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July 31, Thursday --St. Louis Park, MN
Play Revolution Summit
Date/Time:
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Thursday, July 31
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9 AM-4 PM (Lunch Included)
Location:
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(ROC) Recreation Outdoor Center
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St. Louis Park MN 3700 Monterey Drive
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952.924.2540
Registration
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$179
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$149 Early Bird (before 7/10)
THE PLAY REVOLUTION
CALL TO ACTION
A New Era Begins With YOU: A Call to Action for Coaches, Parents, and Leaders
It’s time to face a simple but powerful truth: the way we have approached talent, learning, and mastery is broken. For too long, we have idolized grind over growth, drilled conformity instead of creativity, and encouraged children to fit the mold rather than shape it. But a better way exists—one that unleashes potential, sparks joy, and makes mastery possible for every child, every athlete, every team.
The revolution starts with you.
Coaches:
You are more than instructors. You are architects of possibility, trusted guides on the adventure of growth. It is your courage to let go of micromanagement and embrace the power of play that will set the next generation free. When you step aside—when you create the space for spontaneous, collective creativity—you transform sport from a series of drills into a lifelong language of movement and expression. Your legacy will be measured not in championships, but in the confidence, resilience, and ingenuity of those you empower.
Parents:
You hold the keys to your children’s world. Every time you encourage curiosity, every moment you allow a child to explore, to fail, to try again—you are fuelling genius. It takes courage to let go of the urge to “fix” and to trust the process of play. But when you do, you become a partner in your child’s self-discovery. You give them the greatest gift of all: the freedom to become not just good at something, but to love learning for life.
Leaders:
Whether you shape schools, teams, organizations, or communities, you have the privilege—and the responsibility—to design the environments where mastery can thrive. Now is the time to move beyond old systems that reward only compliance and grind. Champion policies and practices that nurture joyful experimentation, that open doors instead of narrowing them. Encourage your teams and institutions to value creativity, connection, and collaboration over empty achievement.
Together, you can change the fabric of our culture.
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Be the first to question outdated traditions.
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Be the voice that fights for more unstructured time, more self-direction, more play.
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Be the model of humility, curiosity, and courage—the qualities every child needs to truly grow.
Imagine what we can create if we break the cycle—if, instead of burning out the few, we light a fire in everyone. Picture teams, classrooms, and families alive with laughter, exploration, and mastery born of genuine passion.
This is your invitation—and your challenge.
Reject the status quo. Build the playgrounds where kinetic language flourishes. Speak the language of encouragement and trust.
Start today: step back, make space, and watch them soar. The future of mastery is collaborative, creative, and full of joy—if only we are brave enough to change.
Let’s lead the way to a new era of learning, play, and human flourishing—together.
THE PLAY REVOLUTION
Unlock the power of play!
WhyAttend?
this is your opportunity to lead the change the world desperately needs in coaching, education, and leadership—and to unlock your own potential in the process.
Discover
Discover why play is the secret ingredient behind rapid skill acquisition, creative problem-solving, and lasting engagement—supported by scientific research and practical case studies from around the world. Learn how leaders in sport, business, and education are harnessing these principles for sustainable, joyful success.
Concrete tools
You won’t just hear theory—you’ll get hands-on, actionable frameworks that you can bring to your team, classroom, or organization right away. Design high-performance environments where mastery happens naturally, and walk away with templates, activity kits, and a clear action plan for change.
Play
Language
Action
theor(y)
Humans learn best when engaged in playful, exploratory actions. For example, children pick up language without formal instruction, while foundational movement skills develop naturally through games like tag, hide-and-seek, and street sports. These activities teach timing, reactions, and strategy without conscious effort. As kids, we absorb this “movement language” unconsciously by exploring how to move others through moving ourselves.
Elite athletes succeed not by relentless grinding, but by preserving this spirit of play—even as their training becomes more structured. Languages, including kinetic ones, must be shared: just as you learn your first words with family and friends, you develop movement fluency in a social context. Private languages cannot exist—communication and collaboration are essential.
This play mindset is the foundation for underloading. Rather than fighting your environment, it teaches you to let the environment work for you. Play frees you to explore, adapt, and grow—always together with others. That’s the true power of playful learning.
Kinetic
Linguistics
kinetic linguistics: the idea that movement is a form of language, a way of shaping meaning and compelling action. As humans, we read and respond to movement intuitively—we are, in fact, born with this capacity. Consider:
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A feint in basketball doesn’t just move the ball; it moves the defender. The defender soes not wish to leave the path of the basket, but does so anyways, almost as if obeying instructions.
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A dancer’s performance tells a narrative, not in words but in gesture, rhythm, and flow.
understand expertise, we must look at movement as language. To master a skill is not just to move well—it is to move in ways that influence and shape the actions of others.
Underloading
We are fascinated by expertise. We want to be like them, we can't take our eyes off them. We say something about them: "they make it look easy."
They make it look easy because they are not doing the work--you and I are.
This is the principle of underloading: winning by reducing your own effort and placing the work elsewhere—on your opponent, the system, or the environment.
This idea isn’t limited to soccer. Throughout history, underloading has been the hallmark of innovation:
When we embrace underloading, we free ourselves from the false belief that harder is always better. Instead, we discover smarter, simpler pathways to success.
Powered By Joy
THE PLAY REVOLUTION: Media Kit
Title
The Play Revolution: Unlocking Genius Through the Hidden Language of Play
Formats
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Book: Narrative non-fiction, science-driven with stories and actionable tools
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Course: Interactive, modular curriculum for coaches, parents, and leaders
THE BIG IDEA
For decades, we’ve misunderstood the nature of mastery. We grind harder, drill children into conformity, and idolize rigid discipline—believing that’s the path to genius. But the greatest experts—whether in sport, business, or the arts—reveal something boldly different: true mastery feels effortless. It’s built not on grind, but on PLAY.
The Play Revolution unveils a radical, science-backed framework—combining the creative “play mindset,” the innovative concept of kinetic linguistics, and the principle of underloading—for unlocking rapid, joyful skill acquisition. Through unforgettable stories and proven methods, the Play Revolution helps coaches, parents, and organizations transform their approach, making genius available to everyone.
AUTHOR BIO
Ted Kroeten is a pioneer in player development, founder of “Joy of the People” (St. Paul, MN), and a recognized innovator in movement and skill learning. After decades coaching at every level and collaborating with global leaders in talent development, Ted set coaching aside and observed kids play for 15 years! What was discovered: Genius isn’t born—it’s PLAYED into being. His Play Revolution has been featured in international conferences, city programs, and youth academies. Ted is a sought-after speaker for coaches, educators, and organizations ready to discard grind culture for a smarter, more joyful approach.
THE LAUNCH: BOOK & COURSE
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The Play Revolution Book: Narrative-driven, practical, and transformative. Packed with eye-opening stories, new science, and actionable tools.
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The Play Revolution Course: 5-part curriculum, video lessons, play-based exercises, field guides, and community access. Designed for:
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All-sport youth and adult coaches (soccer, basketball, baseball, etc.)
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Parents/guardians craving healthier, more effective development for their kids
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School leaders, educators, and business/organizational trainers
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WHY THIS MATTERS
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The Cult of Overtraining is Broken. 80% of kids drop out of youth sports by age 13, citing pressure and lack of joy.
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The Data is In: Free play accelerates learning, creativity, and teamwork—yet most programs do the opposite.
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Mastery Has Been Misunderstood for Decades. Grind harder? Wrong. The world’s best “make it look easy.” Here’s how—anyone can learn it.
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This Isn’t Just for Athletics. Play-based mastery applies to parenting, business leadership, classroom learning, and innovation.
TOP-LINE STORY ANGLES
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“How One Untold Soccer Story Changed the World’s Idea of Genius”
(The Panenka penalty: rewriting expertise through play) -
“Why the Greatest Coaches in Every Sport Are Quietly Dismantling Grind Culture”
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“What Street Soccer, Jazz, and Silicon Valley Have in Common: The Hidden Science of Play”
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“Raising Joyful Kids in the Age of Burnout: A Parent’s Roadmap”
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“The Science of Underloading: How to Achieve More by Doing Less”
SAMPLE:
“Far too many coaches, parents, and leaders are stuck in the same cycle: work harder, drill more, expect results. But the world’s best? They play. THE PLAY REVOLUTION exposes the real secrets of effortless mastery—through compelling stories, breakthrough science, and a hands-on method you can apply to any field of life. It’s time to stop grinding away at talent. Let’s start playing our way to genius.”
CHAPTER/COURSE MODULE PREVIEWS
1. The Inverse Mystery of Play
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Discover how joy and curiosity fuel the learning engine.
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Real-life stories: from the St. Paul rec center to Brazilian street soccer.
2. Kinetic Linguistics
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Learn the universal language of movement—the cues, reads, and silent negotiations of elite performance.
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Applied to sports, dance, leadership, and even everyday communication.
3. Underloading
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The art of effortless elegance: transferring the work onto your opponent, environment, or system.
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Case studies: Panenka’s penalty, jazz musicians, leadership breakthroughs.
4. Building The Play Club
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How to redesign training, families, and organizations for explosive growth—by inviting chaos, conversation, and risk.
5. Application & Action
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Tools for coaches, parents, and leaders to create play-based “fitness landscapes” anywhere.
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Templates, challenges, and community connection.
ENDORSEMENTS
"I don't think it would be hyperbolic to describe Ted Kroeten as a pioneer. His approach to player development is one of the purest examples of adopting an ecological, child centred approach to how young people experience sport I have ever heard."
--Stuart Armstrong, The Talent Equation Podcast
"Joy of the People is a must-see for anyone involved in youth sports (and not just soccer). It is an incredible alternative that embraces “free play” to help kids simply play and learn sport and life."
--Bob Bigelow Bob Bigelow Author of "Just let the Kids Play"
"Cannot recommend this podcast episode from @stu_arm highly enough. A must-listen if you are in any way involved in youth sport. Many of the changes that we are implementing in grassroots coach and player development are reflected in the work of @JOYofthePEOPLE"
--Jason Devos, Director of Development, Canadian Soccer
AUTHOR AVAILABILITY / CONTACT
Ted Kroeten is available for:
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Media interviews
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Conference/summit speaking
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Panel discussions, webinars, Q&As
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Excerpts (book or course), guest articles
Contact:
(651) 207-3348
www.joyofthepeople.org
KEY QUOTES
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“Mastery isn’t a grind—it’s a conversation. Genius speaks the language of play.”
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“Stop teaching. Start facilitating the conversation of movement.”
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“When joy drives the process, genius isn’t far behind.”
FAQ
Q: Is The Play Revolution just for sports?
A: No! While rooted in decades of soccer and multisport experience, the science and method apply to any developmental system—schools, families, organizations, performers, and creators everywhere.
Q: What’s ‘kinetic linguistics’?
A: It’s the silent language of movement—the cues and responses that underlie every great play, creative act, or collaboration.
Q: What can parents expect?
A: Happier, more resilient, and more self-motivated kids—plus a toolkit for joyful development that’s completely counter to the burnout-and-grind norm.
CLOSING
Mastery has a new language. Will you learn it, teach it, and share it?
Let’s build a world where playing—not grinding—is the engine of human potential.
Ready to feature THE PLAY REVOLUTION or book Ted to speak? Contact us today!
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Website/landing page copy,
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