Teaching the Element of Fun | Sean Fitz-Gerald
Episode 44, Jan 13, 2020, 06:00 PM
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.
Table of Contents
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
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.
Table of Contents
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