what to skip)
The five minutes after a tough game shape how your kid sees the sport—and themselves—more than any practice. Here's the framework I use with my own players.
Watch Episode 12 →The Library
All Episodes
Short films built for the moments parents actually face—at practice, on the drive, at the kitchen table.
Episode 10 · 9 min
The trophy lie we keep telling ourselves
Why a $40 plastic trophy isn't the win we think it is—and what it's quietly costing the kid holding it.
Episode 09 · 12 min
When the coach is wrong (and how to handle it)
A field guide for parents who want to advocate for their kid without nuking the relationship with the staff.
Episode 08 · 8 min
The night before the big game
What to say, what to skip, and how to help your kid sleep when their nerves are louder than yours.
Episode 07 · 13 min
Why my kid plays better when I don't watch
A surprisingly hard look at how our presence shapes our kids' play—and when to deliberately step back.
Episode 06 · 10 min
The sideline test: are you the parent you'd want?
An honest, no-shame checklist for showing up better at the next game. Nobody's perfect. Everybody can grow.
Field Notes
Letters from the sideline
Short essays from Vinny—written between practices, on car rides, in the quiet moments after a tough game.
Letter #14 · 4 min read
To the parent yelling on the sideline
I see you. I've been you. Here's what I wish someone had said to me the year I was the loudest dad at the field…
Read the letter →Letter #13 · 6 min read
The kid on the bench is also your kid
A note on minutes, fairness, and the long game—for parents whose kid hasn't been the chosen one this season.
Read the letter →