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This bonus episode features Dr. Amanda Stanec and Richard Way, authors of the new book, Protect the Joy - A Positive, Collaborative Approach to Youth Sport. We discuss joy, competition, coaches, parents, developmental goals and all things youthy sporty.

Dr. Amanda Stanec was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada where she attended and played soccer for St. Francis Xavier University. Through these years, she developed a strong work ethic to accompany her active lifestyle and positive outlook on life. She attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she attained a Masters of Science with an emphasis in Physical Education Pedagogy and Sport Psychology. Later, Amanda earned a PhD program from the University of Virginia where she was recognized as the outstanding doctoral student in her graduating year. Further achievements include the publication of more than twenty articles as well as co-authoring several book chapters related to physical education, sport, health, and wellness topics. She has served as a Director on Boards of various sport organizations and past clients include the International Olympic Committee, True Sport, and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation. Amanda and her partner, Jim Stanec, live in St Louis, MO and are the proud parents of three daughters. As a family, they enjoy mountain biking, surfing and snowboarding as a family, and cheering each other on in various sporting events. movelivelearn.com

Richard Way is the former CEO of the Sport for Life Society and the Physical Literacy for Life Charity, an architect of the Long-Term Athlete Development Framework, and co-author of the book Long- Term Athlete Development. Way is a founding member of the International Physical Literacy Association and served as director of sport for Vancouver’s successful 2010 Winter Olympic Games bid. He has been a commission member of the International Luge Federation, a Canadian Luge Association board member, and was a founder of the Calgary Luge Club and B.C. Luge. As an athlete, Way represented Canada in nine natural luge world championships and was an All-Canadian West in soccer for the University of Calgary. In 2022, he was inducted into the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame.
Way is a husband and father of three children, each of which have enjoyed sports at many levels including two who played university sport while the third represented their province at national championships. One daughter now plays soccer professionally in Europe.

• Long Term Athlete Development
• Sport for Life Canada
• American Development Model - Kids (Richard’s reference to USA Hockey’s materials and evidence)
• Blog post on the Meaningfulness in Youth Sport project
• True Competition - by David Light Shields and Brenda Light Bredemeier
• If you must cut athl

Thanks to Isaiah (steelandbone1997@gmail.com) for the guitar pieces, SSHRC for some funding and our guests for sharing!

To contact us:

dgleddie@ualberta.ca

riddick@ualberta.ca

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What if the way to help girls love running is to remove the pressure and ask them what a running program that met their needs would look like ? We sit down with Dr. Joanne Hill (University of Bedfordshire), Dr. Laura Gubby (Canterbury Christ Church University), and Mel Bound, founder of This Woman Runs, to discuss how they co-designed a running program with 11-13 year old girls that swapped distance and pace targets for minutes moving, and measure success by feelings of safety, belonging, and joy. This episode highlights the importance of meeting students where they are, not where adults think they should be, through a continual process of listening and responding.

Bio:

Dr. Joanne Hill is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire and Co-Deputy Director of the Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR). Her research interests include meaningful engagement in physical activity and the impact of space on embodiment and meaning as well as women's running safety. You can connect with Joanne at joanne.hill@beds.ac.uk

Dr. Laura Gubby is a Senior Lecturer in the Sociology of Physical Education, Physical Activity, Sport and the PG Research Lead for Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at Canterbury Christ Church University. Her main areas of interest are the sociology of PE, sport, and physical activity, and qualitative research methods. You can connect with Laura at laura.gubby@canterbury.ac.uk

Mel Bound is the founder of This Woman Runs, an organization devoted to the idea that no woman should feel that being active is a struggle. Mel is a pioneer in women’s grassroots sport, recognized globally for her ability to build & lead connected communities that drive lasting change and deliver measurable impact at scale. You can connect with Mel at mel.bound@thiswomanruns.com

Show Notes:

Run 30: Co-Designing a Run Walk Program with Adolescent Girls (Dr. Hill’s Website)

Azzarito, L. and Hill, J. (2013). Girls looking for a “second home”: Bodies, difference and places of inclusion. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy 18(4), 351-375. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17408989.2012.666792#.U5yyZPldWSo

Gubby, L., & Hill, J. (2025). Women trail runners’ encounters with vulnerability to male harassment in rural off-road spaces. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 17(1), 17–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2024.2393318

Gubby, L. and Hill, J. (2024). Women trail runners’ encounters with vulnerability to male harassment in rural off-road spaces. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 17(1), 17-31. doi: 10.1080/2159676X.2024.2393318

Hawes O, Hill J, Phillips B, Smith T, Roberts K, Chater A. "MoveScape": Informing Active Landscape Planning to Improve Physical Activity and Well-Being. J Phys Act Health. 2025 Oct 16;23(2):179-190. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2024-0690. PMID: 41101729.

Hill, J., and Flemons, O. (2024). Creating space for meaningful physical activity at home: women’s stories of social interaction, micro-adventure, and the joy of feeling strong. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 16(4), 333-351.

Thanks to Isaiah (steelandbone1997@gmail.com) for the guitar pieces, SSHRC for some funding and our guests for sharing!

To contact us:

dgleddie@ualberta.ca

riddick@ualberta.ca

Send us a text

Tim Adams is the founder and Executive Director of Free Play for Kids (started as Free Footie) based in Edmonton, Canada. Their mission is to: Provide programs and spaces that are safe, accessible, and inclusive, where communities are empowered through play.

https://www.freeplayforkids.com/about-us

https://sportforlife.ca/blog/free-footie-program-growing-exponentially/

School Sport for All Framework: paper & episode

The health and educational impact of removing financial constraints for school sport (paper)

True Competition - by David Light Shields and Brenda Light Bredemeier

Thanks to Isaiah (steelandbone1997@gmail.com) for the guitar pieces, SSHRC for some funding and our guests for sharing!

To contact us:

dgleddie@ualberta.ca

riddick@ualberta.ca