Thirty minutes, one kid.

A call with a coach who has spent twenty-five years on youth benches and isn't trying to recruit your kid, sell you a program, or tell you what you want to hear. Bring one situation. We'll work it through.

Good for

• Deciding between club, rec, or a year off, and what each one really costs
• A season that's gone sideways: playing time, a coach your kid doesn't click with, wanting to quit
• The car ride home, and what to say after a bad game
• Phones, sleep, and group chats during the season
• Whether a private trainer is worth it at this age

One thing to know

I direct a club. If your question is which club your kid should play for, I'll say that up front and either stay out of it or give you the questions to ask any program, mine included.