The FX Factor

Episode 35: The Truth About Trials

Are youth sport trials really about finding the best athletes… or are they becoming systems built around familiarity and selecting what already feels safe? In this episode of The FX Factor, Kelly takes an honest look at the reality of modern trials across all sports — from football and basketball to netball, swimming and cheerleading. This episode explores: * what trials are actually measuring * why younger athletes often feel overlooked * how confidence, physical maturity and familiarity influence selection * why one-day trials can be flawed * the difference between current performance and long-term potential * why transparency and communication matter * what fair and open pathways should actually look like A powerful conversation about opportunity, development, belief and the future of youth sport.

Episode 34: How Do We Keep Kids In Sport?

Why are so many young athletes walking away from sport before they ever reach their potential? In this episode of The FX Factor, Kelly dives into one of the biggest challenges facing youth sport right now — not just getting kids into sport, but keeping them in it long enough to grow, evolve and enjoy the journey. This isn’t another conversation about lazy kids or lack of commitment. It’s a real look at what young athletes are dealing with behind the scenes: pressure, comparison, confidence drops, burnout, social changes, shifting identities, school stress and the emotional weight that can slowly disconnect kids from the sport they once loved.

Episode 33: Success, Failure & The Lies We Tell Kids About Sport

What if your child isn’t the best right now? What if they’re overlooked, doubted, physically behind, struggling with confidence, or not standing out yet? In this episode of The FX Factor, Kelly takes a deep dive into the reality of success and failure in youth sport — and why so many adults completely misunderstand what real athletic development actually looks like. From Kobe Bryant missing more than 9,000 shots, to Michael Jordan being cut from his school team, to Lionel Messi being overlooked physically as a kid, this episode explores the setbacks, rejection, pressure, and late development that shaped some of the world’s greatest athletes.

Episode 32: The Different Types of Sports Parents

If you’ve spent more than five minutes around junior sport… you know exactly who these parents are. The over-invested parent. The sideline coach. The “my child is a superstar” parent. The overly critical parent. The relaxed parent who barely knows what time the game starts. The parent reliving their own sporting career through their kid. In this episode of The FX Factor, Kelly takes a real and honest look at the different personalities that show up in youth sport — the good, the chaotic, the exhausting, and the genuinely brilliant. This isn’t about attacking parents. Most parents are trying to help. But somewhere between pressure, competition, group chats, expectations, and emotions, things can get messy fast. This episode dives into: * how different parenting styles affect kids in sport * sports psychology and emotional environments * why some kids lose confidence and others thrive * how pressure, criticism, and comparison shape young athletes * the impact of sideline behaviour and group chats * why balance matters more than most people realise Funny, honest, uncomfortable at times, and incredibly relatable for anyone involved in junior sport. Because sometimes the biggest influence on a young athlete… isn’t the coach.

Episode 31: We’re Raising Athletes… But Are We Raising Humans?

We’re putting more into youth sport than ever before—time, money, training, opportunities. But what are kids actually walking away with? In this episode, Kelly takes a step back from the noise and looks at what’s really being developed beneath the surface. This isn’t about drills, performance, or pathways—this is about the mental side of sport that often gets missed. We unpack: * Why so many kids struggle when things don’t go to plan * The real impact of pressure, expectations, and comparison * Mental health in modern sport—from juniors through to elite athletes * How to build independence instead of reliance * What leadership actually looks like in young athletes * Why resilience isn’t about being “tough” but learning how to respond * How to help kids choose their own path, not follow everyone else’s This is a conversation for parents, coaches, and anyone involved in youth sport who wants to do more than just develop athletes. Because sport isn’t just shaping performance. It’s shaping people.