Bret Suffis: The Power of a Growth Mindset

Andrew Russell welcomes Bret Suffis (Lil Athlete Sports) for a conversation on fatherhood, leadership, and why play is where purpose begins. From non-contact fundamentals and multi-sport exposure to modeling patience on the sidelines, Bret shares how programs can build confidence, character, and community—for kids and parents.

Bret Suffis is the president and owner of Lil Athlete Sports, a Long Island–based youth sports program that helps kids discover confidence, teamwork, and joy through play. Since 2005 he’s coached thousands of young athletes across soccer, baseball, lacrosse, basketball, hockey, and non-contact/flag football—building multi-sport programs that keep things age-appropriate, team-oriented, and fun. Bret’s family-first culture trains coaches to model patience and presence, gives parents flexible ways to stay involved, and treats sports as a language of connection between kids and caregivers.

In this episode, Bret explains:
How to turn practices into life skills (sharing, taking turns, leadership, attention)
Why multi-sport, non-contact fundamentals beat early specialization for little kids
How to keep competition healthy (fun first, age-appropriate games, team over hero ball)
What great coaches and great dads share: patience, presence, and example
Time tactics for busy/entrepreneurial parents (a.k.a. organized chaos → intentional blocks)
How to help talented but anxious kids: compete → learn → grow (failure builds resilience)
Building a family-first coaching culture (flexibility, trust, and modeling calm on the sidelines)

Follow Bret & Lil Athlete Sports
Website — https://lilathletes.com/
Instagram —   / lilathletessports  
LinkedIn:   / bret-suffis-8879956b  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilathletess...
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user17966644

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LinkedIn:   / dadderup  
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