Is the "professionalization" of youth sports actually hurting our kids? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 16, 2026 · 56 MIN

Is the "professionalization" of youth sports actually hurting our kids?

from NEXT PITCH - The Student-Athlete Playbook For Parents Raising Tomorrow’s Athletes

Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game, pulls back the curtain on the high-pressure world of modern youth sports. From the rise of "pay-to-play" to the decline of unstructured fun, Linda examines the systemic forces shaping the lives of student-athletes today. Whether you are a parent, coach, or educator, this conversation is an essential look at how we can shift the culture back toward development, community, and the simple love of play.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 16, 2026

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Is the "professionalization" of youth sports actually hurting our kids?

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This episode was published on January 16, 2026.

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