{"product_id":"take-back-the-game-how-money-and-mania-are-ruining-kids-sports-and-why-it-matters-hardcover","title":"Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids' Sports--And Why It Matters - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eLinda Flanagan\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLonglisted for the \u003ci\u003ePorchlight\u003c\/i\u003e Business Book Awards 2022 \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA close look at how big money and high stakes have transformed youth sports, turning once healthy, fun activities for kids into all-consuming endeavors--putting stress on children and families alike \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSome 75% of American families want their kids to play sports. Athletics are training grounds for character, friendship, and connection; at their best, sports insulate kids from hardship and prepare them for adult life. But youth sports have changed so dramatically over the last 25 years that they no longer deliver the healthy outcomes everyone wants. Instead, unbeknownst to most parents, kids who play competitive organized sports are more likely to burn out or suffer from overuse injuries than to develop their characters or build healthy habits. What happened to kids' sports? And how can we make them fun again? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eTake Back the Game\u003c\/i\u003e, coach and journalist Linda Flanagan reveals how the youth sports industry capitalizes on parents' worry about their kids' futures, selling the idea that more competitive play is essential in the feeding frenzy over access to colleges and universities. Drawing on her experience as a coach and a parent, along with research and expert analysis, Flanagan delves into a national obsession that has: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eCompelled kids to specialize year-round in one sport. \u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eIncreased the risk of both physical injury and mental health problems.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eEncouraged egregious behavior by coaches and parents. \u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eReduced access to sports for low-income families. \u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e A provocative and timely entrant into a conversation thousands of parents are having on the sidelines, \u003ci\u003eTake Back the Game\u003c\/i\u003e uncovers how youth sports became a serious business, the consequences of raising the stakes for kids and parents alike--and the changes we need now.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLINDA FLANAGAN \u003c\/b\u003eis a freelance journalist, researcher, and former cross-country and track coach. A graduate of Lehigh University, Flanagan holds master's degrees from Oxford University and the Fletcher School of Law \u0026amp; Diplomacy and was an analyst for the National Security Program at Harvard University. She is a founding board member of the New York City chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance and a 2020-21 advisory group member for the Aspen Institute's Reimagining School Sports initiative, and her writing on sports has appeared in \u003ci\u003eThe Atlantic\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eRunner's World\u003c\/i\u003e, and on NPR's education site MindShift, where she is a regular contributor. A mother of three and a lifelong athlete, Flanagan lives in New Jersey.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 304\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.3 x 9.1 x 5.9 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e August 23, 2022\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42697854451775,"sku":"9780593329047","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0105\/8226\/1823\/files\/2f2f51a1df312c25e01ae2726ee99c3b.webp?v=1765009693","url":"https:\/\/dhl-adrianne.myshopify.com\/products\/take-back-the-game-how-money-and-mania-are-ruining-kids-sports-and-why-it-matters-hardcover","provider":"BBB","version":"1.0","type":"link"}