Andrew Ladd: Fun is the Foundation, Relieving Parental Pressure & Real Mental Tools for Kids | Ep 13

Former NHL captain Andrew Ladd opens up about the hard truths facing kids in today’s youth sports system and what parents must change to help their children thrive. From early specialization to unhealthy pressure, entitlement, burnout, and the myth of the “perfect path,” Andrew shares powerful lessons from his pro career, his parenting journey, and years spent studying youth development after retirement. He also details "1616" - a mental health initiative he founded to equip young hockey players, coaches, and parents with tools to navigate the challenges that arise in both sport and life.

If you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, this episode will shift the way you think about growth, motivation, confidence, mental skills, and why fun is the fuel kids actually need.

Topics include:
• Why today’s youth sport model pushes kids out too early
• The critical difference between development and performance
• How parents unintentionally block growth
• Why success is never linear
• The emotional skills kids must learn to thrive long-term
• What Andrew wishes every parent understood sooner
• How we can rebuild sports into a healthier, more joyful experience

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:45 Life as a sports parent with three kids
04:30 Multi-sport benefits and free play
06:41 The loss of Free Play for today's kids
10:55 Growing up with inclusion and special needs family members
14:17 The importance of modelling behaviour as a parent
15:16 How Andrew's parents approached youth sports
17:57 Falling in love with hockey
18:56 His grandfather as his biggest advocate
22:07 Being a late bloomer and getting cut from teams
25:00 Playing the long game in athlete development
27:35 Teaching kids what "hard work" actually means
29:12 How coaches and parents unintentionally create pressure
32:36 Career struggles and mental health challenges
38:35 Getting help from a mental performance coach
39:36 Introduction to 1616 and the buffalo metaphor
45:19 Making 1616 accessible to everyone
49:19 The car ride home after the game
55:41 How tools from 1616 might have helped Andrew as a teenager
57:36 Helping today's youth open up about their challenges
59:25 How coaches can benefit from 1616
01:01:55 Advice for youth coaches
01:04:10 Setting expectations with parents
01:06:12 Stop directing your kids from the stands
01:07:33 Social media's impact on youth athletes
01:11:15 Identity beyond sport
01:13:25 Biggest issue in youth sports: Early specialization

Resources:
https://1616.org/