Former CFL centre and Grey Cup champion Angus Reid discusses the troubling state of youth sports, the business model destroying accessibility, and what it really means to develop champions. Reid, now a high school football coach and author of "Teenager: A Story About Finding Your Way," shares why he refuses to charge kids for coaching, how parents unknowingly harm their children's development, and the critical difference between being demanding and demeaning. In this conversation, Reid reveals his approach to building resilience in teenagers, why he quit football in grade 8, and the coaching philosophy that keeps kids coming back. He challenges the year-round specialization model, advocates for multi-sport participation, and explains why the real goal isn't winning championships -- it's creating high-agency people who can handle life's challenges. 

KEY TOPICS: 

• The privatization crisis in youth sports and its impact on accessibility 
• Why Reid coaches for free and refuses to monetize youth development 
• The difference between coaching to win vs. coaching to develop 
• How to build real confidence (not false bravado) in teenagers 
• The danger of waiting for external validation 
• Why football shouldn't be played until high school 
• Creating environments where bringing your best is normalized 
• The power of asking kids what they want from sports

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