When audiences tune into the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian or look ahead to the upcoming theatrical feature The Mandalorian and Grogu, they are typically drawn to the compelling dynamic between a rugged bounty hunter and his endearing young ward. Yet, according to the actor who brings the armored hero to physical life on screen, the lessons learned from protecting a child across the galaxy might surprisingly translate to the sidelines of youth sports. Brendan Wayne, the physical performance artist who has embodied Mando beneath the iconic helmet since 2019, brings more than two decades of real-world coaching experience to his perspective on athletics, parenting, and youth development.
In addition to co-hosting his new podcast, Hats & Helmets, Wayne currently serves as the head coach of the Lady Lancers soccer team at Grant High School in California. Drawing from a lifetime spent on fields, courts, and diamonds, Wayne approaches youth athletics not merely as a venue for accumulating wins, but as a critical laboratory for personal growth. As the summer months transition into the autumn school season, the longtime coach and actor offered his core principles on how parents and spectators can best support young athletes, avoid the pitfalls of over-involvement, and keep the focus squarely on holistic development.
"I’ve played sports my whole life," Wayne tells Fatherly. "It’s one of the greatest things a kid can learn to do."
Fail Together, Succeed Together
Wayne’s fundamental coaching philosophy steers clear of an obsession with the final scoreboard. Instead, he emphasizes that the true value of a team lies in collective experience, shared vulnerability, and mutual support. For Wayne, allowing young people to stumble in a safe environment is an essential component of building resilience and lifelong confidence.
"I want my kids to fail together. I want them to succeed together. I want them to make mistakes in front of their friends and have to speak to it and live through it," Wayne explains. "If I can try to simplify it, my philosophy is to provide a competitive strength-building environment where we are allowed to fail to succeed."
Reflecting on his own upbringing and his current work with female athletes, Wayne also notes a deliberate effort to foster a sense of camaraderie that mirrors traditional male sports bonding, aiming to break down perceived social barriers among young women in competitive environments. "I’d also try to take the stigma of women competing against each other and bring them together just like I grew up with my buddies, because I always felt like there was a huge difference. And maybe I’m wrong, but my idea is to allow them to have the team atmosphere where they can have their buddies."
If You Can’t Stop Your Sideline Coaching, Become a Ref
For many parents, attending youth sporting events can evoke intense emotions. When a call goes against their child’s team or a play breaks down, the urge to shout instructions from the sidelines can become overwhelming. Wayne maintains a remarkably strict boundary regarding parental interference during games, suggesting that those who find themselves unable to contain their sideline commentary should reevaluate their presence altogether.
"Go home. I mean, if you can’t get it together, go home," Wayne says. "I’ve said this to some parents, and I’ve been let go or I’ve lost players. But I’ve also gained others who have sometimes come back and apologized after the moment passes."
Wayne acknowledges that parental investment comes from a place of deep care, but he stresses that this energy should be channeled into supporting the child’s independent journey rather than satisfying the parent’s ambitions. Furthermore, he offers an alternative path for fiercely engaged adults who possess a deep understanding of the rules: step onto the field in a different capacity.
"I know we all believe in our kids, and that’s good, and you should, and you should believe in them by supporting their success, not yours. Not your idea of what that success means. And if you know the game, go learn to coach it," Wayne advises. "Or the best one is go become a ref. We need refs, and we need more community. I’ve reffed for 13 years. It’s terrible. People are terrible, but the highs are amazing when that kid smiles at you or whatever it is, the game when it’s going right, man, it’s great."
When the Ball Is in Play, It’s Time to Cheer — Not Coach
Even as an experienced head coach, Wayne deliberately refrains from barking constant instructions while the action is unfolding on the pitch. He believes that genuine instruction must happen during practices, team meetings, and before the whistle blows, leaving the actual competition as a time for players to trust their instincts and feel unconditional support from the sideline.
"If the ball’s in play in an area, you just let them go. If Joni’s over there and she’s trying to defend somebody and I’m yelling from the sideline, like, ‘Hey, look at me,’ now I’m beat," Wayne notes. "You’ve got to let them know how much you love them. I always tell them: ‘I love watching you play. Keep it going. It’s not saying ‘run faster.’ It’s not that.’"
Figure Out Why Your Kid Might Want to Quit
When a young athlete begins to show signs of losing interest or expresses a desire to walk away from a sport, Wayne urges parents and coaches to look beneath the surface rather than accepting the resignation at face value. Understanding the root cause requires empathy and a careful examination of the environment the child is experiencing.
"When they start to fade away, I think you, as a parent, better take a real good inventory of why. Is it the coaches?" Wayne asks. "It breaks my heart to see kids who stop playing because their coaches are too unconnected. Those coaches might be too connected to themselves and their record. But are they quitting because they feel like they’re not good enough? If that’s the case, you can make it clear that you love them no matter what they do."
Multiple Sports Are Great
Maintaining the physical conditioning required to wear heavy Mandalorian armor for extended shooting schedules has given Wayne a profound appreciation for functional fitness and holistic body development. Translating this mindset to youth athletics, he strongly advocates for multi-sport participation, warning against the modern trend of early specialization that often leads to burnout and severe physical ailments.
"First, we’ve got to normalize multiple sports again. We’re seeing catastrophic injuries on a huge level because we’re running kids in the same sport year-round with coaches who don’t have any idea how to fully develop a physical body," Wayne points out. "So, put them in multiple sports, let their whole body build. Have your kid play a lot of sports, do a lot of different exercises — not to the point where they’re degrading their bodies — but to the point where they’re building their bodies in a way that makes them flexible."
Remember, This Is Supposed to Be Fun
Ultimately, Wayne reminds adults to maintain perspective on the grand scale of youth athletics. While competitive drive has its place, the vast majority of young participants will not pursue professional athletic careers, making the immediate joy of play and community the most valuable takeaway from the experience. When players become visibly stressed or overwhelmed on the field, Wayne finds that a touch of humor is often the most effective tool to reset their mindset.
"Sometimes, I just yell out: ‘Hey, laugh! This is soccer! Nobody’s paying you today!’" Wayne says. "This is supposed to be fun."
Brendan Wayne can be seen in The Mandalorian and Grogu and heard on his podcast, Hats & Helmets.