Ep. #1: Youth Sports & Character Development: Our Journey in Athletics & What Kids Gain From the Game
Episode #1: Youth Sports & Character Development: Our Journey in Athletics & What Kids Gain From the Game
In this first episode, we’re sharing the heart behind Character Before Championships — our story as athletes, how sports have shaped our lives since we were teens, and why we’re so passionate about using athletics to teach our kids:
faith
resilience
hard work
and discipline
This podcast isn’t just about winning — it’s about raising champions in character.
Welcome to the Character Before Championships Podcast, where we help young athletes grow in faith, develop discipline, and embrace hard work through sports.
We’re Sean and Kacey and we’re so excited to have you here for our very first episode!
We created the brand, Walsh Family Athletics, where our mission is to empower kids to be their best—on and off the field while also encouraging parents to support and guide their youth athletes in a healthy way.
The Mission of Walsh Family Athletics
So, what is Walsh Family Athletics all about? At its core, our mission is simple: to teach and encourage kids that character comes before championships.
What does that mean? It means using something kids love— sports—as a platform to teach valuable life skills like overcoming adversity, hard work, discipline, perseverance, and most importantly, faith.
We believe that sports are more than just a game; they’re a powerful tool for shaping character, building resilience, and reinforcing values that last a lifetime—like teamwork, integrity, and leadership. Through every practice, every game, and every challenge, we’re helping young athletes lay a strong foundation for success—not just in sports, but in life.
We’ve seen time and time again how the lessons learned in competition translate to life. The way a young athlete handles a tough loss, the way they push through exhaustion in practice, or the way they support a struggling teammate—these are the moments that shape future leaders.
This is the foundation for Walsh Family Athletics.
WHO ARE WE?
We’re Sean and Kacey Walsh, and our journey together started way back—we met at 12 years old and started dating at 15.
From the very beginning, sports have been a huge part of our relationship.
Whether it was playing, training, or competing, we’ve always connected through athletics.
But more than that, the lessons we learned through sports—like discipline, resilience, teamwork, and leadership—have shaped us into who we are today.
We didn’t take the traditional route.
We were young parents, college dropouts, and we’re not here as ex-professional athletes claiming to have all the answers.
What we do have is a deep love for sports and the life lessons they teach.
Now, we’re raising our four kids to be kind, loving, faith-filled, hardworking leaders who can handle adversity, set goals, and chase success—whether that’s in sports or any other path they choose.
And honestly? Our kids have inspired us.
Watching them push themselves has motivated us to get back on our own health journey.
We’re not the picture-perfect athletic family—life has knocked us down a few times.
But we’re not ones to stay down.
We built a gym in our garage, we’re getting in shape, and we’re committed to leading by example.
We also created an Instagram account, Walsh Family Athletics—IG @walshfamilyathletics—where we share training, workouts, and the behind-the-scenes of raising young athletes.
And we’re launching a YouTube channel soon, where you’ll find these podcast episodes, training tutorials, nutrition tips, and whatever else we feel can help young athletes grow.
We have big dreams and exciting plans for Walsh Family Athletics and this podcast, Character Before Championships.
Our hope is that this becomes a space where we can continue to inspire young athletes to work hard, grow in character, and pursue their goals.
We also want to encourage parents to support their youth athletes in a positive, healthy way—meeting them where they are and guiding them with patience, faith, and encouragement.
Closing Thoughts
That’s it for today’s episode! We hope this gave you a deeper look into who we are and what we stand for at Walsh Family Athletics and what we’ll talk about on the podcast Character Before Championships.
If you’re a parent, coach, or young athlete looking to be part of a community that values faith, hard work, and discipline, we’d love to have you join us! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast, follow us on Instagram, and keep an eye out for our YouTube Channel dropping soon.
Thanks for tuning in, and remember—keep working hard, keep the faith, and never stop striving for greatness.
Until next time, this is Character Before Championships! See you on the field!
