PDF Version - Digital File
 
The Talent Trap: Free Yourself and Thrive Amid the Chaos and Competition of Youth Sport.
 
In youth sport, the word talent is everywhere. We overuse it and we misuse it. This is a treacherous trap.
 
When we fall into the talent trap, we give immense value to an inconsistent and unreliable predictor of success. We confuse people with conflicting ideas, and we enable a misdirected, biased process to determine who should and shouldn’t be supported. This has a damaging ripple effect on the perceptions, identity, motivations and expectations of young athletes, and those around them.
 
This book exposes common everyday actions that seem harmless, but which are wreaking havoc. Whether you are a parent or coach, programme manager or CEO, it will shed light on how we can all do things differently and guide you to lead change.
 
To thrive in youth sport and give young people the best chance of ongoing success into adulthood, we must free ourselves from the talent trap and re-focus on the things that really matter.
 
About the Author:
At the time of writing The Talent Trap, Leigh had already spent more than fifteen years in the sports industry and worked with thousands of aspiring young athletes within schools and clubs, local and Regional sports organisations, and private companies. Initially a competitive athlete herself, Leigh's sport sector roles have included team coach, LTAD lead, youth fitness specialist, programme director, talent selector, representative programme lead, student-athlete mentor, National working group contributor, development manager, speaker, and coach developer. Since 2020, Leigh has also extended her work to the field of mindset and mental/emotional skills coaching with high achieving professionals from all walks of life.
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The Talent Trap is a must-read for anyone involved in youth sport. With plain language and refreshing reassurance, she shares real stories, makes complicated things simple, and will challenge your thinking but immediately empower you with solutions.