SportsParenthood: Recent Episodes
Tiffany Bonasera
Are you living the crazy life of a sports parent? Ferrying your kids to games and training sessions, packing snacks, cheering from the sideline, there’s canteen duty, time keeping, scoring, coaching, and committees? You know the drill. Join fellow sport parents, John and Tiffany Bonasera, for interviews sportspeople, coaches, professionals, and parents on what it takes to be a good sport parent. You’ll hear in-depth conversations and different perspectives that’ll give you clues — those golden nuggets of information — to help inform the way you sport parent. It's gold for sport parents who are also curious to understand the role of a parent in the life of a superstar athlete, is it talent or hard work that matters most, why do teenagers drop out of sport, what’s the impact of eating disorders, and, if there’s one piece advice to give to your sport kids, what would it be?
This week, you’ll hear from John Serhan, one of Australia’s most successful golf coaches who is currently head teaching professional at St Michael’s Golf Club in Sydney’s east, having previously won NSW PGA Coach of the Year. Now, he coaches juniors right through to touring professionals.He knows all too well that people like Tiger Woods are the exception, not the rule. In June this year, a report by Forbes, estimated Tiger Woods’ net worth to be at least $US 1 billion, including $121 million in prize money.There’s certainly dollar signs in the eyes of some parents, who’d love for their kids to follow in these footsteps by taking up the game of golf. So, what does it take to be a professional golfer? How important are role models like Australia’s Minjee Lee, who recently won the US Women’s Open?And, why golf is a great sport for young athletes, in the final episode for this season.HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
This week on SportsParenthood, our guest David King, speaks honestly and openly about his early success as an athlete, his natural talent, and in his words, “being washed up” by the time he was just 15 years old.He talks about his world imploding. Then, coming back to sport where he was on the cusp of a professional career in rugby league, before deciding to walk away. You’ll hear how he reflects on that moment now.For David, a mental skills coach, director of administration at a school in Sydney, teacher, endurance athlete and charity director, his early experiences have led him to appreciate the importance of character strengths over skill. He’s developed a new program called WISPA, which he’ll be launching in the USA this month.To give you a taste of David’s work, John and I did a short survey prior to the interview, and he unpacks our answers on the show. You’ll find them interesting — and spot on! Plus, listen in for David’s story about an extraordinary situation he found himself in at an ultra endurance event. It’s unbelievable!MORE INFORMATION: WISPA Wellbeing | Have Bear Will Run HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
What’s a sports parent to do when your child stops playing?How are we supposed to feel about it? What are we supposed to do? What role should we play? These are just some of the questions we’ve been asking ourselves in the last month or so since one of our kids made the really hard decision to stop competitive swimming.While it’s not for us to go into the details of her decision, which she’d made with careful consideration and lots of maturity — today, we’re going to reflect on how it impacted on us, and how we’ve processed the situation that has been a huge part of our lives, too.Interestingly, we’re processing it differently, and this is something we’d like to share with you in this episode.HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
This week on SportsParenthood, we go a bit rogue at the start of the episode, because we were still on a high after watching Top Gun: Maverick. please make a date with your local cinema and WATCH THIS MOVIE.Speaking of legendary Top Gun quotes, “I feel the need, the need for speed” might be a good one to set the scene for today’s conversation where you’ll meet Australian cricketer Nicola Carey.She currently plays in the Women’s Big Bash League — or domestic T20 competition — for the Hobart Hurricanes, which is an exhilarating and fast-paced style of the game.Earlier this month, Nicola was also named in the Australian Cricket squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, another exciting step in her career, since her international debut in 2018.So, how did this talented athlete from Kingsgrove in Sydney end up playing cricket, and what influence have her parents had on her career?HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
Do your sports kids feel nervous, even anxious, before they play a game or line up to compete? What does this mean? Why does it happen? As sports parents, what can we do to help?In this episode, we speak with Rory Darkins — a high-performance coach and positive psychology researcher who transitioned into the mental side of sport while playing high-level cricket.He started asking important questions such as: Do athletes have to sacrifice their wellbeing to get to the top of their sport. Is there a better way? Well, the short answer is, yes.Currently, Rory is the training partner of two-time Olympic distance runner Eloise Wellings, who we interviewed in episode 54 of the show, and they co-host the “What’s Right Within’ podcast.Today, Rory talks us through nerves and shares with us one of the most powerful but underrated tools we have to regulate our nervous system. What is it? And what impact can it have on our kids, and us, too.Plus, he’s just launched a new app called In8.HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
You probably won’t believe this. The first women’s Rugby League match in Australia was played in Sydney, on Saturday, 17 September 1921. In September 2018, almost 100 years later, the first season of the NRLW —Australia’s national rugby league competition for female players — kicked off with four teams. Now, there are some big things in the wings, with players like our guest this week leading the game into the future.On the show today, we speak with Yasmin Clydsdale (nee Meakes), who plays for the Sydney Roosters. Over the past two NRLW seasons, she’s played in two grand finals, scored a try in one and won a premiership playing every minute of every game during the season along with making her State of Origin debut! You’ll hear how she started playing rugby league, and why it’s a great game for women and girls.You’ll be interested to know research shows Australians may be more familiar with men’s sports teams, but when it comes to an emotional connection — values such as pride, trust, enjoyment, respect, and bond — our women’s teams are on top! While it’s been a long time coming, there are increasingly professional pathways for women. You’ll love Yasmin’s story.HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
This week, be prepared to experience light bulb moment after light bulb moment.That’s how John and I felt while speaking with our guest, Gayelene Clews, renowned sports and performance psychologist, educator and author of the book, Wired to Play.Gayelene is a former elite athlete herself — with a number one world triathlon ranking — and she was the youngest ever Australian open women’s cross country champion at just 15 years of age. You’ll also hear about her own ‘aha’ moment when she was competing in a half ironman triathlon in Hawaii.This is one of those conversations that’ll have you reaching for your notepad. There is so much insight.We cover the role passion plays in kids’ sport. We discuss how we can encourage our kids to have a meta cognitive approach (what does this mean?), manage emotional energy, and the importance of caring less.Plus, why Gayelene tells her athletes to throw their smart watches away.HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
Something tells us you’ve got strong feelings about community coaches. Your kids have probably had great community coaches, and perhaps they’ve experienced not-so-great ones, too. You may even be a community coach yourself — and goodness knows, it’s a tough gig.This week on SportsParenthood, we speak with Richard McInnes, who is currently CEO of Water Polo Australia, and is a degree-qualified sports scientist and former multiple World Cup winning coach.He talks to us about what Water Polo Australia is doing as an early adopter of the new community coaching reforms, what makes a great coach, and he says something that I want to highlight, underline, and circle as a key message for sports parents and coaches.HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
In the first episode in our new season of the show, sports psychologist Rob Brown joins us to talk about a topic that is increasing in prominence: pets and sports performance.It is a feel-good approach — and it really works.It is well-documented animals can help us reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and ease loneliness. Animals have been used in settings like hospitals and airports for their calming qualities.Less known is that athletes are using animals to up their mental game.So, why are animals helpful for athletes?We dig into the research and, we discuss the example of the 2016 Swimming US Olympic Trials, where organisers invited about 30 pet therapy dogs to the event in an effort to relieve the anxious swimmers.It was considered a bit unorthodox at the time — not so much anymore.You are going to love this conversation. It is heartwarming. It is insightful. It provides just the perspective we all need right now. Oh, and don’t worry if you don’t have a traditional pet like a dog or cat in your household.Listen in for the many other ways and opportunities athletes, including your sports kids, can connect with animals, and reap the benefits.HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
SEASON FINALE: NEW SEASON STARTS THURSDAY, 28 APRIL 2022If there’s one thing sports parents are talking about right now — it’s COVID. Who’s got it, who’s had it, who has to isolate? Wear a mask or not wear a mask? Plus, making the tough calls to stay COVID-free in an effort to get on the start line, like missing out on birthday parties or other social events.It feels relentless, it feels exhausting, and it feels unfair.Besides the obvious inconvenience of having to isolate with COVID, we wanted to talk about what happens next. Like you, we’ve heard stories of kids who have been able to jump back into sport easily, and others who have experienced lasting impacts. This is the peculiar thing about COVID.This week, you’ll hear from from Dr. Paul Bloomfield, who is a specialist sport and exercise physician on key considerations for kids coming back post-COVID. And, a little bit about our personal isolation experience.Please note: This is intended as general advice only. Make an appointment with a medical professional, if you have specific concerns about your child.HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
In this episode of SportsParenthood, what happens when young sportspeople are thrust into the spotlight, without the maturity and skills to handle the situation? For most of us, we have no first-hand experience of what it’s like, how it feels, and much less the scrutiny involved.Are our expectations too high? Today, we’re bringing you a perspective from a rugby league player who has walked this path — who went from obscurity to the next-big-thing way faster than he ever imagined. And, readily admits he didn’t know how to deal with the pressure of it all.You’ll hear from Dylan Walker, premiership winner, state of origin player and current first-grade player with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League, in an honest and vulnerable account of his childhood and career in the goldfish bowl of professional sport, including the role of FOMO and ego.Plus, how he has turned it all around. And, listen out for a really funny story about his mum!HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
This week on SportsParenthood, a guest who is close to our heart. You’ll hear from our eldest daughter, Andie.When she was six months old, John suggested we take her to see a paediatrician to get a proper check-up. She was a fussy feeder and wasn’t a great sleeper, in fact, she hardly slept at all during the night. Still, nothing prepared us for what happened next. She was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect or ASD — a congenital heart defect.In this episode, we speak with Andie about what having a congenital heart condition this has meant for her, while she doesn’t remember the surgery, she wears the scar on her chest every day. Plus, how she got involved in competitive swimming, and she gives us somehonest feedback on the way we sports parent.HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
When our kids participate in any kind of sport, they run the risk of an injury.When it comes to head injuries in sport — understandably — many of us are faced with making the tough decision on whether or not to let our kids play a sport which we think MIGHT have a higher likelihood of concussion, like contact or combat sports.Concern over concussion runs deep, but do the benefits of playing contact sport outweigh the risks? Sometimes, it’s not as easy as saying, I don’t WANT my child to play a particular sport. There’s more to it. This is what we’ll be discussing on today’s show.In our conversation with Byron Field, you’ll hear where his interest in this topic began as a kid in the early 1990s, and how it has shaped his professional career — he’s been a medic in many different sports, including more than a decade working in professional rugby here in Australia and in the UK.Now, Bryon is a PhD candidate with a focus on monitoring head impact and concussion in rugby.In the episode, Byron shares some of the latest evidence on concussion, we chat about tech tools that can help, the importance of nailing technique, along with what we SHOULD be doing if a child or adolescent does get a head knock or is diagnosed with concussion.HELPFUL RESOURCES Sport Australia: www.concussioninsport.gov.au/parents_and_teachers * Brain Injury Australia: www.braininjuryaustralia.org.au/education-campaigns/concussion-in-sport * The Sydney Children’s Hospital Network: www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/fact-sheets/concussion-and-mild-head-injury * Concussion Hub: www.nswrl.com.au/about/documents/concussion-hub * Australian Football:* https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2021/04/26/9a186f44-ad48-4fab-b6ab-e4be45a578d7/Management-of-Sport-Related-Concussion-in-Australian-Football-25-April-2021-FINAL.pdf
What would you do if your child got offered a sporting contract? How would you feel? It would be a pretty special moment. Well, imagine this. What if your child gets offered TWO sporting contracts, in TWO sports, in ONE weekend! It is EXACTLY what happened — at the end of last year — to our guest on the show today.In our conversation with sports mum Nicole Dennis, she talks us through this very situation, when her daughter Heidi got offered contracts with both Brisbane Roar Football Club and the Queensland Academy of Sport Reds Rugby Sevens program — at the same time.What’s going to be best for her? How’s it going to work being a dual-contracted athlete? Is it even possible? These are some of the many questions that were racing through Nicole’s mind during what she describes at “the most exciting and mentally draining time”.You’ll hear about Heidi’s early years in sport, where she showed natural talent from a young age — and the one attribute that has really helped Heidi to stand out. Plus, how Nicole and her husband have sports parented all of their four kids, including how they’ve had to fine-tune her approach over the years.The episode start with THAT moment — the one they didn’t see coming.HOSTS: John and Tiffany BonaseraPRODUCER: Tiffany BonaseraCONTACT US: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
This week on SportsParenthood, it’s just the two of us. With no guest to keep us on the straight and narrow, it’s an interesting episode! On the show, we discuss what sports parents are talking about in 2022.Sports team WhatsApp groups are in full ping with schedules being posted, jersey numbers finalised and training times firmed up as we head into another uncertain year of kids’ sport.You’ll hear us chew over the following topics:* The bittersweet reality of competitor-only swimming carnivals * The intense competition and drama at the Beijing Winter Games * Player and team grading — and how it can go pear-shaped * Logistics and the balancing act of being sports parents.
Plus, I have a bone to pick with John.What are you talking about in 2022? Let us know in the comments.Thanks for listening, TiffanyVisit SportsParenthood for more information.
We spend about one-third of our lives doing it. Yes, we’re talking about sleep. It’s a HOT topic for sports parents everywhere — because we know it helps our kids’ bodies and brains recover. But we’re always worried they’re not getting enough sleep — and we’re actually right.In the new book called Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention, author Johann Hari includes research that says, over the past century the average child has lost 85 minutes of sleep every night. The effects of this are powerful for children.With training commitments, schoolwork and a social life, how do we get our sports kids to get more sleep, without a war erupting at home every night? Adding to this, is the often tricky early mornings or late games to contend with.We’re often left wondering how we can better manage the sleep situation. You’re probably experiencing a similar scenario. So, we reached out to Dr Laura Piromalli whose area of expertise is in recovery strategies, in particular, sleep.She’s currently working at the Western Australia Institute of Sport in the Performance Services Program, and has previously supported the Australian Netball Diamonds as a recovery physiologist and numerous recovery roles at the Australian Institute of Sport.In this conversation, you’ll hear whether naps are a help or hindrance, exactly how much sleep an adolescent athlete really needs, and the importance of circadian rhythm — and what this means. You’re going to love this chat with Laura.
This week, you’ll hear from Shaun Creighton, a two-time Olympic distance runner who competed at the Atlanta Games and Sydney 2000. He still holds the 3000 metre national steeplechase record set in 1993.In 2019, Shaun showed US sports parents how it’s done, breaking the over-50s national marathon record in a time of 2:29:23 — a record which had stood for 32 years. A legend of athletics, whose late start in the sport and steady progress, ultimately proved to be a winning combination.It’s a conversation that sparked plenty of a-ha moments for us — and will spark some for you, too. From the importance of having great mentors and coaches in those early years, who bring together passion, structure and skill mastery to give kids a great sporting experience …… to parents who are role models, race plans, and getting into the head of your competitors — and a message from his coach, Pat Clohessy, who instilled in Shaun that a running career isn’t measured by a single performance. He gives us a real-life example that’ll get you thinking.Shaun recalls his favourite race EVER, and perhaps a little known fact: his first major sporting goal was to play rugby league.FINAL NOTE: We had a sporting parents moment in recording this interview. A last-minute change to soccer training meant it clashed with our scheduled interview time with Shaun. So, we recorded it in the car!Join our community: Facebook | InstagramPLEASE leave us a review and rating on your podcast app.
Ash Barty. She is EVERYTHING this week. For winning the Australian Open. For speaking up about mental health. For being proud of her Indigenous heritage. For being a humble person. Ash’s coach, Craig Tyzzer, is quoted as saying she’s "a much better person than she is a tennis player."In learning more about Ash’s story, where she left the sport to play cricket when she was 18 because of the toll playing tennis was taking on her, it shines the light on a message many of our guests on the podcast have touched on: the journey of many sportspeople is not linear. As sports parents, we have to buckle up for whatever this journey brings.Our guest this week, Sarah Dunn, Associate Professor at the Department of Kinesiology, California State University, shares with us how sport can take us to places we may never have imagined. And, there are many pathways to make a contribution to sport, even after finishing a competitive sporting career.Plus, Sarah explains the difference between dependent and independent learners and how it applies to sport.Join our community: Facebook | InstagramPLEASE leave us a review and rating on your podcast app.
NEW SEASON 2022. Welcome to another year of SportsParenthood. It’s great to be back in your ears after a break. We know there’s been radio silence from us. It wasn’t our intention to go completely quiet. But hey, things haven’t really gone to plan in general these last few months, have they?So, who are we speaking with this week? You’ll hear from Erin Plummer. What an interesting story she has to tell. Erin won her first state gold medal in swimming at the age of 8. In an honest account, she explains how she ended up being what she describes as an early burn out child.Later, Erin transitioned into synchronised swimming, now known as artistic swimming, where she went on to represent Australia at three World Championships. There is more to this sport than many of us think.Now, Erin is a sports parent to three daughters. She talks openly about her eldest daughter’s bumpy start to sport, and her own role in that story. Plus, how her two youngest are absolutely loving swimming at the club she began her own swimming career, and continues to call her happy place.In a week where Swimming Australia has issued an unreserved apology to women and girls in the sport after a scathing independent investigation, this interview focuses on the many positive and enduring ways our kids can benefit from being involved in the right club, in the right environment.Join our community: Facebook | Instagram
This is the FINAL episode of SportsParenthood for 2021, in what’s been a year like no other! It's been a roller-coaster, crazy, wild, interesting, resilience-building — and a shitshow.In saying all of that, it’s been a GREAT year for SportsParenthood. We’ve published 35 episodes, interviewed 31 guests who’ve kindly volunteered their time, personal stories and wisdom, and wrangled the distance of recording shows while you relocated to Queensland for work. What have you taken on board this year?Listen if you'd like to hear some of the best advice for this season. Plus, why has John got sores legs?Thank you for joining us each week. We’ll be back in early 2022.PLEASE, PLEASE leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.
In this week’s episode of SportsParenthood, we’re talking about speed. Have you ever watched sport — and thought — that person can really move? They’ve got some serious toe. Speed is the currency of success in most sports. Athletes who can move faster than their opponents definitely have an advantage.But, getting faster isn’t all about stopwatches and repetition after repetition on a track.You’ll hear from Rubin Ruzicka, who works as an athletic development and rehabilitation coach in the National Rugby League with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles where he focuses on speed and power training. If you follow rugby league, you’ve probably seen winger Jason Saab in action. A rocket, right?Rubin coaches junior athletes all the way to the elite level in sports including surf life saving, rugby union, athletics, football and tennis. He has some awesome ideas about how kids can get more zippy — and it involves something unexpected. Why does Rubin find speed so interesting?VISIT SportsParenthood for more information
Both of us got goosebumps hearing our guest this week, Michael H Scott, recalling the exact moment his son, Mike Scott, was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 43rd overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. Sine then, Mike has played with the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers.On the show, Michael talks honestly, openly and insightfully about what it’s like being the parent of a professional athlete who’s reached the pinnacle — and the role he continues to play in his son’s career.This experience has taught him many things, which he explains in detail — the highs, the lows, the hard conversations and everything in between, including the college recruiting process in the USA.Why did Michael start the Parents Coaching Parents Network more than 10 years ago?MORE* You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know: The Sport’s Parents Guide
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This week on SportsParenthood, you’ll meet David Shillington, a former professional rugby league front rower, who’s played 215 first grade games for the Sydney Roosters, Canberra Raiders and Gold Coast Titans, along with representing Queensland in the State of Origin and Australia.You’ll hear David fondly recount his first experience with a counsellor, back in his early playing days, which proved to be a turning point in opening up the conversation on mental health which he carried throughout his playing career, and now into life after sport.On the show, David shares some of his own struggles in the hope it helps normalise the discussion around mental health for athletes, and for all of us. While he says sport is about wonderful stories of success, it is also about wonderful stories of overcoming setbacks.Growing up in Brisbane, David is one of four boys in the Shillington family, where sport of all kinds was encouraged, and the backyard became the place where the siblings bonded over tackles and makeshift matches.Going into professional rugby league wasn’t really a thing back then. Once David found out he could get paid to play and have fun, that’s exactly what he wanted to do! Since retiring in 2017, David has been working in the mental health space and learning what it means to be a sports parent.More information:* Orgwell Group * Black Dog Institute * headspace
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It’s just us in Episode 55 of SportsParenthood, speaking about a topic that came up through our eldest daughter, Andie. She’s studying Physical Activities and Sports Studies (PASS) for one of her elective subjects at school. This term, she had to write an essay on Winning At All Costs— and it got us thinking.If you’re a regular listener, you’ll be familiar with the themes and threads that have come through consistently on the show, including the importance of having fun, non-specialisation in junior sport, and allowing your sports kidto find their own way (with parents providing logistics and love).But, there’s no denying there are plenty of athletes who have ‘made it’ through having a winning at all costs approach. This is a thought-provoking conversationthat invites you to consider what you genuinely want for your sports kids. How do you feel about it? Where do you draw the line?Plus, a little bit of raw honesty and a few tears from Tiffany.Visit the website to have your say: https://www.sportsparenthood.com.au/episode-55-winning-at-all-costs
Eloise Wellings is a long-distance runner and two-time Olympian. Earlier this month, she ran the fastest marathon debut by an Australian woman, finishing the London event in a time of 2.29.42.Despite her serious ambition, Eloise tries not to take herself too seriously.In this week’s episode of SportsParenthood, we speak with Eloise from hotel quarantine in Sydney, where on the day of the interview, she had one sleep to go before being reunited with her husband and two young kids, her biggest supporters.Eloise’s dream to be an Olympic athlete started when she was 10 — watching the 1992 Barcelona Games. At just 16 years of age, she qualified for the 2000 Sydney Games, when a heartbreaking stress fracture eventually meant she couldn’t compete.What happened next is extraordinary. Eloise missed the Athens and Beijing Olympics, before qualifying for London and Rio in the gruelling 10,000 metre and 5,000 metre events. This year, she didn’t make the time for Tokyo and decided to give the marathon a go.This is a story of having faith, celebrating effort, taking risks, and not giving up.More information:* Eloise Wellings | Website * Love Mercy Foundation
Visit: www.sportsparenthood.com.au
In this week’s episode of SportsParenthood, Lauren Parker, para-triathlete joins us from the USA, where she is currently based at St George Utah, preparing to back up her win from 2019 at the World Triathlon Para Championships in Abu Dhabi this November.Lauren’s been on the road for a while now. She left Australia in August to compete at the Tokyo Paralympics, where she won silver in the women’s PTWC event, by the narrowest of margins — around a second in the end, in what was an extraordinary sprint finish after leading for the entire race.You’ll hear how Lauren feels about that result and what she overcame in her very next race, just three weeks later. This conversation is about an athlete who has had a competitive fire in her belly from a young age — a successful junior swimmer who transitioned to triathlon when she was 18.Lauren was well on her way to realising her big dreams in triathlon, when a training accident changed everything. Then, an unexpected phone call — and how signing out of rehab one day turned out to be the best decision ever. What’s her message for sports parents?Visit the SportsParenthood website: https://www.sportsparenthood.com.au
Our conversation today on SportsParenthood this week, has everything to do with the influence a parent has had on helping a child win at life. In this episode, Martin Pickup reflects on what it’s like growing up with a parent who’s a well-known sportsperson: and the lessons, inspiration and perks that shaped his childhood.In the year 2000, Tim was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to Australian sport. He passed away earlier this year. Martin has such fond memories of his dad, who just loved sport.His dad, Tim Pickup, led an extraordinary life. He was a superstar of rugby league in the 1970s, when he played 11 Tests for the Kangaroos, as well as being a key player at both North Sydney and Canterbury-Bankstown, where he captained the team. Wherever he went, people knew who he was.Wherever you’re listening to the show, get ready for an episode packed with stories, tales told from a perspective we haven’t heard before on SportsParenthood, from a son who has a deep appreciation and sense of gratitude for the love and adventures he had with his dad… and a legacy that’s helping him sports parent his own kids.For more SportsParenthood podcasts:
Welcome to a new season of SportsParenthood, the podcast for rookie sports parents. It’s not easy supporting kids through sport, right? That’s why we turn to people with lived experiences, and professionals with the right expertise, to provide us with golden nuggets of information each week.In our first episode back, you’ll hear from sports dietitian and exercise scientist, Melissa Juergens on a topic that’s been raised in our household by our teenage daughter. It might have been raised in your household, too? She is interested in going on a plant-based diet.Instead of dismissing it through our personal concerns over what’s involved in making this happen — in a healthy way — we called in an expert to talk us through what it actually means, the impact on sports performance, and why it’s important for sports parents to stay curious when our kids ask us about things we may not agree with, or know little about.In this conversation, Melissa nails it with her explanations, insights and enthusiasm.. And brings us all a refreshing view on food and how amazing the human body really is.Want know more about SportsParenthood? Visit: www.sportsparenthood.com.au
This week, you’ll hear part 2 of the conversation with performance psychologist, Rob Brown. ‘Reassuring Rob’ talks about the silver linings of COVID and kids’ sport, and encourages sports parents to stay optimistic and solution-focused. He teaches us how to reframe this forced break into a more helpful narrative.Many of our regular listeners will know co-host, John Bonasera, is the general manager of football with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, with the team finishing in the top four of the regular National Rugby League season, and ready to play the Melbourne Storm in Week 1 of the Finals Series.In this episode, John shares with us some tales from the team camp up on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Many of us are feeling emotional right now. For sports parents, we’re in a situation where everything seems to be cancelled. Left, right and centre. Not everyone is affected by this, of course, but for those of us who are, it’s heartbreaking to see our kids forced to take time out of organised sport due to COVID-19.Is the disruption as bad on our child and adolescent athletes as it seems? Will the forced break have long-lasting implications? What, if any, are the silver linings?Since the early 2000s, our guest, performance psychologist, Rob Brown, worked extensively across all major codes in Australia, including the National Rugby League, the A-League and Rugby Australia, and is currently engaged with Football Australia at a national teams level.If you’re worried about your sports kids, this conversation is wonderfully reassuring, while respecting it’s not without its challenges.
Why do kids play sport?That’s the question our guest today discusses with us in this week’s episode SportsParenthood — the answer prompting an evidenced-based evolution of one sport’s grassroots initiatives.Just for some context, in Australia, the data tells us age is a key determinant of child participation in organised physical activity. Participation peaks in the 9 to 11 age group, declining when kids are 12-14.These drop-out rates are exactly what Tim Gee — the Regional Game Development Manager — Sydney Metro at the National Rugby League says has driven the revamp of the game’s development programs, including the introduction of League Stars, designed to drive ongoing participation in sport.In partnering with Griffith University and the University of Queensland, and drawing from the expertise of others, the aim is to make rugby league more enjoyable for more kids. Just as importantly, it’s about addressing physical literacy gaps and helping to develop quality relationships.Because it’s not what coaches coach, for example, it’s HOW they coach.So, what are the philosophies that underpin this different approach? And, why premierships and grand finals have been sidelined in the formative years?
In this episode, you’ll hear from Robyn Carrier. Her daughter, Marina Carrier, competed in the Modern Pentathlon in Tokyo, where she claimed 27th place in her Olympic debut. Robyn speaks candidly about what it’s like being a sports parent of an athlete at these most usual Games.What was it like watching her daughter from their home Sydney? How did the Carrier family celebrate the Olympics — now that’s a story you’ll want to listen out for — and the thoughtful ways in which the Carriers showed their support for Marina, when they couldn’t be there in person.Robyn shares with us how hard it can be as a sports parent.She explains what it’s like when things aren’t necessarily going to plan, along with the absolute joy when things do. Robyn says it was touch and go whether Marina would make it to the Games — and is in awe of the guts and determinationthat got her there in the end.Every athlete has a backstory — Robyn brings a parent’s perspective. From the sliding doors momentwhen Marina first heard of the sport, to qualifying for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games when she was 17, as Australia’s first-ever female modern pentathlete.… and now, an Olympian. The path has been both brilliant and bumpy.INTERESTING LINKS* Pentathlon in 45 seconds with Marina Carrier
Experiencing Olympic withdrawals?In this week’s episode, we unpack the Tokyo Olympics for sports parents. We think you’ll agree, it’s been a cracking few weeks watching the world’s best athletes compete on the biggest stage in sport — after a roller-coaster lead-in to the event, including a 12-month postponement of the Games.You’ll hear us discuss our highlights from the Olympics, from some of the iconic moments and hands-down stand outs to performances that flew under the radar. Plus, the wonderful and memorable reactions from families and friends, who were unable to travel to Tokyo to show their support.In particular, this Olympics has been a fantastic celebration of athletes’ parents,who we know have also endured blood, sweat, and many tears.Listen to the episode and see whether you agree with us! Let us know what your highlights were on our Facebook or Instagram pages. Importantly, what impact has the Olympics had on your sports kids?We share some of the ways our own two kids have been inspired by watching the Games.With John based in Queensland for work, and me keeping things going on the home front in Sydney while he is away, there’s a bit of raw emotion in this episode, along with a few tears, laughs, and concessions.
While we celebrate the achievements of our Olympic athletes in Tokyo, and hope it sparks that little something in our kids to have big dreams, it’s an important reminder that sport is not only about peak performance — because the reality is, few people will ever reach that pinnacle.Carmen Marton, triple Olympian and Australia’s first ever world taekwondo champion, experienced the heartbreak of non-selection for this Games, despite meeting the selection criteria. Still, she agreed to join us on the show in a conversation you’ll find both interesting and confronting.There are many wonderful benefits that go beyond what happens at the highest levels, and that’s what Carmen is advocating for. She wants to shift the goal, asking the question: How can we change the focus to be on longevity in the sport, for kids and families?Carmen grew up in suburban Melbourne, her Polish-parents came to Australia as refugees. Her parents, siblings and partner have all been taekwondo athletes. Carmen, her partner, brother and sister all winning gold in taekwondo at the 2015 Pacific Games. So, what’s it like growing up in a taekwondo-loving family?
Do you get caught up in the emotion of a situation when you’re watching your child play sport, even though it usually comes from a place of good intention? When we draw on our own experience in sport to provide guidance, most of us can expect an eye roll from our kids because what we did in ‘our day’ is completely irrelevant to this generation. How can we cool our emotional connection and steer them in the right way?In this episode of SportsParenthood, you’ll hear from Nathan Parnham, an athletic development and high-performance coach, who’s worked everywhere from junior and professional sport for more than 18 years. From Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League to the Australian Women’s 7s, Nathan's set up several successful programs in high schools throughout Australia, now, at Brisbane Grammar School in Queensland.Just recently, Nathan launched a new book, The Sporting Parent, which is a manual for parents who are navigating the confusing world of kid’s sport because it’s easy to get caught up in a rabbit-hole of information. Often, we jump at things we think are best for our kids, when maybe they’re not. Like us, Nathan has no hidden agenda. He’s keen to see parents have the tools on hand to make informed decisions.Plus, listen out for John’s moment on self-reflection.BUY THE SPORTING PARENT
On the eve of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, in this episode of SportsParenthood, you’ll hear from Canberra-based sports commentator, Tim Gavel OAM, who’s been in the box seat at seven Olympic Games, along with seven Commonwealth Games and the 2000 Paralympic Games.Other than the athletes themselves, there’s likely no one who’s anticipating these games more than thecompetitors’ parents, who’ll be eagerly watching from home this time, due to COVID-19 safety precautions. Emotions will be running high, knowing they’ve played a crucial role in the journey.In this interview, Tim shares some cracking tales about being involved in the world’s biggest sporting events. The three-time ABC Broadcaster of the Year has found himself in many situations where he’s been flying by the seat of his pants in the commentary box.From a sliding doors moment about basketball star and opening ceremony flag-bearer Patty Mills, to what it’s like to be thrown in the commentary deep end. They don’t call him Tireless Tim for nothing!
In the first episode of our new series of SportsParenthood, basketball player and coach Christian Jurlina joins us on the show. In the episode, he shares hisincredible experience of being a student-athlete at Whitworth University in Washington, USA, where he packed in plenty of game time, created life-long memories, and met his now wife, Faith.Heading to university in the USA is something many aspiring sports kids dream about. You’ll hear how Christian ended up at Whitworth, including a few hiccups along the way.After graduating with a degree in Kinesiology, Christian signed his first professional contract in the National Basketball League (NBL) as a development player with the Sydney Kings, followed by a stint with the Cairns Marlins in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL), later signing as a development player with the Cairns Taipans.In Australia, basketball has more than one million participants, the majority aged between 12-18. Basketball is the second-most popular organised team sport behind football.Turning his expertise to coaching, Christian has valuable advice on what up-coming players can do to progress in the sport, and how to get noticed when trialing for rep teams, which can be a tricky process.
Digital distraction and the impacts on sports kids.One of our listeners reached out to us about her dilemma with digital distraction.In her email she wrote: ‘My sons, especially the older one, gets that buzz from the instant gratification of screen-time interactions. How do we compete with that?’Without doubt, digital distraction is a hot topic in most households. If this is a dilemma for you too, you’ll want to hear more from sports psychologist and author of In the Grandstands, Dr Jo Lukins, in this week’s episode of SportsParenthood.We set out to find some answers, from the perspective of sports parents, including an interesting discussion about the push-pull of keeping kids active and engaged in sport when there’s an‘electronic drug’ in the equation.How can we realistically navigate device use, and what are the impacts? In this interview, we also explore the benefits of digital technology, and ways it can actually HELP with sports performance.Previous episode with Dr Jo Lukins.
We’re celebrating our 40th! Our 40th episode of the show, that is. Hip-hip hooray!If you’re a regular listener, you’ll know we’re sports parents of two kids — a 14-year-old who loves swimming and soccer, and an 11-year-old who loves soccer and basketball. They’ve got TOTALLY different personalities and are motivated by completely different things.If you’re new to the show, just a bit of background. We started SportsParenthood almost 12 months ago because we wanted help in guiding our own sports kids. Basically, we couldn’t always agree on the advice to give them. Now, 40 episodes on, if there’s one thing that stands out more than anything else. CHILDREN’S SPORT SHOULD BE FUN.Today, you’ve got two of us. Firstly debating a controversial topic we don’t see eye-to-eye on. Then, we’re going to discuss the latest golden nuggets from our most recent guests.So, strap yourselves in, starting with an article published by ABC News titled: ‘Parents banned from sidelines of Gold Coast junior AFL games’.Are parents taking the fun factor out of sport, by being bad sports?Website: www.sportsparenthood.com.au/podcastsEmail us: tiffany@sportsparenthood.com.au
From grassroots level to the pinnacle of sport, there exists a toxic culture of referee abuse — match officials in EVERY sport bear the brunt of poor sideline behaviour from parents, coaches, and spectators.Our guest, Henry Perenara, knows a thing or two. He refereed professionally in the National Rugby League for a decade, following a playing career of eight seasons. Recently retiring due to a heart condition, Henry now works in the NRL bunker, assisting on-field referees. He’s seen and heard it all.Still, he loves it and wants to change the situation we see unfold every weekend, in every sport, in every age group, referees and umpires, who are often kids, suffer because some people just can’t keep their mouths shut. Why do we think it’s okay to give referees a hard time? What gives people the right?Most importantly, more young people — both boys and girls — simply don’t want to be refs anymore.Who could blame them? You’ll hear from Henry on his experience as a referee, including officiating at Wembley Stadium and opening the World Cup in Cardiff. Now, seeing it from a different perspective, with his 15-year-old son taking it up. It’s certainly been an eye-opener!If you’ve got kids who referee, or are thinking about it, Henry is the first to tell you you’ll get the best seat in the house — and he offers some great advice for all of us.
It's not the end of the world when things don't go to plan.A promising young sprinter from Narromine in Central West NSW, Melinda Gainsford who KEPT TRYING through adversity and setbacks, going on to win a World Indoor Championship over 200 metres, become a three-time Olympian, and was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to athletics as a sprinter, at the national and international level, and as a role model for young athletes.This story takes you from Melinda’s early days training on the farm, to the biggest stage in world sport. It includes her reflection on being the fastest 14-year-old in the world over 100 metres to being sidelined from the sport with injury for two years! And how she got back on the blocks with the support of her much-loved coach of 23 years, Jackie Byrnes, who discovered Mel when she was just nine years old.When we’re in the thick of sports parenting, we sometimes forget to enjoy the experience alongside our kids — with Mel cherishing the life-long memories her sporting career created for her WHOLE family. She's currently a sports parent and coach herself, making more memories with her children and athletes.Just a note: We recorded this episode prior to the passing of rugby league immortal and legend Bob Fulton. Melinda is a HUGE Manly fan. Listen out for a little tribute to him and other Sea Eagle greats.
Why has junior sport become high-stakes? Have we lost perspective as sports parents?In this episode of SportsParenthood, you’ll hear from Joel Wilson. He’s a former professional rugby league and rugby union player, whose 15-year career in sport includes three years in the NRL with the North Sydney Bears and playing with the ACT Brumbies in its golden era, where he won a few Super Rugby titles.Finally, Joel capped off his rugby career in Japan.Interestingly, Joel’s sporting dream as a kid is different to how it turned out.Now, he wears many hats. He’s a coach and sports master at a junior school in Sydney’s inner west, involved in community sport, and a sports parent. You’ll want to listen to the show for somepretty awesome personal stories— sliding doors moments and how a little bit of luck goes a long way in sport.Through his own observations and experience, Joel reckons some sports parents lose perspective, even though it’s coming from a place of love. No one is perfect. Even Joel finds he has to bite his tongue at times!So, what is important in junior sport?
When your child is sidelined from playing sport through injury, it not only takes a toll on them, it can also weigh heavily on us, as sports parents, too. Often, coming back from injury is not an easy road.This episode is inspired by our own conundrum in having our two kids suffer an injury each within days of each other last month. They were desperate to compete. We didn’t know how to handle their return-to-play.You know what? The whole scenario has really challenged us as sports parents. We’ll put our hands up and say it’s been hard navigating their disappointment, and supporting them to find the best path forward.So, we called in an expert to help us get some perspective.You’ll hear from Cameron Ferguson, who’s currently the rehabilitation coach with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles NRL squad, and has previously worked in the AFL with the Gold Coast SUNS.He’s got extensive experience in return-to-play protocols and structuring programs to get players back on the field. If you’re stuck like us, not knowing where to go from here with your child, this might help.
In today’s episode of SportsParenthood, Laura Van Den Honert speaks bravely and openly about her lived experience with an eating disorder. You’ll hear her story about the long-term implications on her wellbeing and physical health. These include a series of bone-density-related injuries, which started when she was a younger athlete, and continue to impact her sporting aspirations as a competitive triathlete 15 years later.In the interview, Laura recalls her first fun run at six years of age. Her mum and dad were dedicated sports parents, giving up their weekends to ferry Laura to matches and carnivals, and help manage sporting teams. Around 14 years of age, the then middle and long distance runner, developed an unhealthy relationship with food and exercise. It’s been a hard road to build up her body and mind to compete again.After all she’s been through, what would Laura tell her 14-year-old self?What is her message for sports parents?
You can hear it in her voice: the joy, the determination, the competitive spirit: she wasn’t the best, she wasn’t the worst. You know what? She’s got pump, together with a willingness to listen and learn.In this week’s episode, we speak with Remy Siemsen, who currently plays soccer for Sydney FC in the W-League. She made a big impression in her first W-League outing when she was just 16: named Young Footballer of the Year.Remy represented Australia in the under-20 team, where she scored seven goals on debut. This athlete is on fire, with the ultimate dream of playing for the Matildas. It’s been her goal since she was four years old.Every sporting story, including Remy’s, is not without hurdles, heartache and hard work. From her school pathway, turning points, to some great advice for sport parents, Remy keeps it real.
In this week’s episode of SportsParenthood, you’ll meet Matt Roberts, who has an extraordinary story.Since the year 2000, Matt, who’s currently director, Tennis Alice Springs, has raised 17 teenage boys, who’ve come from different backgrounds, different situations, with different struggles. Some have stayed for weeks, some for months, and many, for years! Sport has been the constant, and has played a big part in creating a platform for change by keeping them busy, providing structure and teaching valuable life lessons.In Matt’s role as mentor and carer, he’s helped transformed their lives. From Junior State of Origin debuts to the NRL signings, and overseas tennis tournaments, sport has been the impetus for many of these boys to achieve bigdreams. It hasn’t been easy. In fact, Matt has his own chair at the local school’s principal’s office.If you’re parenting teenagers, you’ll know what Matt means when he talks about the “FU years”.
FINAL EPISODE UNTIL 22 APRIL 2021: As sports parents, we often resist taking our kids to see a physiotherapist or specialist believing they’ll be okay. Sometimes, it’s really difficult to tell when the normal aches and pains associated with sport transform into injuries. So, how do you know when to take your young athlete to see a physiotherapist?What is a physio exactly? How can they help prevent and treat injuries?Hear from Kylie Holt from Kylie Holt Sports Physiotherapy, who’s been working in high-performance sport for more than 20 years, including being an Australian team physiotherapist at three Olympic Games and three Commonwealth Games. Kylie’s also spent 10 years at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), and recently with Swimming Australia.
The work of Dr Lynne Munro — head of AusCycling’s Olympic fast track program — first caught our attention back in December, in an ABC news article in which she was quoted as saying: “We’re looking at building an environment that is specifically about female athletes.” Lynne wants to completely rethink the way women are trained and coached in elite sport. As you can imagine, this got us curious! While Lynne’s focus is on building up Australia’s female track sprint cycling ranks, in the lead up to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, her ‘doing things differently’ approach makes you wonder what’s possible in all sports.
Music and sports performance. How does music affect athletes? What does the science say?Is music a "type of legal, performance-enhancing drug”?Research has shown listening to music while exercising can reduce an athlete’s rate of perceived effort. What does this mean exactly? Does the tempo have an impact? Why did USA Track & Field "ban the use of headphones and portable audio players" at its official races back in 2007? In this episode, we speak with psychologist and behaviour coach, Hamish McMaster. There's a lot more research into music and sports performance than we thought!This is a fascinating conversation about the role music can play in reaching the optimal performance zone.Episode references:Marconi Union — Weightless (Official Video)Kerryn McCann — 2006 Commonwealth Games Marathon
This week’s guest is Gary Howard from the Run Crew in Sydney. He’s a guy known for dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s — and doing the work that needs to be done. He’s still a competitive athlete today — a world’s masters silver medalist in the 800 metres, and is currently training for a marathon.In this episode, we wanted to explore the idea of sporty parents, active kids (PDF) as per research from the Sports Australia, formerly the Australian Sports Commission , that shows active parents are more likely to have active kids.Gary is the perfect fit — a coach and father of two — in an interesting conversation that covers being a role model as a parent and coach, as well as the benefits of parents getting ONBOARD in kids sport. … and we throw open the discussion to what fires us up!Plus, the three of us share our views on some of the topics that irk us in sport.And, what’s the Johnny push up?
Even professional coaches like Andrew McFadden, current assistant coach at the Canberra Raiders, former head coach at the New Zealand Warriors, and 100-game NRL first grade player can be THAT parent.With more than a decade of full-time coaching experience, Andrew shares his philosophy on athletes taking ownership, following what he reflects on as a bitter-sweet playing career, where he struggled to reach his full potential in the high-pressure environment of professional rugby league.So, as sports parents, what can we be doing to help our kids take the reins? Less hand-holding, more listening. In this episode, Andrew gives us some GREAT insight into how to achieve this for both individual and team athletes — and what’s the 3-6-1 principle? Here’s Andrew, better known as Cappy.
We’re not going to tell you what you should and shouldn’t be doing. We’re not going to shame you into barbecuing sausages at the next club event, signing up as a coach, or joining a committee.You already know the value of volunteering in sport — many clubs and organisations couldn’t run without them. In Australia, an estimated three million people volunteer in the sport and active recreation sector each year. Today, you’re going to meet ONE of those people — it’s a really thoughtful and fun conversation with Nick Bishop, who’ll share his volunteering story in a way that’ll uplift and entertain you.You’ll love his self-deprecating humour throughout the interview.And, you’ll hear about his volunteering roles, including president of Freshwater Amateur Swim Club, of which we’re members. Plus, an unexpected story about his mum, and her sporting pedigree.Mostly, you’ll enjoy Nick’s perspective on volunteering in sport — and why sometimes — all it takes is bringing good vibes to make a big difference to everyone’s experience.
In this episode of SportsParenthood, you’ll hear from Margaret Hemsley, former Australian cyclist, 2002 Commonwealth Games representative, and national road race champion. It’s a candid conversation about her own incredible sporting experience — including a sliding doors moment — lessons competitive sport taught her, and what she’s aiming to teacher own four sons. (And what you can learn from this, too.)As a sports parent, you’ll relate to the anecdote at the start of the episode, when Margaret shared the story about her 8-year-old son’s less-than-ideal race result (in his eyes) at the school swimming carnival. Margaret’s response: “You know what you get from nothing, nothing”, says so much about her practical approach to life and sport.She’s very wise, our Margaret!Margaret and I actually met at a fun run in Canberra. We connected immediately, and spent the next seven or so years training most days together, solving the world’s problems as we clocked up some running kilometres on the fire trails. I miss these catch ups with Margaret every. single. day. But, for all the time we’ve spent together, we’ve never dived really deep about her cycling career.You’ll love Margaret’s honesty and insight.
Matt ‘Coach’ Lisle has coached at every level in both baseball and softball, including Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox. He’s also an author of an Amazon best-seller, Dear Coach. In this interview, Matt shares his coaching philosophy, how we can all help our student athletes set goals and be clear about expectations, including taking ownership of their own sporting journey, plus what’s in his coaching rule book? Matt’s not afraid to open up about his shortcomings either. This is a conversation packed with gold. How cool to connect with someone across the other side of the world — our first international guest on the show! It felt like a home run for us.Related links:* Coach Lisle * Recruited Insider
Balancing school, sport and having a social life. If you’re #sports parenting student athletes, this is a tricky line to help them tread. That’s why we’ve turned to Hannah Every-Hall for our first episode of 2021. At the start of a new school year, as our #sports kids are finding their feet with new school routines, sporting demands and settling into friendship groups, what advice should we be giving them to make it all work? In this episode, Hannah Every Hall — a former Olympic rower, a leader in sport, Pathways and High Performance Manager with Modern Pentathlon Australia, a mentor and rowing coach — has a helpful and informed perspective. She’s also one of our best friends, who we met when our eldest kids started preschool together in Canberra. This is a fun and thought-provoking conversation from someone whose Olympic dream started in the Year 1 classroom. But growing up, netball was Hannah’s first love … the only problem: it’s not an Olympic sport. So, how does she transition from high-level netball to making her Olympic debut as a rower at the age of 34, with two kids?
FINALE EPISODE FOR 2020: When should strength training be introduced — and why is it important for kids and developing athletes? In this episode you’ll hear from Nigel Ashley-Jones, currently head of physical performance at the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League, on changing the perception of the role of strength training in sport. Nigel’s worked as a strength and conditioning coach in multiple continents and in multiple codes, including premiership soccer, rugby union, along with rugby league. In this episode, you’ll hear from Nigel on the seven strength areas we need to tick off with our athletes, ideas on how to incorporate strength training into the program of developing athletes — and the million-dollar question: when should strength training be introduced? In our conversation, Nigel argues for the integration of strength and conditioning coaches at the grassroots level of sport and explains why strength training allows athletes to tolerate training, games and competition. Do your sports kids do strength training?More information | Mike Boyle: bodybyboyle.com
Suzy Walsham’s is a story of the LONG game in sport. She’s kept coming back and has been competing for almost 40 years. She won her first state cross country title in the under sevens… the start of a running career that’s had many highs — like representing Australia in the 1500 metres at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. And, the crushing lows, like enduring 14 stress fractures throughout her career.THEN, something unexpected happened.After moving from Sydney to Singapore for work, Suzy side-stepped into vertical stair racing — you know, running up the world’s tallest towers — and has gone on to become a record 10-times winner of the Empire State Building Run-Up! She’s not done YET!In our conversation with Suzy, she shares her lived experience in having early success as an athlete — and the pressure that came with that — what she’d do differently if she had her time over, how she’s sports parenting her own son, and the number one lesson in sport: Never underestimate your competitors.
The benefits of physical activity and participation in sport are universal for ALL children. How would YOU feel if your child’s team, club or competition integrated kids with a disability? Would you consider it to be a blessing or a burden? If you’re a sports parent of a child with a disability, what’s been your experience? In this episode of SportsParenthood, you’ll hear our conversation with Rob Regent, founder and head coach at social enterprise, Everyday Champions, which advocates for integrating kids with disability into mainstream sport. Rob explains the barriers and benefits to inclusion in sport … and how the hardest stuff is the attitudinal change for all of us. Should we be doing things differently? How can we all play a role in changing the conversation? Have a listen.HELPFUL LINKS* Sport Inclusion Australia * The Inclusion Club * Play by the Rules * Inclusive Sport Design
Reaching a milestone is always a good time to reflect … and that’s what we’re going to do today. In episode 20 of SportsParenthood, we’re going to recap on the key takeouts and highlights from the past nine episodes for ourselves and for you, too. We’re on this journey with you, sports parenting our two daughters, Milla and Andie. Like you, we’re TRYING to do our best. Sometimes, we get it right. Sometimes, we get it wrong. Mostly we’re looking for clues on how we can improve. It’s bloody hard, to be honest! As sports parents, we don’t know what we don’t know. You’ll hear us discussing the latest nine conversations with our guests — the suggestions we’re taking on board, the techniques we’re giving a go, and the insight that hit us between the eyes — with the aim of knowing that little bit more to help support our kids’ sports experiences.
Professional rugby league player, Joel Thompson, has played more than 230 first grade games in the National Rugby League. In 2020, he captained the Indigenous All-Stars Team. He says he’s used his “tough childhood” as a superpower. In this episode, you’ll hear Joel talk about going to school hungry, how he was heading in a direction of crime, as well as the difficulties he had in handling the high-pressure environment of sport when he didn’t have the mental strategies to cope. Joel’s is a story of how a “troubled kid” grabbed hold of the good people around him, such as his Nan and wife, Amy, along with others from his childhood, who stepped in to drive him to games, for example, when his family wasn’t able to do so … and how he’s healed, by giving back and helping others kids, just like he once was, through The Mindset Project.
In this episode, you’ll hear the conviction in Sarah Jamieson’s voice, on a topic close to her heart — the consequences of kids being ‘flogged’ as runners from a young age. The Australian middle distance runner — a three-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medalist — recently wrote an article: ‘Kids Running. Stop the Madness’, where she noted: “I have NEVER seen a child who trains hard and wins, go on and succeed as an older athlete. NEVER!” For Sarah, who’s head coach at Perth Running Club and is now a mum of four, watching parents on the sidelines, or trackside, is a blast from the past for her, which is what prompted her to speak up. This is a thought-provoking conversation, where Sarah ultimately advocates for running less. As someone who competed as an elite athlete until she was 35 years of age, and is at the coalface as a coach and parent … sports parents, it’s important to listen to what she has to say.
The fun factor. We know it’s one of the main reasons our kids play sport. And, it's the reason most of us WANT them to play sport. What happens when the conversation and EXPECTATION turns to performance. In this episode, we speak with Hamish McMaster, a psychologist, behaviour coach, professional trainer, international speaker, published author and founder of Head in the Game, which provides psychological performance systems for athletes, coaches and parents. Finding the balance between FUN and achieving goals is a tightrope, even if Hamish is not keen on the use of this term, as you’ll hear. Through our chat with Hamish, he talked to us about how adolescent athletes see us, their parents, the window of tolerance, and other mental skills that’ll help you and your sports kids. Plus, a really awesome technique for the car ride home. Here's more information on the Game Ready Playbook.
Bouncing back from setbacks is everything in sport because if there’s one thing you can count on, there’ll always be hurdles. From niggling injuries to season-ending injuries, a slow start in a swimming race to a missed penalty goal in soccer. The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics this year represents a deeply disappointing setback for many sportspeople. Where do many of us come unstuck in bouncing back? In this episode, you’ll hear from John Novak, a mindset coach who works with athletes across 44 sports as well as business people, and is the co-creator of the Boomerang Effect – a program designed around the concept that what you put out is what will come back to you. In our conversation with John, he explains the exact thing that’s getting in the way. You’ll love his limitless energy, evidence-based insight, and lived experiences including his own devastating setback as an athlete – and what happened next – along with his dream of becoming the prime minister to what is now his life’s work.Here’s John’s 10 tips to share with your kids:1. Choose a few words that become your personal affirmation, such as positive, strong, believe, trust, happy, joy. Repeat during training or an event. 2. Keep your body language up – make that a challenge. Whatever the result, challenge yourself to stay tall. 3. Be happy, joyful and excited – filled with the woooooooh energy of enthusiasm! 4. Smile and then smile more, especially when the going gets tough. Why? Because it releases good chemicals in your brain! 5. Look for the opportunity or lesson in every moment. 6. Journal two to three good points in every game or even practice session. 7. Minimise negativity – because it’s unproductive and unhelpful. 8. Be positive in your words, thoughts and actions. Make this non-negotiable. 9. Realise every moment, right now, is a choice. 10. And then ask yourself; is what I am doing right now, HELPING or HINDERING fulfilling my/my kid’s dream to become my/their best?
Football is the most popular organised sport in Australia with more than 1.76 million players, almost twice as many participants as any other football code. Whether you call it football or soccer, more sports parents are signing up their kids to play. In this episode, you’ll hear from David Mason, currently the CEO of the Manly Warringah Football Association, which incorporates over 18,500 football participants – the biggest Football Association in Australia – and Manly United Football Club. He’s worked at every level of the game, including roles with Sydney FC and the Socceroos. With close to 25 years’experience in the football landscape, David explains why community sport provides a grounding experience for budding players, the importance of letting kids be kids, along with some insight on those development pathways, including the BIG question: Should kids be specialising in soccer from a young age?
If athletes get their nutrition right, it’s free speed according to our guest this week, sports dietitian, Peta Carige. It makes perfect sense that good nutrition is often the missing link in an athlete’s performance. BUT it’s not easy trying to fuel growing kids, with growing training loads.There’s lots of misinformation out there, based on opinion not science (it’s something that drives professionals like Peta crazy!). Since 2005, she’s worked with many elite sporting teams and athletes and is currently consulting with: NSW Waratahs, Men’s and Women’s Sevens, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and NSW Blues. You’ll hear from Peta on the one pre-competition food that’s always a winner and simple afternoon snacks for before training. Plus, is carbo-loadingstill relevant, and have you ever heard of pickle juice? The next 45 minutes is packed with practical tips and sensible advice from Peta, for sports parents who want to know how to fuel their kids for sport, including the most important meal to get right.
“Kids can sniff out hypocrisy from 100 paces,” according to sports psychologist, Dr Joann Lukins. When’s the last time you looked in the mirror to reflect on your own behaviour as a sports parent— and how is it impacting on your kids’ sports experience? Importantly, are you saying one thing and doing another? In the extreme, you’ve probably heard of ugly parent syndrome. For most of us, we’ve got the best intentions. In this week’s episode, Dr Jo — who works with professional sporting teams, including the NRL’s North Queensland Cowboys and theTownsville Fire in the Women’s National Basketball League — shares some home truths and superpowers for all of us. She’s also a speaker and author of two books, The Elite and In The Grandstands, which will be out soon. If you want tips on how to be better, this is the episode for you.Pre-order your copy of In The Grandstands using the code ‘SPORTSPARENTHOOD‘ and get free shipping, free Elite Notebook, free floss! PRE-ORDER HERE: www.drjolukins.com/paperbacks-seminars
From a young age, Kendrick’s parents said, ‘If there’s something you want, you’ve got to chase it until you get it’ — and that’s exactly what he did in the sport of surf lifesaving. With a fear of water following a near-tragedy in childhood, Manly’s Kendrick Louis’s story is one of patience and perseverance, combined with a fiercely competitive spirit, which took him to the top of his sport, winning the Nutri-Grain IronMan Series title earlier this year. In this episode, you’ll hear about Kendrick’s love-hate relationship with surf lifesaving, where Mother Nature’s influence means it’s not always the best athlete who wins on the day. Plus, his determination and mindset in pursuing the Kellogg’s crown for 10 years, chipping away at his goal until he conquered it. He makes the point about the importance of identifying both your strengths and weaknesses — something this qualified carpenter has nailed perfectly.
He’s near the top of the list of the “rugby league nice-guy” files, winner of the prestigious 2019 Ken Stephen Medal for his commitment to off-field community projects and is often referred to in the media as the Canberra Raiders’ “spiritual leader”. For Iosia Soliola, or Sia as he’s widely known, who draws similarities between the movie, Once Were Warriors, and his own childhood growing up in Central Auckland with his extended Samoan family, empathy is a key attribute. In this episode, Sia opens up about the experience of being “a conservative Pacific Islander kid” and theculture shift of relocating to Australia to make his first grade debut with the Sydney Roosters at just 18 years of age, being consumed by guilt over bringing his parents to Australia, winning the 2014 Super League grand final with St Helen’s, his faux pas when meeting one of league’s immortals, reconnecting with his culture and identity, THAT trip back from Townsville, his mum’s joy when Sia captained the Samoan side in the 2013 World Cup — and how his dad had different sporting plans for this all-round talented athlete.
In episode 10 of SportsParenthood, you’ll hear nine golden nuggets of information for sports parents, hand-picked by us, your hosts, John and Tiffany Bonasera. In a different format this week, we’re bringing you one piece of gold from each of our nine guests on the show so far. Of course, our guests have provided us with a gold rush of insights — it was a hard task extracting the shiniest nuggets. Whether you’re a regular listener or a newbie, you’re going to love this recap to celebrate SportsParenthood’s 10-episode milestone. Without a guest to keep us on the straight and narrow, we’ve shared some personal anecdotes from our own lived experiences as sports parents, on the same roller-coaster as you. Plus, we set some rules of engagement for today’s show … but did we stick with it? If you’re enjoying SportsParenthood, please, please, please write us a review on your favourite podcast app. Thank you for listening.
When she was 13 years old, Kayla Nisbet started getting serious about becoming a jockey. Her dad, John Nisbet is a former jockey, now trainer, and she grew up in a household with five sisters and racehorses right on the back doorstep in nation’s capital. In this episode, you’ll hear from the Canberra-based jockey who’s ridden more than 400 winners in her 10-year career in the saddle. What you’ll learn from Kayla’s story is nothing worth achieving is ever easy — a message she received loud and clear from her parents, who gave her realistic expectations of the “tough” industry she was getting herself into. For Kayla, the gruelling, all-consuming career choice involves the difficulties of ‘wasting’, the early starts, long days at the track, the travel … but it’s the thrill of racing that keeps bringing her back — the lack of sugar-coating in her dad’s feedback has her helped her grow into being a sought-after professional jockey, who’s learnt how to roll with the punches in her chosen sport.
Eating disorders and disordered eating have long been associated with athletes at all levels — in both female and male sportspeople. Every lived experience is different, from what triggers an eating disorder to how it takes hold and the way forward with treatment — and thankfully, in more and more cases, recovery. Our guest today is Suzie Rhydderch — a clinical psychologist with expertise and a strong interest in the impact of mental health issues on performance, on and off the field, including eating and body image concerns. She brings a personal background in athletics, winning a number of national titles before she suffered a devastating injury, which forced her out of the sport. She’s recovered from an eating disorder herself and is now involved in competitive kayaking. In this episode, Suzie opens up about her own experience and provides practical advice grounded in her lived experience with an eating disorder and her clinical expertise. It’s an important topic for sports mums, sports dads, and for coaches. What are the red flags and how can you help?Contact informationSuzie has kindly provided her email, should you wish to reach out: suzie.rhydderch@gmail.comFor more information on the Butterfly Foundation, visit https://butterfly.org.au
This is a captivating and unusual story of how it takes a village to raise an #athlete. For Jaime Fernandez — or Hamma as he’s affectionately known — three-time Olympian and silver medallist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the men's eight and currently the Deputy Performance Director at Rowing Australia — it wasn't only his parents who played an influential role in his stellar #sporting career. You'll hear about the many others who turned this "rough, bush kid" into a rowing champion, who loved the sport from his very first stroke. How a green and gold long-sleeve shirt, along with running away from buffaloes (and crocodiles!), helped shape Jaime's sporting career — confirming talent development isn't linear. There are many ways to take up a sport and many pathways to reach the pinnacle. With no grand plan to become an Olympian, it was little things along the way, Jaime’s give-it-a-go attitude, and a childhood growing up in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory that propelled this “battler” to his representative debut at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Finding THE ONE in sport is a needle-in-a-haystack situation. “It’s often not the athlete that ranks one, two, three or four in your lab tests that end up being THE ONE”, according to Dr Deborah Latouf — a sports scientist, coach, administrator, representative Masters athlete and sports mum — who headed up the national talent identification program at the Australian Institute of Sport in the lead up to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In this episode, Deborah talks about the talent unearthed by the program, including some GREAT stories about two athletes in particular, who’ve gone on to become household names. While Deborah is a big believer in data, her lived experience says there’s something you can’t measure that also sets athletes apart – the “mongrel” or X-factor. For sports parents, Deborah reveals how the message of patience is the name of the game.
We love our #sporting heroes in Australia. We celebrate them, we admire them, we want to hear their stories. But what happens when a sporting dream doesn’t go to plan? What happens when the lines between “toughening the athlete” #coaching practices and abuse become blurred? What happens when a sporting culture that normalises abuse leaves a long-lasting legacy on your life — and the life of countless others? This is Dr Jennifer McMahon’s deeply personal story. An Australian swimming gold and silver medallist at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games, Jennifer went from being on top of the world one minute to her dream crashing down the next. This year, she received an OAM for her research into helping protect #athletes from abuse in sport. You’ll hear what happened behind the scenes at training and at home — and how she turned her painful experiences into positives.International Olympic Committee Toolkit on ‘Safe Sport'Mary Cain’s speaks about physical and mental abuse in the now now-defunct Oregon Project
Sport is full of high emotion. There are moments of elation and joy. There are moments of frustration and deflation. For many sports parents, we’re riding this wave of ups and downs with our kids, guided by little more than our intuition. In this episode, you’ll hear from Dr Dianne Huxley. She’s a high-performance track and field coach and manager, who’s headed up Commonwealth, World and Olympic teams, an academic, a mum and a grandmum. Her recent research reveals the evidence on the specific role parents play in the pathway from junior sport to Olympic and World Championship representation — what works, and why? Listen up, because we’re also making some big mistakes. If you’re flying by the seat of your pants, this episode will provide you with rock-solid, evidence-based advice. It’s a real eye-opener for all of us. Download Di's helpful resources
Following on from last week’s episode (part 1) with #sportsparents Melissa and John Trbojevic, this week, we speak with three of their four sons, Tom, Jake and Ben Trbojevic, for the other side of the story. If you’re a #rugbyleague fan, the Trbojevic brothers need no introduction. Currently, Tom and Jake are superstars in the #sport, playing in the #NRL for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, NSW Blues and Australia. Younger sibling, Ben, 18, is following hot on their heels, signed last year in the Sea Eagles’ full-time squad. While they’ve all got talent (including brother, Luke, who's carved his own successful path), something else makes them extraordinary — that elusive combination of "killer instinct and kindness". In this interview, you’ll hear their perspectives on the role of their parents in their #sporting careers, funny family insights, and chasing childhood sporting dreams.
Jake and Tom Trbojevic, along with brothers Ben and Luke, have kicked some big goals in sport — and supporting them every step of the way are their parents, John and Melissa. In this episode of SportsParenthood, this proud and humble mum and dad reflect on Tom’s backyard cricket antics, Jake’s short-lived soccer career, the influence of their local footy club, The Mona Vale Raiders, on all four boys — and their most “surreal” moment as sports parents. In no mean feat, Tom and Jake currently play in NRL for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, have represented the NSW Blues in the State of Origin and worn the green and gold for Australia. Even if you’re not a rugby league fan, you’ll love hearing what John and Melissa have to say about #sportsparenthood, includingthoughtful advice for fellow sport parents, and the one thing John wished he’d never said to Jake.
In the first episode of SportsParenthood, decorated swimming coach, Tracey Menzies-Stegbauer, known for coaching five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe and current head swimming coach for the Rackley Swim Team at the Parkinson Aquatic Centre in Brisbane, talks to John and Tiffany about the traits shared by champion athletes. Her captivating insights cover how to measure a young athlete’s performance, the sweet spot for training loads, and what NOT to do before your kid’s game or race. In her trademark honestly, Tracey opens up about THAT 400 metre freestyle event at the 2004 Athens Olympics, following the false-start controversy that attracted the intense media spotlight around the world. Raising her own sports kids, Tracey reveals the blurred lines of being their coach and parent. This is a must-listen interview, if you’re a sports parent looking to hear Tracey’s compelling story and get some clues on what you can do as you navigate #sportsparenthood.
SportsParenthood is a podcast for rookie sports parents. Join your hosts and fellow sports parents, John and Tiffany Bonasera, for in-depth conversations with sportspeople, coaches and professionals on what it takes to be a better sports parent. You’ll hear different perspectives that’ll give you clues — those golden nuggets of information — to help inform the way you sports parent. And, if there’s one piece advice to give to your sport kids, what would it be?