Linda Flanagan is a freelance journalist, researcher, and former cross-country and track coach. She is the author of numerous articles on youth sports and the book Take Back The Game - How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids Sports—And Why It Matters. She is a founding board member of the NYC chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance and her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Runner’s World and NPR’s Mindshift. In addition to being a lifelong athlete she’s also the mother of three grown children. In our conversation today we discussed:
The inspiration behind Take Back The Game
The role of her father in her life as an athlete and how that shaped her perspective on sports
The differences between fathers and mothers and their impact on daughter participation in sports
The key changes in how youth sports have transformed with the influence of money and increasingly high stakes
Changes in family dynamics and parental expectations; the influence of the Name Image and Likeness rules (or NIL)
Early sports specialization and its effect on children’s physical and mental health
How to make sports fun again
Success stories in communities implementing positive change in youth sports
Advice to parents who want to support their children’s athletic interests without falling into the mania
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Overcast and YouTube.
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Where to find Linda Flanagan
Website: https://lindaflanaganauthor.com/
X: https://x.com/lindaflanagan2
IG: https://www.instagram.com/Lindaflanagan_author/
Where to find Adam Fishman
FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/
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In this episode, we cover:
[1:51] Welcome
[2:15] Childhood
[3:26] Linda’s Kids
[3:57] Coaching career
[4:52] Realization that kid’s sports needed reform
[8:06] What role did Linda’s father play in her athletics?
[11:32] Differences between fathers and mother’s impacting daughters in sports
[13:07] Key changes in sports regarding money
[21:33] NIL - Name, Image and Likeness
[25:05] Early sports specialization
[29:43] Alternatives to specialization
[33:56] Organizations that have implemented positive change
[39:11] Role of tech and media on sports
[42:43] Role of coaches
[44:26] Advice for parents
[50:28] Changes for the next decade
[53:01] Where to find Linda
[54:33] Rapid fire / Lightning round
[58:22] Thank you
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Show references:
Take Back the Game, How Money and Mania are Ruining Kids Sports and Why it Matters by Linda Flanagan: https://www.amazon.com/Take-Back-Game-Ruining-Sports/dp/059332904X
ESPN Wide World of Sports: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/wide-world-of-sports/
NIL: https://iconsource.com/what-is-nil/
NFHS: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/
Families and Sport Lab at Utah State, Travis Dorsch: https://cehs.usu.edu/families-in-sport-lab/people/faculty/travis-dorsch
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein: https://www.amazon.com/Range-Generalists-Triumph-Specialized-World/dp/0735214484
Tiger Woods: https://tigerwoods.com/
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036
Free Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy: https://letgrow.org/free-chapter/
Peter Gray (professor at BC): https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/morrissey/departments/psychology-neuroscience/people/affiliated-and-emeritus/peter-gray.html
Jason Targoff: https://www.cambridgeyouthsoccer.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1309964&mid=1365147&newskeyid=HN1&newsid=437883&ctl=newsdetail
Pick up Sports App: https://pickupsports.co/pages/app-1
Steve Magnus: https://www.stevemagness.com/
Ferber Method: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/baby-sleep/ferber-method
WSJ article, When Junior Heads to College, Helicopter Parents Turn to Empty-Nest Coaches: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/helicopter-parents-empty-nest-coaches-868b5600
Wizard of Oz: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/
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For Startup Dad Merch: www.startupdadshop.com
Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/
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