Marianna Brussoni's research focuses on child injury prevention:

"Current research interests include the influence of geographic, cultural and social places on parenting related to risk and safety; developmental importance of children’s risky play; the impact of injury on children’s health-related quality of life; injuries among Aboriginal populations; and injury surveillance.

I currently lead CIHR-funded research to develop an index of the playability of the built environment, and Lawson Foundation-funded research to develop an online tool, to reframe parents’ risk perceptions with the goal of facilitating children’s access to risky play. The tool is available at OutsidePlay.ca and the randomized controlled trial to test its effectiveness is underway. My work has been featured extensively in national and international media."

John is the Executive Director at National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS). He is a Florida Atlantic University graduate, a former multi-sport athlete, and an avid golfer. Like his father, Fred Engh, John is continuing to expand NAYS which is "educating, equipping, and empowering youth sports leaders, volunteers, and parents so all children can enjoy the lifelong benefits of sports". NAYS has reached countless members of the sports community, having thus far partnered with more than 3,000 community-based organizations and having trained over 4 million coaches, parents, officials, and administrators. Founded in 1981, NAYS has an incredible following and is advancing towards a vision of "a future where all youth sports coaches, parents, officials and administrators are educated, and all children have access to safe and positive sports experiences".

Lea works with community leaders across multiple sectors, developing the knowledge and capacity to deliver physical literacy and quality sport-enriched programs and services. After establishing one of the first Sport for Life community projects in her home town of Cochrane, AB, Lea went on to lead the RBC Learn to Play Community Mentorship on behalf of the Sport for Life Society. Currently, Lea is the project manager supporting physical literacy and quality sport in Indigenous schools and communities, as well as working as a Mentor for the Physical Literacy for Communities BC project.

Glen is joined by 2 guest speakers from B.C. Baseball Umpires Association in this teaser episode of Love What You Play.

Rhonda Pauls is the Vice President and Education Chair at BCBUA.

Gord McFarlane is the Lower Mainland Director of BCBUA's grassroots program.

This is a teaser of our interview with Duff Gibson.

Click Here To Watch The Full Episode

Duff Gibson is a speaker, coach, advocate, and father. With his organization Dark Horse, a kids' multi-sport program, Duff aims to develop athleticism and foster an intrinsic love for sport.

This teaser highlights Ken Martel's strategies for reducing attrition in youth sports.

This teaser dives into the importance of multi-sport development, with a look at Sweden's take on the hockey season.

Having worked with youth sports, professional sports, and eSports teams, James Leath is well versed in training character development through a leadership and mental conditioning curriculum.

This teaser features a unique insight into the booming eSports industry through the eyes of an experienced youth sports coach. Leath highlights the similarities and differences between traditional sports and eSports, with lessons for parents and coaches of both sectors to take to heart.

James' Twitter

James' Website

Today's episode features a portion of Glen's conversation with 3 prolific guests! If you want to hear the full conversation, head to https://www.fortheloveofthegame.ca/register.

Veronica Allan has a PhD in Sport Psychology. She is a Postdoctoral Fellow in York University’s School of Kinesiology and Health Science, as well as an Independent Content Contributor and Coordinator at Canada’s Sport Information Resource Centre.

Cassidy Preston has a PhD in Sport Psychology. He is the founder and Lead Sport & Performance Psychology Consultant at Consistent Elite Performance, and the founder of Complete Hockey Training.

Jessica Fraser-Thomas has a PhD in Kinesiology and Health Science. She is an Associate Professor at York University School of Kinesiology and Health Science. Jessica has contributed to numerous research articles and books focusing on positive youth development.

0:00 - Intro

1:50 - "Kids lose if winning is all"

2:25 - Teaching transferable life skills with sport  

6:05 - Long-term development leads to long-term success

13:30 - ‘Elite’ drafting at 5 years old

17:20 - Focusing on what the kids want

19:30 - Attrition rates

21:20 - Stressors for parents and coaches

23:40 - Affordable options for youth to have fun

26:20 - Recreating the structure of organized sports

31:10 - Community bonding

33:20 - Outro

Sean Fitz-Gerald is the senior national writer for The Athletic, Toronto. He is the author of Before the Lights Go Out: A Season Inside a Game On the Brink, a poignant insight into Canadian hockey. The book highlights Fitz-Gerald’s season with the Peterborough Petes, providing his own experience of the conflicting perspectives and motivations that affect hockey in Canada.

As a sports journalist, Fitz-Gerald has written for the National Post, Canadian Press and the Toronto Star. He was named Canadian sportswriter of the year by Sports Media Canada in 2015.

 0:00 - Intro

 2:30 - Growing up

 3:35 - Working in journalism

 5:05 - Top 3 characteristics of great coaches

 6:50 - Life-long learning

 9:20 - Athletics Canada

 11:00 - Writing Before the Lights Go Out

13:10 - Top 3 issues facing hockey in Canada

18:15 - The element of fun

22:40 - Early-window sports

27:05 - Hockey and Canadian identity

29:10 - Balancing structure and free play

35:30 - Secrets of Swedish hockey

37:15 - Teaching youth to love the game

39:40 - Community of hockey

44:00 - Pay-to-play model

46:40 - Deep dive and advice for parents

52:45 - Book recommendations