The "American Way"

Episode 48: Dionne Koller (Law Professor and Author)

🎙 In this episode: I sit down with Dionne Koller—law professor, author of More Than Play, and Director of the Center for Sports & Law. We talk about how America built its youth sports system—and whether it’s actually working for kids or just everyone else.

🔹 How Did We Get Here?
Millions of kids play youth sports, but legal scholarship on it? Almost nonexistent. Dionne explains how youth sports became a cornerstone of American childhood—with surprisingly little oversight.

🔹 Sports = Good Childhood™
Since the 1980s, sports have been tied to moral development, health, and structure. It’s almost a parenting requirement now—regardless of whether it actually works.

🔹 Access Wasn’t Always a Given
Title IX opened doors for girls. Civil Rights policies did the same for boys of color. Before that? It was an upper-middle-class white boys’ club.

🔹 The Dropout Dilemma
Kids are encouraged to play… until they quit in droves by adolescence. Why? Barriers like cost, burnout, and a system that forgets late bloomers.

🔹 Are We Even Producing Elites?
Despite all the pressure, Dionne argues our system isn’t great at producing elite athletes—it weeds out too many kids too soon.

🔹 The U.S. Model: Uniquely American
Other countries invest public money in youth sports. We rely on schools and the private sector. That was a deliberate Cold War-era choice.

🔹 Market Failure in the Bleachers?
Is your kid a beloved team member—or just a slot on a roster? Dionne questions whether today’s youth sports system is built to serve kids or just keep the machine running.

🔹 Youth Sports as Economic Stimulus
Local governments are betting big on mega-complexes, sports tourism, and “Pathways to Pro”—but who’s really benefiting?

🔹 The Shiny Stadium Mirage
States and cities are spending millions on facilities… while local kids still face access issues. Why not just invest in them?

🔹 The “Parents Know Best” Problem
In the U.S., we let parents and the private sector steer the ship. Dionne asks: is that always in kids’ best interests?

🔹 Can Government Help—Without Overreach?
There are ways to improve youth sports with smart regulation—without becoming a dystopian training camp. Minimum standards, safety guidelines, access. It’s possible.

🔹 🔥 And of course... MORE HOT TAKES