Listen now (59 min) | Linda Flanagan is a freelance journalist, researcher, and former cross-country and track coach. We discuss lessons from her book: Take Back The Game - How Money and Mania are Ruining Kids Sports and Why it Matters.
Thanks Linda and Adam for sharing these important home truths. As a former Olympic coach who worked from grass roots all the way to the podium its really sad to hear what has come become of American youth sports. In the terminology of tech I would simply ask for parents to consider what are they "optimising for"? Are they are optimising to help build strong independent adults or are they just trying to get them into the "right college" to get that fraction of a head start in life. A love of movement and activity should be a lifelong experience not a quick fix to get very slightly ahead.
We lived in the USA for 2 years and enjoyed the experience but you could hear the drum beating louder and louder for youth sport and college entrance. It is so sad and so unnecessary.
Thanks Linda and Adam for sharing these important home truths. As a former Olympic coach who worked from grass roots all the way to the podium its really sad to hear what has come become of American youth sports. In the terminology of tech I would simply ask for parents to consider what are they "optimising for"? Are they are optimising to help build strong independent adults or are they just trying to get them into the "right college" to get that fraction of a head start in life. A love of movement and activity should be a lifelong experience not a quick fix to get very slightly ahead.
We lived in the USA for 2 years and enjoyed the experience but you could hear the drum beating louder and louder for youth sport and college entrance. It is so sad and so unnecessary.
Thanks for sharing those thoughts Colin. Also, I had no idea I was in the presence of greatness… Olympic coach!
Definitively "former" its one of the exasperations of my children that I keep changing titles
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/colinbrown1_what-do-you-do-for-a-living-again-and-why-activity-7231555596695597056-j-wR?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop