Building Better Athletes: Gary Thrapp's Vision for Youth Sports and Community Empowerment
Fri Feb 06 2026
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In this enlightening episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with Gary Thrapp, a dedicated youth sports specialist with an impressive 40-year career in managing youth sports. Gary has coached over 50,000 games and has been instrumental in the development of the premier youth sports facility, Beyond the Baseline. His mission transcends athletics; he focuses on cultivating better athletes and, more importantly, better individuals. Join us as we explore Gary's journey and his commitment to community engagement through free sports programs designed to remove financial barriers for young athletes. Discover the lessons he's learned as a parent and coach, the importance of leadership development in youth sports, and how he is reshaping the youth sports landscape by prioritizing skill development over competition. Gary also shares insights from his book, *The Wild World of Youth Sports*, which provides 150 strategies for parents to navigate the complexities of youth sports effectively. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that emphasizes the power of community, support, and the positive impact of sports on youth development. Learn more about Gary and his initiatives at garythrap.com and goingbeyondthebaseline.com.
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Send us a text In this enlightening episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with Gary Thrapp, a dedicated youth sports specialist with an impressive 40-year career in managing youth sports. Gary has coached over 50,000 games and has been instrumental in the development of the premier youth sports facility, Beyond the Baseline. His mission transcends athletics; he focuses on cultivating better athletes and, more importantly, better individuals. Join us as we explore Gary's journey and his commitment to community engagement through free sports programs designed to remove financial barriers for young athletes. Discover the lessons he's learned as a parent and coach, the importance of leadership development in youth sports, and how he is reshaping the youth sports landscape by prioritizing skill development over competition. Gary also shares insights from his book, *The Wild World of Youth Sports*, which provides 150 strategies for parents to navigate the complexities of youth sports effectively. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that emphasizes the power of community, support, and the positive impact of sports on youth development. Learn more about Gary and his initiatives at garythrap.com and goingbeyondthebaseline.com. Support the show