Be Valiant

Ep. 15 Episode 8 - Taking Back the Game: A Conversation with Linda Flanagan

In this powerful conversation, Todd Merkow sits down with journalist, coach, and parent Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids’ Sports — and Why It Matters. Together, they unpack what the modern youth sports ecosystem really looks like — from the billion-dollar pressures on families to the hidden toll it takes on kids’ mental health.  This book is a must have, and go to, for parents starting out and in the thick of their youth sports journey. 

Todd and Linda explore how families can redefine success at home, create healthier outcomes, and protect their children’s joy in the face of relentless competition. They dive  into the mental health crisis among young athletes, and how parents can lead the cultural change youth sports desperately need.