The Sports Initiative Podcast: Recent Episodes
Michael Wright
A podcast that discusses a variety of sports with performance athletes and coaches. We delve into their personal experiences and philosophies around modern day sport.
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Mark Bennett MBE is a high performance specialist consultant who has worked across the globe including Oklahoma City Thunder, Saracens Rugby and Premier League.
Mark Bennett MBE on Performance Development System1:50
Mark Bennett MBE explains the concept of culture as the natural behaviors within an organization or team, and how they manifest under pressure and in different situations. He also delves into the distinction between culture and performance, highlighting that having a great culture does not always guarantee high performance. Additionally, he discusses the importance of decision-making and judgment in various roles and situations.
Identifying Issues and Solutions 8:38
Mark Bennett MBE emphasizes the challenge of identifying the source of issues and prioritizing solutions for change. Michael Wright shares an anecdote about companies having similar values displayed on their walls, questioning the authenticity and impact of such displays. The conversation delves into the discrepancy between stated values and actual behaviors within organizations.
Managing Expectations and Clarity in Sports and Business 15:46
Mark Bennett MBE highlights the issue of unspoken expectations and lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities in sports and business. He explains how this can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings between managers, coaches, and hiring personnel, and emphasizes the importance of pre-agreement and daily honoring of expectations to avoid issues.
Interviewing and Hiring Process 19:48
Mark Bennett MBE emphasizes the need for thorough due diligence outside of the interview process when hiring coaches, citing a personal example to illustrate his point. He stresses the importance of observing coaches in action and evaluating their behaviors and interactions with players to determine their suitability for the role. Bennett also highlights the significance of the questions asked by candidates and how they align with the club's expectations and values.
Evaluating Coaching Performance 23:54
Michael Wright and Mark Bennett MBE delve into the intricacies of evaluating coaching performance, highlighting the significance of honesty and accountability in feedback. They stress the importance of providing specific, detailed feedback to coaches and the need to avoid overcomplicating or over-rationalizing assessments.
Managing High Performance and Culture 36:35
Michael Wright discusses the challenge of balancing high performance and culture in high-stress environments, citing the England cricket team as an example. He raises concerns about the impact on well-being and the potential for resentment. Mark Bennett MBE responds by emphasizing the importance of effective communication and managing one's state to maximize performance potential.
Managing Behavioral Challenges in Sports Training 40:27
Mark Bennett MBE illustrates a real-world scenario of managing behavioral challenges in sports training, highlighting the case of a basketball player from a rough neighborhood who exhibited inappropriate behavior during training sessions. Bennett emphasizes the importance of identifying weaknesses and intervening with clarity and honesty to address unacceptable behavior, ultimately aiming for progress and self-management within the athletes.
Culture, Performance, and Wellness in Sports 43:57
Mark Bennett MBE highlights the need to eliminate toxic behavior in sports culture and emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between wellness and performance. Michael Wright questions the management of perceptions around high-performing teams and the misconception of mistaking edge for bullying, citing examples from historical data and personal experiences in football environments.
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This week I explain my long absence and dissect my time in Thailand working for the EFL and Carabao as part of a coach education initiative called 'Coach the Coaches'.
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Gary McDermott us the U18 manager at Forest Green Rovers having worked at Southampton FC in the Foundation and Youth phase prior.
Coaching Philosophy and Player Involvement - 5:47
G McDermott, in a detailed explanation, shares his evolved coaching beliefs and the shift towards player involvement in game plans and training sessions. He describes a program where players watch opposition matches, deliver game plans, and suggest training focuses, leading to a collaborative approach that has yielded positive outcomes and a deeper understanding of player motivations.
Encouraging Participation and Individual Development - 12:14
Gary McDermott discusses how they make the game plan more engaging for the players and ensure that different voices are heard and valued. He explains their approach of breaking down tasks and allowing each player to contribute in different aspects, while also considering individual interests and comfort zones. Michael Wright inquires about the shift in coaching style and the process of transitioning to a more collaborative approach.
G McDermott's Insights and Experiences - 16:01
G McDermott discusses his frustration with being told to "shell it" during his playing days, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive approach to game strategy. He shares observations from player-led tournaments and a study visit at Bath Rugby, where he learned about the captain's role in game preparation and the importance of player engagement. G Mc also reflects on his son's development and the lessons he has learned from balancing support and independence in his son's activities.
Discussion on Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and Game Philosophy - 20:11
Michael Wright and Gary McDermott delve into the topic of individual development plans (IDPs) and the shift towards giving players autonomy in their development. They emphasize the importance of aligning IDPs with the team's game philosophy and discuss intertwining technical and team-focused aspects in IDPs. The conversation also touches on the relevance of IDPs in relation to the team's style of play.
Coaching Philosophy and Training Methods - 25:34
Gary McDermott outlines his coaching approach, emphasizing the significance of counter pressing, ball possession, and statistical analysis in training. He also discusses the competitive nature of his sessions, the use of position swaps to ensure equal opportunities for all players, and the importance of player expression within the framework of the team's style.
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Scott Parkinson is the assistant coach at Seattle Reign who are part of the USWL.
Scott Parkinson's Journey and Coaching Philosophy - 5:54
Scott Parkinson, the head assistant coach at Seattle Reign FC, shares his journey from playing football in the UK to coaching in the US. He discusses the pivotal moments in his coaching journey, including learning about the collective 11 and the level of detail in coaching. He also emphasizes his coaching philosophy, which revolves around energy, application, and intensity in every aspect of the game.
Embracing Intensity and Chaos in Soccer Strategy - 20:14
Scott Parkinson, drawing from his experience and passion for soccer, emphasizes the significance of transitional moments and the tactical evolution of the game. He stresses the need for a strong structure around the ball and the importance of leaving players higher when pressing to maintain an attacking threat. Additionally, he shares his enjoyment of the competitive nature of the game and the strategic approach to creating an environment that balances competitiveness and creative freedom.
Tactical Considerations for Crosses and Defensive Transition - 24:03
Scott Parkinson delves into the tactical intricacies of crossing and defensive transition, stressing the need for players to understand the risk-reward dynamics and make decisions based on the opponent's shape and strengths. He emphasizes the importance of improving attacking play to minimize the need for defensive transition, while also allowing players the freedom to make decisions and cover for each other based on the situation.
Principles of Play and Periodization - 28:56
Scott Parkinson shares insights on developing a game idea and aligning principles of play with it. He stresses the significance of an accountability platform to track coaching and ensure the execution of desired behaviors. Additionally, he explains the approach to periodization, emphasizing the need for flexibility in planning based on the team's principles and game idea.
Coaching Philosophy and Individual Player Management - 34:08
Scott Parkinson and Michael Wright delve into the challenges of coaching and the balance between providing specific instructions and allowing players to think freely on the field. Parkinson shares his realization about the individual needs of players and the importance of using experience to tailor coaching methods to each player's unique learning style.
Different Learning Styles of Elite Players - 37:35
Scott Parkinson highlights the distinct learning approaches of elite players Becky Sauerbrunn and Kelly O'Hara, both World Cup winners. Sauerbrunn relies on her intuitive understanding of the game and prefers not to watch video clips, while O'Hara meticulously studies game footage, even when not playing. Parkinson emphasizes the need to recognize and accommodate individual learning styles to optimize player development within the team structure.
Importance of Confidence and Soft Skills in Coaching - 46:16
Scott Parkinson shares insights on the essential qualities for coaching success, emphasizing the need for confidence, preparation, and resilience. He also discusses the significance of soft skills in building rapport and earning respect from players and colleagues. Additionally, he reflects on the character traits that have helped him thrive in the competitive world of professional sports coaching.
Insights on Elite Players and Coaches - 56:04
Scott Parkinson highlights the exceptional qualities of elite players he has worked with, such as their intense training, leadership, and winning mentality. He also reflects on the three words he hopes to be known for - "All in," "joyful," and "passionate" - and the importance of being there for anyone who needs him.
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Brian Slugocki is a hockey coaches who works across the development pathway culminating with some work with NHL players during offseasons.
Introduction and Background of Brian Slugocki -1:08
Michael Wright and Brian Slugocki set up the recording and exchange pleasantries about the weather in Arizona. Brian then shares his background in ice hockey, from playing at the University of Arizona and in Sweden to coaching youth and professional players, including his current role as a skills coach for the Arizona Coyotes minor league team.
Coaching and Mentorship 4:21
Brian Slugocki explains his passion for coaching and mentorship, influenced by his positive experiences with teachers and mentors who cared for him as a person. Michael Wright shares a story about a cricketer's shift in mindset due to a mentor's guidance, emphasizing the significance of coaches fostering meaningful relationships with players for success.
Developing Movement and Reception Skills in Hockey and Football - 21:53
Brian Slugocki shares his methods for teaching movement and reception skills in hockey, including the use of video clips and interactive demonstrations to prepare players for practice. He emphasizes the importance of using the ice geography and dot lines to teach players how to move and receive the puck effectively, while also considering the impact on defenders' positioning.
Strategies for Receiving and Transitioning with the Puck - 28:39
Brian Slugocki and Michael Wright exchange ideas on how to improve players' ability to receive the puck and create separation from defenders in hockey. They draw parallels between shadowing in hockey and man marking in football, emphasizing the importance of deceptive footwork and transitional play. Slugocki also shares a drill involving a football-like stance to practice getting open and working on skating techniques.
Techniques for Practicing at Home - 36:28
Michael Wright and Brian Slugocki exchange ideas on how to improve hockey skills at home, focusing on stick handling and individual skill development. They suggest using rebounders and emphasize the value of visualization and realistic game scenarios for effective training. The discussion highlights the need for a partner or parent to facilitate challenging practice sessions.
Transition and Attack Strategies in Hockey - 39:35
Michael Wright and Brian Slugocki delve into the intricacies of transitional play and attack strategies in hockey. They highlight the significance of players recognizing the right time to transition and attack, and the principles and rules that guide these decisions. Additionally, they discuss the self-awareness and strategic considerations involved in exploiting space and utilizing players' strengths on the ice.
Considerations for Player Transitions in Hockey and Football 55:03
Michael Wright emphasizes the rapid and unpredictable nature of player transitions in hockey, stressing the importance of being aware of the capabilities of incoming players. Brian Slugocki adds another layer to the discussion by highlighting the impact of handedness on player transitions, emphasizing the need for players to adapt to different playing styles and preferences. The conversation also touches on the potential value of constant player transitions in football to enhance players' awareness and adaptability.
Coaching Philosophy and Player Development 59:49
Brian Slugocki shares his coaching approach, emphasizing the importance of maximizing players' strengths and collaborating with them to improve their skills. He highlights the need for a positive and engaging environment, especially for younger players, and discusses the differences in players' openness to change based on their career stage.
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Karl Sandberg is the Sporting Director at FC Djusholm
Karl Sandberg's Journey to Becoming a Sporting Director - 10:19
Karl Sandberg shares his journey from volunteering as a football coach to becoming a sporting director, emphasizing the impact of his engineering background on his coaching philosophy. Michael Wright acknowledges the non-traditional route into coaching and discusses the value of diverse backgrounds in the coaching world.
Youth Football Development and Club Ownership - 16:45
Michael Wright and Karl Sandberg delve into the historical and current approaches to youth football development and club ownership in the UK and Sweden. They explore the impact of commercialization on club finances and the limitations imposed by club ownership rules on investment in facilities and infrastructure, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities faced by clubs in both countries.
Academy Training and Competition Structure in Sweden - 28:21
Michael Wright and Karl Sandberg delve into the differences between academy training in Stockholm and other parts of Sweden, highlighting the limited access to football fields in Stockholm and the challenges of finding suitable competition for academy teams. They also discuss the age groups at which academy teams start and the rules governing player recruitment and competition participation.
Youth Player Recruitment and Development - 38:27
Michael Wright and Karl Sandberg delve into the intricacies of youth player recruitment and development in Sweden and the UK, emphasizing the absence of official signing and contracts for youth players in Sweden, as well as the compensation system for player transfers in the UK. They also touch upon the challenges and benefits of these systems, providing insights into the differences in approach and the impact on players and clubs.
Scouting System at Athletic Club - 53:30
Karl Sandberg shares his experience at Athletic Club in Bilbao, highlighting the club's scouting system that involves numerous affiliated clubs in the Basque country. He recounts a moment when key club figures, including the academy director and board of directors, attended a game between 12-year-old players to scout for potential talent. Sandberg emphasizes the club's commitment to identifying and nurturing the best players for their first team through this extensive scouting network.
Talent Identification and Player Development Programs - 56:57
Karl Sandberg shares insights into Sevilla's talent identification and player development program, highlighting the specialized training and mentorship provided to high-potential academy players. Michael Wright expands on the importance of position-specific training, especially for older age groups, and discusses the unique recruitment model of Athletic Club, emphasizing the value of regionalized recruitment and thorough player assessment.
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Show notes
Darren Warner's Career Journey - 1:01
Darren Warner shares his experience of being an elite athlete, British champion, and competing at world and Olympic levels for about 10 years. He then discusses his transition to becoming an Olympic coach, coaching top players, and eventually becoming the CEO of a judo governing body in Wales. Warner also talks about his academic pursuits, including finishing his PhD and writing a book on skill acquisition, and his current role at St. Mary's.
Transition from Player to Coach - 4:13
Darren Warner shares his journey from being an elite athlete to a coach, highlighting his realization of the need for evolving coaching methods and the impact of injuries on training plans. He discusses his experiences in coaching, including the challenges of finding solutions and the importance of making training more random to enhance retention. The conversation also touches on the resilience and determination of Olympians in overcoming injuries.
Problem Solving in Judo and Training Approaches-11:34
Delve into the intricacies of judo and other fighting sports, highlighting the diverse physical attributes of opponents within the same weight category. Darren shares insights into the unique culture of judo and the training approach, emphasizing the need to simplify complexity and adopt an affordance-based approach to training and preparing for opponents.
Insights from a Triple World Champion -16:02
Darren shares a story about a Japanese triple world champion in judo who emphasized the importance of focusing on weaknesses rather than strengths. The champion's approach of constantly dealing with the uncomfortable and finding solutions for challenges set him apart from others, making him the "Lionel Messi of judo."
Discussion on Super Strengths and Well-Roundedness in Athletes - 18:26
Darren and Michael engage in a thought-provoking conversation about the approach to developing athletes, debating the merits of focusing on super strengths versus creating well-rounded players. They also delve into the challenges of removing individual bias and future-proofing sports in the face of evolving rules and regulations, drawing on examples from their experiences in coaching and leadership roles.
Developing Adaptable Athletes and Coaches - 25:24
Darren shares his approach to developing adaptable athletes in judo, focusing on creating problem-solving abilities and addressing the impact of rule changes on athletes' performance. He also discusses the importance of challenging athletes and forcing them to adapt, even if it means deviating from traditional coaching methods.
Use of Data and Analytics in Performance Analysis - 32:18
Darren and Michael delve into the significance of using data and analytics in performance analysis, emphasizing the power of linking solutions back to individuals or groups. Warner shares a humbling experience from the Beijing Olympics, highlighting the need to prioritize and identify the most important aspects of data analysis.
Communication Challenges in Coaching Environments - 37:31
Darren and Michael delve into the difficulties of communication in coaching, highlighting the impact of noisy and silent environments on player-coach interaction. They discuss the importance of developing decision-making skills in players and consider using codes or signs for communication.
Cross-Cultural Influences in Martial Arts and Sports Training - 42:06
Michael and Darren delve into the impact of diverse cultures on martial arts and sports training, emphasizing the significance of understanding and embracing different techniques and methodologies. They also explore the role of play culture in skill development and the potential benefits of cross-competitions and cross-training in sports.
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Olly Logan is the Head of Innovation, Biomechanics and Performance analysis at British Swimming. He is currently preparing athletes for Pairs 2024 Olympics.
Show notes
Overview of Roles and Training in Olympic and Paralympic Sports - 0:31
Olly Logan, head of biomechanics innovation and performance analysis at British Swimming, provides an overview of his role, which involves working with Olympic swimming, Paralympic swimming, and diving. He explains the training schedules for athletes in these sports, including pool sessions, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, and psychology work, as well as the additional demands for athletes who are also in university. Logan also discusses the logistical challenges of his nomadic role, traveling between the six main centers in the UK.
Biomechanics in Swimming - 5:35
Michael Wright and Olly Logan delve into the biomechanics of swimming, highlighting the specific metrics used to measure performance and identify areas for improvement, such as stroke count, time splits, and kinematics. They discuss the challenges of working in an aquatic environment and the need for consistent and robust equipment to track progress over time, emphasizing the importance of reliable data for coaches and athletes.
Data Analysis and Preparation for Major Competitions12:09
Michael Wright and Olly Logan delve into the process of obtaining comparative data sets for analysis and the challenges of preparing for unique environments at major competitions. They discuss the alignment of competition metrics with evaluation within the Tin context and the informal agreement in Paralympic swimming regarding recording opposition data. Additionally, they highlight the consistency and tolerance in the development of temporary pool technology for major championships.
Embracing the Arena - 18:02
Olly Logan emphasizes the significance of embracing the arena and utilizing the energy from the crowd, especially in the context of the Olympics and Paralympics. Michael Wright shows interest in the psychological aspects of momentum and the impact of the team's performance on athletes' mindset. They discuss the dynamic environment of the Olympic Village and the influence of the team's performance on athletes' emotions.
Innovation and Learning from Other Sports- 22:47
Michael Wright discusses the importance of innovation and learning from other sports with Olly Logan, who manages a cross-disciplinary portfolio related to software and hardware developments. Olly explains that innovation involves both tangible developments and challenging traditional thinking, and how competition serves as a test and a source of new ideas. He also highlights the impact of rules changes in sports like Formula One and athletics on innovation.
Building Credibility and Trust through Effective Questioning - 35:53
Michael Wright and Olly Logan delve into the nuances of building credibility and trust in their roles, highlighting the importance of having a deep understanding of the technical and contextual aspects of the sports they work with. They emphasize the value of open questioning and effective communication to facilitate meaningful conversations with coaches and specialists, while also acknowledging the need to avoid being perceived as a threat in their interactions.
Insights on High Performance Environments - 45:24
Michael Wright and Olly Logan delve into the dynamics of high performance environments, highlighting the presence of micro-cultures with a shared purpose and high levels of engagement. They stress the significance of creating a welcoming atmosphere and the importance of soft skills in fostering a sense of belonging and unity. Additionally, they discuss the role of self-awareness in aligning actions with desired perceptions within the environment.
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Alex O'Dowd is the player and coach development manager at Northampton Saints. With over 2 decades of experience in the New Zealand and the UK, Alex has a wide range of experiences within development and performance pathways
Show notes
Alex O'Dowd's Coaching Background - 2:03
Alex O'Dowd provides a detailed overview of his coaching background, highlighting his current role as an academy development manager at Northampton Saints and his responsibilities in talent identification, coaching, and coach development. He also shares his previous roles at Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham Rugby, and North Harbor Rugby in New Zealand, emphasizing his extensive coaching experience of over 23 years and his involvement in coaching cricket as well.
Discussion on Rugby Culture - 4:18
Michael and Alex delve into the cultural impact of rugby in New Zealand and the UK, emphasizing the informal and deeply ingrained nature of the sport in New Zealand, where it is considered a national pastime. They also note the widespread awareness and high participation in the UK, particularly in secondary schools, and discuss the challenge of maintaining interest and participation in the sport among young adults.
Pathway Development and Player Progression - 11:15
Michael and Alex delve into the intricacies of developing a pathway for Northampton, highlighting the need for a broad and deep system to account for the late development nature of rugby. They discuss the challenges of player selection, maturation, and individual player journeys, emphasizing the importance of creating a positive learning environment for player progression.
Identifying Potential in Players - 24:56
Michael and Alex delve into the complexities of identifying potential in young players, focusing on the player's desire to improve, work ethic, and ability to positively impact the game without overshadowing teammates. They stress the importance of observing players' core skills, movement, and fundamentals, while also considering their decision-making and understanding of the game.
Player Development and Position Specifics 34:12
Alex and Michael delve into the intricacies of player development and position-specific training in rugby. They highlight the significance of players honing their core rugby skills and physical development before specializing in a particular position, emphasizing the need for a strong foundation. The discussion also touches on the relevance of players gaining exposure to positions through club and school games, and the gradual evolution of position-specific training as players progress through the pathway.
Coaching Philosophy and Player Development - 42:12
Michael and Alex delve into the coaching philosophy and player development approach, highlighting the significance of engaging coaches in the process and fostering a mindset of continuous improvement. They stress the importance of developing skill levels, creating enjoyable learning environments, and encouraging decision-making in players, while also discussing the balance between block repetitive practices and contextualized ecological dynamics in skill acquisition.
Discussion on Coaching and Player Development - 53:36
Alex emphasizes the importance of coaches and players having a deep technical understanding and the ability to impart that knowledge. He also highlights how he would like to be described in 3 words.
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Stuart McClaren is the former Under 18's coach and Scottish powerhouse Celtic FC. He had also previously worked as 1st team coach with the Scottish Women's team and as part of the Scottish FA
Stuart McLaren's Coaching Journey - 0:48
Stuart McLaren shares his coaching journey, starting with his player-manager role at the Brisbane Strikers in the old national soccer league in Australia. He then moved on to work in elite youth football programs, as an assistant at North Queensland Fury, and as head coach at Loughborough University. McLaren also managed Still and Albion in League One and had stints with the Under 16 men's national team and the Women's national team before joining Celtic as the under eighteens manager.
Coaching Philosophy and Practice Alignment - 4:36
Michael Wright and Stuart McLaren discuss coaching philosophy and practice alignment. Stuart emphasizes the importance of making a connection with players and aligning coaching practices with the game model. He also reflects on the evolution of his coaching methods and the spectrum of coaching practices, emphasizing the need to adapt to the players' needs and the art of coaching.
The Pro License Journey - 9:13
Michael Wright and Stuart McLaren delve into their experiences with coaching licenses, particularly the journey to the Pro license. McLaren details his progression through formal coach education in Australia and Scotland, noting the influence of UEFA and the emphasis on management topics in the Pro license course. He also reflects on the valuable insights gained from influential presenters such as Kevin Keegan and Brian Ashton.
Reflections on Coaching and Learning -13:51
Stuart McLaren and Michael Wright share their reflections on coaching and learning, discussing topics such as the unexpected experience of writing a book for coaching certification, the value of being challenged to reconsider preconceptions, and the differences in coaching approaches between generations and cultures, including the impact of communication styles and the evolution of coaching methods over time.
Challenges in Player Development and Preparation -25:03
Stuart delve into the complexities of preparing young players for the professional football environment, particularly at a club like Celtic. McLaren highlights the need to develop players not only in technical and tactical aspects but also in character and mental resilience to handle the pressures of the game. He also mentions the use of technology and individual feedback to facilitate communication and learning with players.
Coaching Interventions and Staff Dynamics - 31:48
Stuart delve into the significance of coaching interventions and staff dynamics, highlighting the evolution of coaching practices and the impact of age and experience on coaching styles. They also touch upon the role of mentorship and the diverse backgrounds of coaching staff in influencing player development.
Context and Philosophy in Player Development 45:29
Stuart McLaren and Michael Wright delve into the significance of context and philosophy in player development. McLaren shares insights from his time at Celtic and the Aspire Academy, emphasizing the need to prepare players for diverse playing styles and systems. Wright adds that understanding players' strengths and adapting within a framework can optimize performance.
Reflections on Coaching Achievements and Impact - :54:56
Stuart McLaren discusses the emotional aspect of coaching and shares proud moments from his coaching journey, highlighting the significance of acknowledging achievements. Michael Wright emphasizes the importance of recognizing positive moments in coaching and the self-reflective nature of the role, aiming to maintain a positive impact on players.
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Dr Adam Kelly is a Senior Lecturer and researcher in Talent Identification and development. Formally and academy player and coach, he now focuses on supporting national governing bodies in their creation of talent development pathways.
Show notes
1:39 - Introduction to Dr Adam Kelly
4:27 - What is talent development & performance vs potential
6:50 - The use of performance markers as potential indicators
8:45 - The challenges of competitions in potential development
12:00 - Historical key identifiers of potential long term performance
17:00- The challenges of psychology effecting performance when trying to identifying long term potential
19:45 - How squash has organised it's development pathway in relation to RAE
22:00 - The corrective time algorithm in athletics
27:00- How RAE schemes often miss out grassroot players
31:00 - The framing of player across and how Harry Maguire and John Stones has different experiences
33:30 - Research into position and decision making game based simulations
35:00 - Perceptual cognitive skill testing
37:00 - The use of VR in player assessment
41:00 - What would A grade academy development programme look like?
49:00 - The effects of the EPP on football in the UK
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Greame Mathie is the Managing Director of Ayr United and formally worked for Hibernian and Celtic.
Introduction and Overview of Managing Director's Role - 1:31
Michael and Graeme discuss the balance between on-pitch performance and off-pitch factors such as fan engagement and business operations. Graeme emphasizes the importance of team performance in driving revenue and fan engagement, but also acknowledges the need to focus on other aspects of the business when the team is not performing well.
Building a Vision for the Football Club - 6:55
Graeme Mathie shares his experience of working with the owner of a football club to build a sustainable and successful organization. He talks about the challenges of recruiting a manager without a clear vision or job description in place. Michael Wright asks about the process of getting everyone on board with the club's values and vision.
Establishing Core Values and Accountability - 11:24
Graeme Mathie explains how they established core values for the club, including unity, and how they involved staff in the process. Michael Wright asks about accountability and how to ensure that the values are being lived out, and Graeme shares some challenges they have faced in this area, including the need for conflict and the difficulty of getting everyone on board.
Importance of High Challenge and Honest Relationships in Leadership - 18:38
Graeme Mathie and Michael Wright discuss the challenges of leadership in the sports industry, including high turnover rates and the pressure to make every decision count. They highlight the importance of building honest relationships and embracing high challenge, as well as holding each other accountable for taking action to improve.
Developing a Culture of Innovation and Accountability - 26:36
Graeme Mathie shares his vision for the club, drawing inspiration from successful English Premier League teams like Brighton and Brentford. He discusses the need to outthink, outwork, and make better use of resources than other clubs at their level. Mathie also emphasizes the importance of player development plans and creating a positive team environment.
Recruitment Process and Soft Skills in Sports Industry - 34:35
Graeme Mathie and Michael Wright discuss the importance of understanding the psychology and relationships of coaches and players in the sports industry. They also talk about the need for a plan to bring in the right people to build the right dynamic for the team to flourish.
Graeme Mathie and Michael Wright discuss the recruitment process for football managers, including the importance of identifying key performance indicators and personal characteristics. They also touch on the challenges of considering fan engagement and creating a narrative around the hiring process. - 42:00
Graeme Mathie on Leadership and Self-Reflection - 53:15
Michael Wright interviews Graeme Mathie about his leadership style and how he is perceived by his colleagues. Mathie hopes to be seen as a collaborative leader with good ideas and honesty, but recognizes that he may also be seen as high energy and asking too many questions. The conversation also touches on the changing nature of work environments and the importance of self-reflection.
Discussion on the Importance of Winning Games and Style of Football 56::24
Graeme Mathie shares his thoughts on the importance of winning games and the style of football played by a team. He suggests that managers should communicate their priorities to their employers and focus on generating revenue from player trades if they want to bring through young players and play a certain style of football. Michael Wright agrees with Graeme's points.
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Kevin Mannion is a Strength and Conditioning coach and Premiership Rugby Club Sale Sharks. Previously he has worked for Gloucester Rugby and Rugby League side Wigan Warriors.
Show notes:
Developing Successful Academy Programs - 1:31
Kevin Mannion shares insights on what made the Wigan period successful, including the players' understanding of the responsibility of playing for Wigan and the presence of leaders like Andy Farrell and Chris Identy. He emphasizes the importance of creating a cultural underpinning of young local players playing for their home team, which generates a sense of pride from the fans. Michael Wright adds to the discussion by highlighting the importance of players wanting to be part of the group and how it translates to the pitch and the fans.
Characteristics of Players in Rugby Union = 11:15
Kevin Mannion and Michael Wright discuss the characteristics required for players in rugby union, including the need for robustness and adaptability. Mannion explains how the program is designed to cater to the diverse characteristics of players, with different programs for front five and back rolls and backs. He emphasizes the importance of functional weight and creating a suit of armor rather than just adding weight for weight's sake.
Managing Player Progression and Loans - 21:41
Kevin and Michael discuss the loan system in rugby and how it can be used to develop players. They talk about the importance of timing and ensuring that players are physically and mentally ready for the demands of the game at different levels. They also discuss the challenges of managing the progression and pathway of young players, including the need to balance the needs of the first team with the development of young players.
Player Preparation and Robustness 30:13
Kevin and Michael discuss the importance of player preparation during the season, with Kevin emphasizing the need for recovery and freshness for games. They also discuss how to prepare players to be more robust, with Kevin mentioning a blend of touch, grab, and shoulders on training with physio-led gym prep. Kevin also mentions that every player has individual Boltons based on screening, and that they try to fit in three different elements of preparation within the week.
Importance of Pre-Game Preparation and Natural Consequences - 34:23
Michael and Kevin emphasize the importance of pre-game preparation and how it can affect a player's performance and opportunities. They discuss how natural consequences can motivate players to do the necessary work and how injuries can be a result of not doing the work. They also mention the challenges of working with cross organizations to ensure players are able to peak and perform at the right times.
Overview of the Academy Schedule and Player Management- 43:41
Kevin Mannion explains the academy schedule and player management, including the different pathways for under 16s and the importance of managing player fatigue. He also discusses the interaction between the academy and school systems and the need to ensure players have the best experiences to promote themselves. The academy also manages high potential players, known as England Academy players, with different interactions and considerations around their playing time.
Maximizing Point of Difference - 55:10
Kevin and Michael explore the concept of point of difference in athletes and how to help them embrace and improve it. They discuss the importance of identifying specific skills and techniques for different positions in football and how to manage training to maximize performance.
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Cody Royle is a AFL coach who formally worked as a coach for the Canadian National team. Alongside this he is a two time author of 'The tough stuff' and 'where others won't' as well as acting as mentor to coaches around the globe.
Show notes
Cody Royle and Michael Wright discussed a range of topics related to coaching, including Royle's background and journey to becoming a coach, the psychology of fear in sports, and the importance of human qualities such as awareness and communication in coaching performance. Royle emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to coaching that focuses on both technical knowledge and human qualities. He also discussed the challenges of removing subjectivity from coaching and suggested that coaches can benefit from seeing things from different perspectives and engaging in conversations to identify areas for development.
Royle and Wright also discussed the challenges of becoming a head coach and the different pathways that coaches can take. They emphasized the importance of giving opportunities to coaches who may not fit the traditional mold and how this can lead to new and innovative ideas in coaching. They also talked about the pressures of coaching at different clubs and how it can affect a coach's career trajectory. Overall, the discussion highlighted the need for more diversity and inclusivity in the coaching industry.
Throughout the meeting, Royle emphasized the importance of empathy, thoughtfulness, and belief in coaching. He believes that coaches often need someone to believe in them and that this can be emboldening. Wright thanked Royle for his time and they discussed promoting Royle's upcoming book. The meeting provided valuable insights into the world of coaching and highlighted the importance of a holistic approach that focuses on both technical knowledge and human qualities.
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David Tenney is the High Performance Director at Austin FC. Formally of the Seattle Sounders and NBA team Orlando Magic, David has in depth understanding of player performance and how to assist management in best preparing players to perform through a season of competitive action.
Show notes:
2:00 - David provides his credentials and background
6:25 - Preparing a team performance
10:00 - An overview of how team location can affect player preparation
11:30 - The distances MLS players will covered per game
14:00 - How tactics affect the players conditioning
20:00 - The challenges of cognitive and physical fatigue
24:30 - How to bullseye and catch players in moments
27:00 - The difference between perception and reality in coach message
32:00 - Preparing teams for different climates
36:00 - Differences between the MLS and NBA
41:00 - The riggers of an NBA schedule
45:00 - Giving ownership during an individualised approach
Philip O'Callaghan is a teacher and tennis coach. He focuses on the use of ecological dynamics and constraint based approach when working with tennis players in skill development.
Show notes:
1:50 - Philip provides his credentials and overview of his career
3:15 - What interested Philip in skill acquisition
4:40 - How it effected his game
5:50 - The theory behind the games based approach
7:20 - Real life example of constraint based approach in tennis
8:30 - Simplification of a task or game
11:30 - Developing a new technique from this approach and it's challenges
14:40 - Creating repetition in constrained environments
17:00 - Replicating these ideas as an individual at home
23:30 - How to stress test the skills developed
26:30 - The success case study
30:30 - Challenging the perfection necessary narrative
36:00 - Twitter space conversations
39:00 - The future of the constraint based coaching
45:00 - How would Philip like to be described in 3 words
John Pascarella is the assistant coach at Forward Madison. His has also had stints with MLS sides Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United. John has held a variety of roles and positions in his time from goalkeeper coach through to head coach.
Show notes:
2:00 - Introduction to John and his credentials
5:30 - What is good coaching?
10:00 - Understanding the role of an Assistant coach
13:00 - How to gain intel on the environment you are entering
17:30 - How do keep the same ideas fresh in training
21:00 - The power of study visits and gain information
22:30 - The power of the right questions
24:00 - The Sir Alex Ferguson meeting
28:00 - The power over zooming out
32:00 - Why taking familiar faces to new clubs can help or hinder and environment
34:00 - The importance of non negotiables
36:15 - Developing the mean of a group
37:00 - How does our coaching team resonate with our players?
39:00 - Preparing to be a Head Coach when an assistant
43:00 - How to stress you decision making process
48:00 - Preparing for challenges conversations
49:00 - The stop which resonates with John the most
52:00- How would John like to be described in 3 words?
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Nick Scott is the Director of Rugby of Seria A Pesaro. Formally working for the RFU in England, Nick has helped sculpture the rugby system in England helping it produce some of the modern day internationals such as Maro Itoje, Anthony Watson and Marcus Smith.
Show notes:
1:30 - Nick provides his story and overview of his credentials
5:30 - What drew him to Rugby
8:00 - Biggest challenges transitioning into rugby full time
11:30 - The transition from amateur to professional
15:00 - Providing coach specific support as part of the RFU
20:00 - Challenging poor practice within a pathway
22:00 - The importance of informal contact points
25:00 - Learning the skills of critical thinking
27:00 - The decision to leave the RFU
30:00 - The biggest change to becoming a Director of Rugby
36;:00 - The use of professional coaches in Italy
40:00 - Game zone and skill zone
43:30 - Player identification throughout the pathway
46:00 - The importance of trusting personal feeling
49:00 - Being a maverick 24/7
50:00 - The importance of self reflection in elite performers
Andrew Cresci is the Hitting Coach for the Houston Astro. Focusing on the development pathway, Andrew's role is to develop players ball striking ability with the aim of them having success ready for Major League progression.
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Richard Cheetham MBE is a coach and lecturer at the University of Winchester focusing on coach development. He has also worked as a consultant for a variety of NGB's and professional sporting organisations assisting their coach development programme and environmental demands.
Show notes:
1:35 - Richard provides an overview of his credentials
2:15 - How he got into coaching whilst in NZ
3:40 - The key principles of good coaching
5:00 - Why to focus on interpersonal skills rather than technical and tactical
7:20 - Challenging of watching as a Dad
10:30 - Challenging behaviours which may not help children's long term development
12:50 - The skills of differentiation
17:00 - Some tips games for getting to know people/players
22:00- How to encourage brave practitioners to carry on 'new ides' in working environments
26:00- The shift to child led environments
31:00 - How to manage group dynamics to secure equity
35:00 - Understanding the context of groups dynamics/presentation
38:00 - The challenges of more sedentary lifestyle and no ball game signs
40:00 - Formal to informal learning environments
47:00 - How would Richard like to be described in 3 words?
Alan Murdoch is a owner and coach at Speed Works Bath. Formally of Bath Rugby, Alan now works in a consultancy capacity and looks to support players and team with there aim to improve speed and agility. He also specialises in rehabilitation and has worked with International players, such as Anthony Watson, in their return to peak physical fitness
Show notes
02:25 - An overview of Alan's career as a practitioner
05:00 - Why is speed and agility so imperative to elite sport
09:00 - How to train elasticity
10:30 - How much effect can training have on speed
14:00- Understanding a players relative ceiling and how speed can be improve by 4.6% (on average)
18:00 - The hardware and software principle
21:00 - The differences between reality and the ideal scenario of speed work
27:30 - How schedules are managed in relation to in competition load
32:00 - Description of the most common ACL injuries
37:00 - The challenges of traditional recover time lines
38:00- Why coaching speed early in the cycle may help players return to full speed quicker
41:00 - Working collaboratively with club staff
44:00 - How would Alan liked to be described in 3 words
Dr Zoe Wimshurst is a former hockey player turned Doctor of Sport Vision. Director of Performance Vision, Zoe looks to help athletes develop better visionary skill and awareness of their surroundings. Through a variety of practical and academic training techniques, Zoe is able to develop athletes ability to 'scan' pitches and player locations more effectively. She also assist coaches in their development of this skill in sessions and why shouting 'scan' may not be the most effective measure.
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Dr Zoe Wimshurst is a former hockey player turned Doctor of Sport Vision. Director of Performance Vision, Zoe looks to help athletes develop better visionary skill and awareness of their surroundings. Through a variety of practical and academic training techniques, Zoe is able to develop athletes ability to 'scan' pitches and player locations more effectively. She also assist coaches in their development of this skill in sessions and why shouting 'scan' may not be the most effective measure.
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Jorge Couto Ruis is a football coach who has worked for European powerhouses FC Porto and FC Barcelona. He also wrote a book around tactical periodisation called 'The Pattern Morphocycle’s Sustainability'.
Show notes:
01:00 - Jorge introduces his coaching story
02:00 - How he started his journey at FC Porto
04:00- How he started his journey at FC Barcelona
08:00- The FC methodology and how he learnt this at the start of his career.
10:30 - The coaching pathway and principles at FC Porto
13:30 - The importance of competition to FC Porto in training environments
19:00 - Enjoyment to competition mentality in academy philosophy
23:00 - The differences between FC Barcelona and FC Porto
27:00 - Recognising the Barcelona way from a playing methodology
33:00 - Why having a recognisable first team helps to contextualise players entering the academy system
38:00 - What does good tactical periodisation look like in a programme?
44:00 - The importance of meeting the group where they are in their development journey
50:00- How to allow flexibility within a game model
57:00- Allowing creativity within constrained environment
1:02:00 - How would Jorge like to be described in 3 words.
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Farbizio Piccareta is a Italian football coach who has worked at a variety of football clubs including Inter Milan, Roma and Sampodoria. He is also worked as a member of Paulo Di Canio's backroom staff at Sunderland and Swindon.
Show notes below:
1:25 - Overview of Fabrizio and his career
9:30 - The differences in working in academy football from Inter Milan to Sanremese
15:00 - The differences of working with players within their teenage year and the YDP
17:00 - How working in a foreign country which is drill orientated change Fabrizio's belief around coaching
20:30 - How experiencing different cultures changes your view of the game
27:00- Changing coaching methodology in relation to the environment and players you are working with
29:00 - How players upbringing effects there first team experience and problem solving at the top level
34:00 - Meeting Paolo Di Canio and other famous Italian players on a course and how this changed his career
36:00- Their time at Swindon Town before moving Sunderland
39:00- Why the opportunity at Sunderland may have come to early in their managerial career
42:00- The challenge of player ID at Sunderland after staying up the season before
47:20 - The feeling coaches get when players begin to disengage with the process
55:30 - How did he prepare the young players at Roma for the first team environment
1:00:00- The challenges of re creating pressure for younger players
1:03:00 - Connecting with his players through books
1:04:00 - How would Fabrizio like to be described in 3 words and why?
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Alex Porter is a former GB athlete and captain now turned coach of volleyball. He works at the University of Essex trying to help athletes progress their dreams of becoming professional volleyball athletes.
Show notes:
0:50 - Alex provides is sporting credentials
3:20 - Overview of the UK and European Volleyball pathway
7:00- Explaining the differences in professionalism across European leagues
10:00 - The success of the Essex programme in creating pros
13:30 - The NCAA volleyball marketing success
18:00 - How the UK could have great success
20:10 - The differences between gifted and talented and how you recruit it
23:50 - Addressing challenging conversation around a players inadequate physical profile
27:00 - Supporting the players in developing skill through growth
30:00- The use traditional session format
36:00 - How do volleyball teams decide strategy in game
42:00- How the teams encourages a check and challenge culture for the better of in game decisions
48:30 - The differences in player cultures over the generations
50:30 - The power of player culture setters
56:00- How would Alex like to be described in 3 words
Jim Haverstrom is a Youth Hockey Director and Coach Developer for USA Hockey. With multiple decades of experience, he focuses on supporting young players and coaches in developing skills and techniques ready for the future game
Show notes
1:40 - The introduction to Jim and his Hockey background
3:45 - The Ice Hockey pathway within the US
7:30 - The coaching culture within Ice Hockey
10:00 - The difference of coaching methodology from US to International
14:00- The traditional practice within the US
16:30 - Transition to more nuanced coaching methodology
23:00 - Players getting exposure across multiple positions
24:30 - The more fluid notion of modern day hockey
26:45 - Preparing players for the physical contact within hockey
33:00 - Coping with the discrepancy in physical abilities
35:00 - The use of constrained competition to prepare players for contact and there next steps
40:00 - The involvement of NHL teams is supporting grassroot hockey
44:00 - The use of the transfer portal in player development
44:30 - The future of hockey and how to prepare future players for it
48:00 - How to support coaches in preparing players for the future game
56:00 - How would Jim like to be described in 3 words
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Jamie Tayler is a associate professor at Dublin City University and Senior Coach Developer at Grey's Matters. From these roles he is able to take academic work and theory and use it within practical coaching environment. Specifically, Jamie has work for the Leicester Tiger and Wasps academies set ups, helping produce some of the house hold names who play for club and country.
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Trystan Bevan is the Head of Performance at Cardiff Rugby and former Head of Rugby and Wasps. Previously an NCAA athlete, Trystan has also written a book called our race focusing on the stories of the GB 4x100 Gold medal team made up of Jason Gardner, Darren Campbell, Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis Francis.
Show notes
1:30 - Introduction to Trystan Bevan and credentials in sport
5:10 - Why the late and great Steve Black was so influential in his coaching career.
6:30 - The effect an individual coach can have on training outcomes
10:00 - The dynamic coaching at the Exeter Chiefs
12:30 - The challenges of Talent ID in short termism management
14:00 - Trystan's belief as why speed is king
19:30 - Creating a squad which is capable of playing high level of rugby for 80 minutes
22:10 - Field to gym work fitness development
25:00 - The physical characteristics of a prop and how this effect on field play
28:00 - The use of confirmation bias when accessing data
30:45 - The use of isolated running to mentally challenge players
34:00 - The importance of staggering players rugby experience
37:00 - The aura of high profile players such as Jonah Lomu
39:20 - Joe Smith and how he was a led a practice culture
41:20 - How high profile makes you feel like a team that wants success
43:30 - 'The best players take themselves seriously every day'
45:00 - Why immeasurable aims may set a culture of excellence
47:00 - The story of the 4x100 runners
53:00 - How they put aside personal rivalries to have success
57:00 - Gaining credibility in an unfamiliar sport
59:00 - How would Trystan like to be described in 3 words
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Fraser Stewart is the first team goalkeeper coach and Head of Goalkeeping at Kilmarnock FC. Previous to this he worked in the Scottish F.A as part of their coach education programme and national goalkeeping coaching pathway
1:00 - Introduction to Fraser Stewart
3:40 - Grasping the environment when entering a new performance environment
7:00 - Connecting with the players in small groups
9:10 - Establishing the players base level of performance
12:00 - Metrics to establish goalkeeper fitness in Pre - Season
14:45 - Session adaptation for increased workload in goalkeepers
17:20 - Running with the outfielders
20:20 - Session design adaptations in relation to how the opposing team plays
23:30 - The process of changing tactics with the coaching staff
26:40 - Creating time in the week for functional adaptation
30:00 - Encouraging aggression from the goalkeepers
34:00 - Managing the 1/2 goalkeeper environment
39:00 - Managing the pressure of having 2 capable goalkeepers
45:00 - His role within the academy and the importance of being on the ground
51:00 - How Fraser would like to be described in 3 words
Damian McGrath is a rugby coach with a wealth of knowledge and experiences from all around the world. Starting as a teacher, he has gone on to coach some of the powerhouses of English Rugby including Leeds Rhinos and Leicester Tigers. He was also part of the backroom staff under Sir Clive Woodward. Currently he is the Head Coach of the Kenyan National Rugby 7's team.
Show notes:
00:50 - Introduction to Damian McGrath
02:00 - The format of Rugby 7's
13:30 - The foundations he puts in place with the groups he is coaching
17:30 - The techniques Damian likes to emphasise when coaching 'along with the why'
22:00 - How is the coached on a consistent basis
23:45 - How to pressurise the skill ready for 'in battle' execution
25:30 - Mike McDaniel and his use of footage to emphasise
27:30 - Challenging himself as an introvert to talk Infront of teams and inspire them
30:30 - Building and developing relationships when performance is paramount
32:00 - Providing a way back
33:00 - Talent identification in Kenyan Rugby 'and it's challenges'
36:00 - How Damian upskills himself with knowledge when transferring between unfamiliar codes
41:00 - Engaging the team leaders to get others on board
45:00 - The trend of Rugby League coaches switching to union and why its becoming more common
47:30 - The challenge of having principles to allowing creative freedom
48:30 - Zigging when others zagged when coaching the German national team
51:30 - How would Damian liked to be described in 3 words and why
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Joe Baker is a professor at York University in Canada. He has recently focused his research on Talent Identification and this has culminated in his latest book release 'The Tyranny of talent'.
Show notes
1:30 - The background of Joe and his work into talent identification
3:40 - Why did Talent Identification resonate with Joe as a research area
4:45 - The process of research creation
7:40 - Finding research in a scarce field
10:00 - Challenging confirmation bias in talent identification
12:40 - The definition of talent
15:15 - The effect the environment can have on 'high potential individuals'
19:10 - Do we know what a positive develop environment is?
21:40 - How do we assess progression?
23:30 - Early specialisation vs multi sport approach
26:00 - The importance of nuance in this field
32:15 - Potential characteristics in future high performers
37:15 - The differences between high end performance projection to developmental pathway assessment
39:30 - How to support coaches in identification and long term development of high potential players
43:30 - The statistical challenges of the draft process
43:30 - The optimal talent identification process
48:30 - Next target in this field for Joe and his team
51:00- How would Joe like to be described in 3 words
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Charles Ruiz is a specialist in leadership and team development. Formally a baseball player within the the Colorado Rockies set up, Charles was drafted in round 10 of the 2009 MLB draft. Fast forward 5 years and Charles if having to retire due to injury and forge himself new career and life.
Show notes:
1:30 - The whistle stop tour of Charles Ruiz
3:00 - Why Baseball
6:30 - The power of Charles coaching staff and how they supported him (the anti last chance U)
8:30 - How did the coaching staff create comfort in the uncomfortable
10:30 - His skillset as an athlete
12:00- Juco to D! transition
14:30 - The power of Manchester United's Cliff model
18:00 - The process of being scouted by MLB scouts
21:00 - The importance of staying grounded during high success periods
25:00 - What does the transition from colligate to pro athlete look like?
32:00 - The origin of his injury
36:00 - The final throw
38:00 - Transitioning away from being an athlete
41:00 - Understanding what you enjoy about sport
44;30 - Sale or no sale
45:30 - The threads of high performing teams
47:00- Creating healthy challenge
49:00 - Creating trust in a group
56:00 - The core or starting 5
59:00 - How would Charles like to be described in 3 words and why
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Amy Price is a coach and coach developer in football. She works for the English Football Association and Premier League side Fulham. She is also well know for her work around video game design and how it could be an effective tool when coaching.
Show notes:
1:30 - Amy discusses her current roles within F.A and at Fulham FC.
3:30 - The environment of at Fulham encouraging individualisation.
4:45 - The identity of Fulham maximising an individuals potential.
7:30 - The importance of understanding where the athletes have come through to support them in the future
8:35 - Strategies to understand how the athlete has been coaches previously
10:30 - Key challenges of working within the Professional game
18:30 - The difference between gamification and video game design
26:30 - Application tips of video game design and the importance of missions
32:00 - How would Amy liked to be described in 3 words and why?
Chris Pike is a goalkeeping and set piece coach in the England U23's women's programme. Formally of Tottenham Hotspur Women's 1st team, Arsenal academy and Watford, Chris has a wealth of experience of supporting goalkeeping development in every age of their journey.
Show notes:
01:10 - Chris's grounding as a professional goalkeeper coach
03:40 - Planning sessions suitable for every age group within an academy
07:00 - Helping goalkeepers develop their technical ability with their feet
09:00- Helping players identify the risk and reward of play out from the back.
13:30 - How do you challenge players to develop skills they don't get easy access to
15:50 - Developing player buy in to skill development
20:00 - Managing training repetition load
23:15 - The challenges of growth and maturation in goalkeeper coordination
30:42 - The use of individual development plans in coaching across the age groups
36:40 - Managing confirmation bias once developing such close working relationships
39:00 - Gaining validity as a coach
43:00 - Managing game specific challenges/research
47:00 - The squad selection process
50:00 - How would Chris like to be described in 3 words
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Lauren Ammon is a former NCCA athlete turned founder of Performance reimagined which is service provided to athletes to help them develop their mental skills in preparation for performance sport.
Show Notes
1:30 - Lauren and her experiences in the sporting world
4:00 - Why does performance sport resonate with Lauren
6:00- The challenges of collegiate sport in the US
9:00 - The campus pressures in collegiate sport
11:00- The effect NIL will have on athletes
16:00 - The Olympic 'Face of' cycle
19:30 - Michael Phelps challenges between Olympic cycles
23:00 - The gravity of the US sporting landscape
26:00 - The role of performance reimagined
28:00 - What does success look like?
43:00 - The challenges of athletes receiving critical feedback
34:00 - The barriers faced when implementing this type of work
37:30 - How they develop co-dependent athletes who can work with coaches
51:00 - Key identifiers of for high performing athletes
54:00 - How would Lauren like to be described in 3 words and why?
Dr Anna Stodter is a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett in sports coaching. Alongside her lecturing role, Anna is also completing a PHD into coaches and how they develop as practitioners through formal pathways and how they learnt on and around the course. She then went on to work at Cambridge University and GB Archery. Shows notes
2:00 - Anna's role as a sport professional
3:00 - What does good coaching look like?
5:00 - What do successful coaches do to progress and become successful
9:30 - The use of formal to informal feedback
13:00- What is the assessment criteria in coaching and coach development
14:45 - Theoretical models that focus coaching criteria
18:00 - The use of formal coaching education
22:30 - Filtering the appropriate information from coaching qualifications
25:00 - The importance of supporting coaching contexts
28:00 - Maverick coaches in more traditional environments
30:00- The effect of Anna's research on her own coaching
40:00 - The importance of hierarchy in enabling creative coaches
44:00 - Analysing the environment before coaching
45:00- Preparing the team for Cambridge vs Oxford
48:00 - The challenges of a review process
51:00 - How would Anna like to be described in 3 words?
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Richard Shorter is the founder of Non-perfect Dad an organisation which looks to provide organisations and parents with critical insight into creating a collaborative and evidence based approach in supporting young people participating in performance sport.
Show notes
02:30 - Richard role as non perfect Dad
05:30 - Why is support needed in performance sport
08:30 - The key characteristics of positive player support
14:00 - The necessity of player feedback in the development pathway
19:00 - Scaffolding the preparation of bad news or 'being released?'
28:00 - The importance of no surprises for an upcoming decision
33:00 - Understanding how the experiences of being in pressurised sport can be beneficial
37:00- Staying connected to the organisation long term.
38:30 - Creating collaborative parent, player and coaching environments
Phil Relf is the Director of Sport at Canterbury Academy. Formally working in professional cricket, Phil worked as the academy director and first team assistant at Kent and also went on to work of the England Cricket Board (ECB).
Show notes
01:20 - Previous experiences as a practitioner
06:30 - Groundings as a practitioner in the grassroots settings
09:00 - How Phil allows 'flow' within his sessions
11:45 - The role of academy director in Cricket
16:00 - Periodisation in the cricket season
19:30 - Preparing plays to play across formats during a short season
28:00 - How do you manage players obsession to score runs
33:30 - The balance of practice in a progression pathway
35:30 - The role of social architects in a group development
38:00 - The need for hostility in the training environment
40:00 - How New Zealand were ahead of the curve in their player development
42:00 - How did the Red Sox manage difference in pitching action to the benefit of batters
50:00 - The use of ball type in effecting coaching outcomes
54:45 - Managing meetings with high numbers of staff
57:30 - How to engrain players in culture setting
1:02:00- Gaining player feedback for a practitioner.
1:04:00 - Describing Phil in 3 words
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Tadhg Leader is a former professional rugby player in Ireland and Italy and for the American National Team. At aged 29 he transitioned to American Football and played as a Kicker for the Aviators in the CFL, the step below the NFL.
Show Notes:
1:30- Tadhg athletic journey
3:30 - Why is there a transition into American Football
6:00 - The culture of 'kickabouts' around the globe
7:30 - The technical detail around ball striking in the American Football
10:00 - Negating the pre conceived ideas within 'industry knowledge'
13:00 - The challenge of outcome over process
15:00 - What does an NFL team want from it special teams kicking unit
21:00 - Managing load during training
24:00- How coaches pressurise training sessions to replicate games for better performance
29:00 - Roberto Aguayo and the yips in kicking within American Football
35:00 - How can you utilise different ball striking techniques in American Football
40:00 - Freelancing within game plans
44:00 - How would Tadhg like to be described in 3 words?
Aaron Gershenfeld is a defensive co-ordinator for the MLB powerhouse New York Yankee's. Part of the Player Development Pathway, Aaron aims to helps players progress into the Major league team having acquired the necessary skills to perform consistently at the highest level.
Show notes:
1:00 - Introduction to Aaron and his roles within baseball
2:46 - History of baseball and watching LA dodgers camps
4:45 - The role of defensive with baseball
8:00 - Creating digestible content for players
9:00 - Creating marginal gains within baseball
12:40 - The importance of mental skills whilst in the field
16:00 - Preparing for the All star hitter
18:30 - Creating the holistic player
23:30 - Helping self directive learners
30:00 - The role of senior players in creating a learning environment
32:00 - The challenges of a 100+ game season
34:00 - Creating a longitudinal player development plan
36:00- Curiosity the develops a player
38:10 - How would Aaron like to be described in 3 words
Karl Marius Askum is the U19's coach at Odds Ballklubb. Alongside this role he has also completed a PHD in Visual Perception in football. More frequently called 'scanning', visual perception is becoming increasingly focused on within academic literature with emphasis on the importance it plays in top players taking in and analysing the game around them.
Show notes:
1:00 – Who is Karl Marius Aksum
2:40 – Norwegian performance football pathway
8:00 – Academy progression in Norwegian football
11:20 – Playing catch up with technical capabilities
15:00 – Visual perception in football
19:00 – Casemiro scanning capability in football
21:00 – Why is scanning important
24:30 – The challenges in of ball fixation
29:00 – Session design to increase scan frequency
33:00 – Key identifiers to support players in scanning ability
37:00 – Coaching positional play as part of a visual perception framework
41:00 – Utilisation extra’s to improve scanning
50:00 – How would Karl like to be described
Michal Pujdak is the U23's coach at Leeds United. Formally of Grimsby Town and Manchester City, Michal is the last stop for players looking to transition into Jesse Marsch's first team and looks to equip players with necessary tools to prepare them for the first team environment.
Show notes:
0:45 - Introduction and current role with Leeds United
05:00 - Influence of playing on his coaching skills
08:00 - Journey as an academy coach
13:30 - The differences of culture from Poland to England
21:00 - The importance of understanding club history in football
30-00 - Weekly schedule with Leeds U23's
31:30 - The Leeds Way
40:00 - Framing what a 'chance' to impress is in the first team environment
43:30 - The importance of self guided learners
52:00 - Promoting the willingness to ask questions
1:01:00 - How would you like to be described by those you work with.
Tony Casella is the National Talent Identification Coordinator at Australian Basketball. With over 20 years experience working in basketball within Australia, Tony has seen some of the best and most high profile Australian basketball players transition into the professional ranks including the NBA.
Show notes
01:00 - Introduction to Tony Casella basketball experience
04:00 - Australian basketball talent and participation pathway
10:30 - Talent identification criteria for high potential players
15:40 - The talent ID framework within Australian Basketball
22:00 - Assessing players who are ready to make the jump in competition level
28:31 - RAE effect and bio banding challenges in talent ID
35:00 - Using physical metrics as performance indicators
40:00 - Creating a programme that allows the system to create multi skilled and positional players
44:30 - Greatest challenge faced within Tony's role.
48:00 - How would he want to be described by fellow practitioners
Kevin Mulcahy is a sports practitioner with a wide range of experiences and roles within the sector. Working predominantly in GAA, Kevin uses a Constraint Led Approach to help players develop, and more importantly, create a long-term love for the game. With the support of sporting governing bodies, Kevin would like to see a shift away from the current 'academy' model toward an environment that allows players to develop locally until their late teens when they would be more psychologically reedy for the challenges of high-performance sport.
Show notes:
17:00 - How to create a technical base without coaching drills
22:00 - The implementation of constraints-based coaching so players can emulate their hero's
25:00 - Why games over drills?
27:00 - Task simplification in game scenarios
31:00 - The effect of relative age effect on competition and participant retention
35:30 - The individualised approach to player support in coaching
38:30 - The role of NGB's in competition design
42:00 - How we can put players in challenging environments
55:00 - How can we create appropriate academies?
57:45 - Do coaches really have all the answers?
Stuart Wilkinson is a former player turned coach in Rugby League. He has worked for a variety of clubs and teams including Leeds Rhino's and the England National side. Alongside these roles, he is also a lecturer at the University of central Lancashire and has over 20 years of experience in a variety of roles in the sports industry.
Show notes
1:00 - Experience as a practitioner in sport
10:00 - The importance of a moral compass when working with young people in sport
12:00 - Opportunities to challenge unwanted behaviours in the team
13:45 - The role of cultural architects and cultural assassins to make good working environments
17:00 - The role of a toy in team building
23:00 - How individuals in the group can challenge unwanted behaviours
26:00 - The foundations that can be laid at younger ages group for team cultures
31:00 - How elite performance is task orientated
35:00 - Player protecting the group identity at the elite level
28:30 - 12 years of catastrophe to create the All-Black culture
Jasmine Baba is a freelance technical researcher; talent identify and editor of football in Europe. This is particular prudent in the German market. From unconventional roots within the betting industry, Jasmine has worked her way into professional football and now works as a consultant as part of agency available for hire on the continent. This unique way of working allows her to experience a variety of areas within the industry and provide value to clubs in a multitude of ways.
Show notes
1:20 - View of Fifa and the 2022 World Cup
4:40 - Freelance role and what football market she works within
10:00 - Use of statistics in football better and transfer into football
18:00 - The creation of statistical models in football clubs - EG Brentford
22:25 - What type of work is commissioned by football clubs and related media markets
32:00 - Using stats as an identifier for player recruitment and Key Performance Indicators
34:00 - Finding diamonds in the rough in lower-level football
47:00 - How she upskills herself with modern trends or tactical ideas
58:31 - The difference in football trends from each nation within her market
60:00 - The Redbull football model and its effect on German football
64:00 - The legacy of Ralf Rangnick on German football and why he struggled at Manchester United
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David Sharkey is an English teacher turned consultant who helps business develop a sense of purpose through theming/ story telling. A large proportion of his work in now in the sports industry where he helps creative narratives and identities for high performing teams. An example of this is with Ronan O'Gara's, La Rochelle.
Show notes:
03:00 - The origin of storytelling
15:00 - How to relate storytelling into the performance sport area
19:00 - The definition of theming
25:00 - Theming in a sporting context
31:50 - How South Africa's 'bomb squad' is the gold standard when setting a narrative
35:00 - How Arteta is changing attitude toward the grind
37:30 - The key principles of theming
49:00 - Who is the best practitioner David has worked with and why?
Jenny Coe is the Head of Performance and Well Being at West Ham Football Club. She focuses on providing players and staff with a support network to allow them to perform on a consistent basis whilst also supporting them as individuals away from the field. Previously she held roles within Olympic sports to assist coaches and players with their preparation during Olympic cycles.
Show notes:
2:10 - Current role with West Ham Football Club has Head of Performance and Wellbeing.
9:00 - The importance and understanding of an athlete centered approach
25:00: - The formal process of providing support for staff and players
28:50 - The skill of noticing when working with athletes which may pre-empt a deep in performance
29:30 - Challenging unhelpful behaviours of a player or staff member that impacts performance
36:30 - How West Ham create and environment which is team focused rather than individual athlete focused to aid performance
45:00 - Who is Jenny's inspiration practitioner and why?
Alex Auerbach is the Director of Wellness and development at NBA team Toronto Raptors. In this role he focuses on supporting the team in developing their psychological performance both on and off the court.
Timestamp's
02:00 - Introduction to previous roles in cur college sports and current role with Toronto Raptors
04:00 - The difference between clinical psychology and performance-based psychology
06:12: - 7 strands of wellness and elite performance
22:57 - The role of sports leaders in creating a performance culture/environment
36:10 - Optimal psychological profile for elite team performance
39:10 - Use Michael Jordan as an example for elite performance and team culture
43:10 - The future of performance psychology and how it effects how we think, feel and live.
If you have interests in sports psychology, elite performance or basketball please see below some additional episodes that may be of interest:
113 - Tony Miller - Coaching basketball via a constraints led approach
112 - Kris Goodman - Psychology in the MLB
101 - Alex Sarama - Coaching basketball across the globe
84 - Dr Rob Bell - Managing self-talk
Adam Commens is the Director of Performance at Belgium Hockey. He oversees all performance related aspects of hockey in the country and focuses on improving talent pathways for both coaches and players. Formally a player in his own right, he went to multiple Olympic games with the Australian national team.
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Tom Brown is a former professional cricketer now turned academic. In his recently completed PHD he focused on the under representation of South Asian English players in the English game. This research should hopefully lead to some actionable strategies to improve player pathways across a variety of sports.
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Oliver Gage is the Director of Football for the Canadian Premier League. In this role he supports the clubs to develop their infrastructure and use league central resources with the overall all aim of seeing more young Canadian players playing professional football. Prior to this role he worked with the Houston Dynamos in thei r analysis department.
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Duane Allen is the Lead Youth Development Phase coach at Walsall academy. Formerly of Premiership side Wolverhampton Wanderers, Duane now oversees the development of Youth phase players at the League 2 which has just gone through a philosophy change in the early part of 2022.
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Tony Miller is a basketball coach and academic lecturer at Bob Jones University. He is also the host of 'A Quick Timeout Podcast' and content creator at Dr Dish Basketball and FastModel sports.
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Kris Goodman is a Mental Performance Consultant with the MLB side Tampa Bay Rays. In this role, he often supports the younger athletes with their transition into professional baseball and hopefully prepare them for the jump to the major leagues.
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Carlon Carpenter is a tactical and video analyst for Statsbomb. Statsbomb are one of the world leaders in football analytics and data production. Alongside this role, Carlon also works for National League South side Bath City as a performance analyst, where he implements his theoretical work and modules in practice.
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Warren Abraham is the Rugby 7's coach for Brazil. Born in South Africa, Warren uprooted his life in his early 20's, moving to England where he went on to work with the likes of Saracens and Harlequins. Later he worked with England Men's rugby 7's and then had the privilege to be Head Coach for the Wales Women's rugby 7's team.
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Andy Halliday is the former England and Team GB Hockey Team Manager. During this time, he worked on multiple Olympic cycles including London 2012 and Rio 2016. Andy also spent the majority of his working life with the Metropolitan Police including 18 years as a specialist fire arms officer..
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Dr Alex Lascu is a lecturer at the University of Canberra. A specialist in skill acquisition, she had been investigating how developmental pathways and environemntal factors can affect athlete development as well as skill acquisition itself.
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Jordan Gardner is the Chairman and co-owner of Danish Football Club FC Helsingor. Also a minor shareholder in the English Championship side, Swansea City, Jordan specialises in operational challenges of owning and running a football team full time.
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Cameron Campbell is the Lead U18's coach at Rangers FC. Focusing on assisting players with their jump from the Professional Development Phase into the Professional game, Cameron also spends his time looking for innovative tactics and methodology to support the players. Coming from an academic background, Cameron is able to provide a level of critical thinking to an industry that usually hires ex professional players for his type of role.
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Christian Day is a retired Rugby player who played for Sale Sharks, Stade Francais and Northampton Saints. A lock, Christian played with some of the greatest rugby players of his generation including Jason Robinson, George North and Sebastian Chabal. His current role is as Head of Player affairs at the Rugby Players Association.
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Caleb Cousens is the CEO at Adamas Esports training and performance. One of the fastest growing industry's in the sports, E sports is projected to turnover 1.8 Billion in 2022. At Adamas, Caleb focuses on supporting teams and individuals athletes to increase their well being and performance.
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Dave Kline is a former employee of Bridgewater and Moody's Analytics. Dave specialises in teaching leaders how to build efficient and productive teams.
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Peter Motzenbecker is a Technical Soccer Director in the Boston area. Formally a coach for Juventus, Peter now supports coaches in their professional development. He is also a regular contributor to the twitter Sunday Share movement where he discusses coaches philosophical ideals.
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Alex Sarama is the Lead basketball coach at the Pallecanestro College. Alex is one of the first basketball coaches n the world to fully adopt an Ecological Dynamics & Transformational Coaching approach. This approach is comes from academic research and is derived from the constraint based philosophy. Prior to this role he also worked for NBA Europe and has worked in 35+ countries around the globe.
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In Episode 100 we take a look back at some of our fantastic guests and revisit some fascinating topics from all aspects of the sporting world. Thank you all for your listening and engagement over these last 100 episodes and here is to many many more!!!
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Johnathan Davies is a well travelled football coach who has travelled he world coaching after switching from teaching to coaching. Currently he works at Slavia Prague as U12 Lead coach and has recently worked on updating the coaching methodology at the club using templates from Seattle Sounders and West Ham United.
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Jeff Stanek is an associate scout for an MLB franchise. Previously a coach at the Division 1 and Juco level, now focuses on the assessment and projection of players at the high school and college ages. He also runs the Figure it out baseball website which provides free tools and material for athlete development.
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Davide Igono is the creator of the social media platform @undervalu. A former professional football player, Davide now focuses on finding players and staff who our undervalued in the global soccer market. His platform highlights potential replacements for high profile players (Mario Gotze), up and coming ones to watch (Ferdy Druijf) and high talented senior recruitment staff (Kevin Thirwell). If you have not come across his work make sure you check it out for some very interesting insights.
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Craig Morris is the Olympic Canoe Slalom Coach for British Canoeing. Craig coached Mallory Franklin, Adam Burgess and Kimberley Woods to Tokyo 2020 selection and is well known for his constraint led athlete cantered approach. He is also an ambassador for UK coaching.
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Jason Filippi has worked in the NBA for 19 years across a variety of teams. He has held positions as an international scout for the Detroit Pistons and the Miami Heat and was also the director of international scouting for the Portland Trail Blazers. During this time, they drafted the likes of Nicolas Batum, Rudy Fernandez and Pau Gasol from Europe.
Dan McNally is the Director of Operations at FC Cincinnati. Officially the clubs first ever employee, Dan has seen the side grow from an ambitious idea to MLS dream and helped shape and guide the club in each step. Formally a player at Blackburn Rovers, Dan was also a coach at the University of Cincinnati prior to this role.
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Sarah Borwell is a former Great British women's tennis player. She specialised in doubles and was ranked number 1 in the country. Competing in major competitions including Wimbledon and the Commonwealth games, Sarah travelled the globe as a professional player after graduating the University of Houston. Now working with Keystone sports, she helps young player transition out to the United States collegiate system.
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Tosh Farrell is a a highly regarded Youth Developer following his long standing role as part of Everton FC's academy. He helped develop the likes of Wayne Rooney, Jack Rodwell and Callum McManamam. He now works for FIFO, Robbie Fowler's Football academy, which looks to help develop the holistic individual at the college age group.
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Andrew Ryland is a former collegiate Football player at Penn State. After his college career he then transitioned to become a member of the United States Rugby team. Andrew specialises in teaching tackling technique and how to create a strong fundamental base for players throughout the pathway.
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Chris Butt is the Lead Foundation Phase Coach at Sheffield Wednesday. Chris has fulfilled a variety of roles both at Sheffield Wednesday and Chesterfield FC and holds a Masters degree from Leeds Beckett University.
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Iain Brunnschweiler is the Coach and Player Development Manager at Southampton FC. In this role he aims to support players and coaches in their professional development and preparing them for the riggers for full time academy and first team football. Prior to this he had also worked for UK Coaching, England Cricket and Hampshire Cricket. Formally a professional cricketer with Hampshire, Iain has played and worked alongside some of the worlds greatest circketers such as Shane Warne and Kevin Piertersen.
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Tom Hartley is a performance coach developer at UK coaching. In this role he aims to challenge and support coaches from a wide range of sports focusing on improving their planning, delivery and evaluation. Alongside this role he also works as assistant coach at Oxford Women's FC.
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Chris Harmon is an academy coach at Red Bull New York. He works with both the U12's and U14's age groups and aims to implement the high octane Red Bull transitional play. Prior to this, he coached at Barcelona in Arizona as well as playing/trialling at a variety of US and European clubs.
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Rhys Denton is a Youth development phase coach at Reading FC. He is also an Academy Manager at Hungerford Town as well as running his own business Perform 23 which runs a host of football camps which players from all different football academies attend. Rhys also recently received the Ugo Ehiogu 'ones to watch' from Football Black List.
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Dr Phil Kearney is lecturer of sport and exercise sciences at the University of Limerick. Specialising in the field of skill acquisition, Phil has an in depth theoretical and practical knowledge as to how skills are learnt in a youth development context.
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Dr Rob Bell is a coach, podcaster and author on mental toughness. He works with college and professional athletes trying to help them prepare and address psychological challenges in their athletic career. He has also written 7 books including 'puke and rally' and 'the hinge' which provides readers with practical insights into the world of mental toughness.
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Nick Gearing is a PHD student looking into the practice design at the top producing academies across Europe. In this, he has focused on the use of isolated practice and how this has challenged the narrative around SSG and constraint led coaching. A coaching and analyst in his own right, Nick has worked at Premiership side Brentford and London based Leyton Orient.
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Paul Barry is the soon to be assistant Head of Coaching at Crystal Palace. During a 25 year long coaching journey, Paul has worked at some of the most prominent clubs in the London area including Watford, Southend and Arsenal. He is also a content creator for the online platform Football DNA.
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Sam Hudson is a Youth Development Phase coach at Premier League Cat 1 academy, Aston Villa. Formally of Derby County and the University of South Wales, Sam also works for the Coaches Voice where he plays an integral role in content creation for the platform. He has also recently become an author with his book, 'Football in a pandemic' which is available now on amazon.
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Rich Hudson is the Managing Director at Buckinghamshire Cricket Club. Holding a Msc in Sport psychology and ECB level 4 qualification, Rich helps develop programmes to develop young players holistic skills and hopefully gain a foothold in the academy county cricket pathway. He is also a published author with his book 'perform beyond pressure' now available on amazon.
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Ricky Simons is a Youth Development Phase coach at Millwall FC. An A licensed coach, Ricky spends his time trying to development players in the U15/16's age group to gain scholarships, and hopefully, professional contracts. He has also worked with some of the best practitioners in the U.K including Dan Molina, Kenny Brown and Mark Phillips.
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David Baird is a coach and coach educator at the Scottish F.A. Also a coach as part of the Heats academy, David has created the scoreboard soccer scheme which aims to engage players in a unique and challenging way. Using this programme has a series of alternative outcomes including skill acquisition, SSG constraints and positive reinforcement of behaviours
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Lee Hodge is the Head of Coaching at Plymouth Argyle. An A licensed coach in his own right, Lee spends the majority of his time focusing on improving the experiences of young players in the academy set up. During his career, Lee has also worked for Championship side, Swansea City, as they progressed from Cat 2 to Cat 1 and Nottingham Forest.
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Jimmy Adams is a former player and now turned coach at Hampshire Cricket. Working across the clubs coaching pathway, Jimmy's main role is to support 2nd XI players with their individual development and transition into the first team squad. A highly successful player in his own right, Jimmy captained Hampshire to a number of short format successes in the late 2000's whilst playing with some of the games greats including Kevin Pietersen and Shane Warne
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The rugby coach weekly is an online platform that supports coaches to develop their practices and methodology to better support their player development. Host, Phil Llewellyn is a coach at Oxford University whilst David Kilcoyne is Head of Rugby at Desborough College
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Simon Turner is the founder of Mvmt sports which focuses on using sport as a vehicle for social change. A basketball coach in his own right, Simon focuses on how to develop coaches to show better awareness of their own coaching methodology and how their actions can positively affect those in the wider community.
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Mark Robinson is the current Head coach of Warwickshire County Cricket Club. Formally a coach for the England Lions and Women's national side, Mark has a wealth of experience in individual player development and performing on the international stage. A successful player in his own right, Mark represented Sussex and home county club Yorkshire in the late 1990's, early 2000's. During his time in the sport his has worked with some of the cricketing greats including Michael Vaughan, Jonny Bairstow and Sachin Tendulkar to name a few.
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Michael Loftman is a coach educator currently based out of South Africa, Formally a coach with the Orlando Pirates, Michael has also spent time at Watford and Tottenham Hotspur on his coaching journey. Also an author, Michael wrote the book 'Theories and concepts for Football coaching and management' in which he discusses a variety of topics including decision making processes in football.
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Keaton Wood is an academy coach at Southampton FC. Formally a professional player with Millwall FC, Keaton now works within the Foundation phase at the Cat 1 academy. With a distinct passion for defending, Keaton looks to pass this enthusiasm onto the players so they are holistic in their in possession and out of possession skills
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Alan Keane is an assistant coach at Glasgow Rocks basketball team. Also a coach for GB and England U20, Alan has a wide range of experience in both a developmental and performance based coaching. He utilises his vast array of experiences in a coach development capacity with MVMT sports of which he is a ci-founder.
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Todd Beane is Founder of TOVO Training and Academy Barcelona. Todd worked with Johan Cruyff for 14 years to create the Cruyff Institute for Sport Studies and to deliver total football training programs to professional clubs worldwide. In TOVO academy he combines proven pedagogical practices with the visionary components of Cryuff's well known style of play to create a dynamic and practical training methodology. As an athlete, Todd played NCAA Division I soccer at Dartmouth College before playing professional soccer in the USISL
Geoff Noonan is a FACYD for the English Football association. Supporting coaches with their NGB and Uefa qualification's, Geoff aims to challenge and support coaches with their craft relative to their individual environment. Formally a coach in his own right, Geoff has worked of the likes of Crystal Palace and Fulham where he helped produce players like Ryan Sessognon and Omar Richards.
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Cam Meighan is a specialist Set piece consultant in football. Working with a very successful and prominent team in the WSL, Cam analyses future opponents strengths and weaknesses and provides a report for the team to use in the upcoming fixture, This type of role is becoming increasingly interesting with Thomas Gronnemark at Liverpool setting a trend that Manchester United and Arsenal have followed this off season.
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Andrew Brownhill is the Player Pathway Coach for Gloucester Rugby. In this role he focuses on player and skill development for players within the academy hoping they can transition into the first team. He also works for the Scottish Rugby as an age group coach. Within this role he focuses on player identification and then engrossing players in the national teams style of play.
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Brian is a sports psychologist who has worked with some of the best English golfers including Danny Willett, Chris Wood and Tommy Fleetwood. Brian also has a wealth of experience in other sports, having worked with 12 medallists in Olympic and Commonwealth Games boxing, podium winners in single seat motor racing/sportscars including LeMans, F1 and professional cricket players. Alongside his work as a practitioner, he has become an accomplished author with books such as ’Mental Toughness for Golf: The Minds of Winners’.
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Michael Morton is the Lead Under 15/16 coach at Leeds United. During his 2nd stint with the club Mike has had a pitch side view of Marcelo Bielsa and his team as they have turned Leeds from a Mid table Championship side to one of the Premier League's most enjoyable teams to watch. An A license team in his own right, Mike also spent time at Manchester City where he engrained himself in their academy philosophy which can be largely attributed to Barcelona and it's world renowned La Masia.
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Greg Mannion is the Junior Academy Manager at Gallagher Premiership powerhouse Leicester Tigers. In this role, he focuses on developing a pathway for young players from the club and county set up, into the professional rugby. This transition is from the U13 age group through to the U18's and aims to provide players with the challenge and framework to develop whilst back in their localised set up. Formally a Rugby League player with St Helens and Wigan Warriors, Greg has used his rugby league skill base to inform his practice and skill development as a attack and backs coach in the union format.
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David Hughes is the Head of Coaching at Cardiff City FC. Formally a player, David played for Aston Villa, Shrewsbury and Cardiff City. After retiring, he turned to coaching where he has worked for some of the best academies in the country including Watford, Aston Villa and Southampton.
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Tom Gale is a 22 year old Great British Track and field athlete. Competing in the High Jump, Tom has won bronze and silver medals at the European U20 and U23 championship respectively. Currently ranked 25th in the world after an injured ravaged 2020, Tom is hoping to secure his place at Tokyo 2021 at the British Championships later this month and compete for a medal after being one of only 5 athletes in the world to jump 2.33 during the 2020 indoor season.
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Kylie Stannard is the head mens soccer coach at Yale University. Joining the programme in 2014, Kylie turned a programme that had won a total of 5 games across 2 campaigns into Ivy League winners in 2019. This was the first time the university had completed this feat since 1991. Formally of Michigan State University and Northern Illinois University, Kylie has a wealth of experience in the US collegiate system.
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Ryan Jorden is the UCLA men's head soccer coach. The Bruins posted a 6-9-3 record under Jorden in 2019, his first year at the helm, and he also continued his recruiting pedigree with his 2021 recruiting class earning a No. 4 national ranking from TopDrawerSoccer. Jorden arrived at UCLA with 23 years of collegiate coaching experience most recently serving as head coach at Pacific where he turned the Tigers into perennial national contenders.
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Bobby Muuss is the Head Coach at Wake Forest University. In 2015 he led Wake Forest to a consensus No.1 ranking and a number one seed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. He was also named the 2015 ACC coach of the year during this year. Prior to this role, he also worked at the University of Denver and University of Connecticut.
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Lee Smith is the Lead Foundation Phase coach at Southampton FC. He has worked for the club for over a decade and has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the development of young players. Formally of TeamBath football, Lee has also worked within the Professional Development Phase. Alongside his current role, Lee has now also undertaken a coach development brief where he aids individuals along their coaching journey,
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Steve Simmons is the Assistant Athletic Director and Head Women's soccer coach at Linfield University. Formally the head coach at Oregon State University, Steve has worked within University soccer for the last 2 decades. During this time he has worked with some of the best players in the country, and future MLS stars, such as David Mwanga, Emery Welshman and Khiry Shelton.
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Walter Grandez is a performance coach for the Philadelphia Union. His main focus is on the physiological development of their academy players along with physiological potential of top prospects the academy are recruiting. Prior to his current role, Walter has also spent to time with the L.A Galaxy (soccer), Team USA (athletics) and Philadelphia Philies (baseball).
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Lucy Jane Matthews is a 100m hurdler for Great Britain. Placing 2nd at last years British Championships at just 17, Lucy is one of the upcoming stars in UK athletics. Currently finishing her A levels alongside her athletic endeavours, Lucy has received great bespoke support from Millfield school which has allowed her to realise her ambitions of being a high performance student athlete.
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John Haime is the president of New Edge Performance. Focusing on helping athletes prepare mental processes for elite performance, John's clients are diverse and span multiple leagues such as the MLB, NBA and NHL. Also an author, John's latest book ' Ride Big' delves into the importance of self confidence and awareness at the elite level.
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Sam Holmshaw is the host of the Sports coaching podcast. A Msc student from Leeds Beckett, Sam uses academic frameworks to inform his practical work with Ilkey Town AFC and his own academy 'The Holmshaw Academy'. In particular, he focuses on the creation and implementation of game models in session designs.
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Gerwyn Griffiths is the U23's coach for Army football. A serving soldier in his own right, Gerwyn leads the team in it's preparation and completion of the intense 'Inter service games' against the Navy and RAF. Formally a Youth Development Phase coach at Yeovil Town, Gerwyn also has experience in youth development both as a coach but also as a coach mentor as part of his role at Ecan Pass N Support.
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Eric Laurie works for Molde FK in Norway. A academy coach in his own right, Eric specialises in the performances analysis department and supports the entire academy set up at Molde within this role. His work can also be found on social media, where he completes in depth analysis of high profile games for coaching learning. He has recently also become and ambassador for the Coaches Voice.
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Andrew Wiseman is the Director of Performance for NWSL side OL Reign. Working with the likes of Megan Repinoe, Angelina and Karen Bardsley, Andrew focuses on the physical preparation and development of these world class players on a daily basis. Formally of Exeter City and Celtic, Andrew has a wealth of experience in the sport science field and is currently undertaking a PHD focusing on the stress on football club support staff.
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Tom Smith is the current forwards coach at Cardiff Blues. Formally a player, Tom had a distinguished career with the Ospreys, culminating in 91 total appearances and honours such as 3 U21 Wales caps and the Pro12 league championship. Tom has played alongside some of the Britain's best players including James Hook, Tommy Bowe and Alun Wyn Jones.
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Mark Wilson is one of the founders of soccer diagnostics tool, Beyond Pulse. A former professional football, Mark graduated through the Manchester United academy and made 10 first team appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson. Post Manchester United he went on to have spells with Middlesbrough, Doncaster Rovers and Cambridge United. Mark now spends his time focusing on player and coach development in the US.
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Sam Dejonghe is a professional racing driver who currently drives in the formula E series. With many success such as his TCE series championship win in 2019, Sam has over a decade of driver experience all over the world but specialises at the Circuit de Spa Franchorcamps, in Belgium. Also a trainer, Sam works with up and coming drivers to help them on their journey's in this notoriously challenging sport. He also works as co commentator for the Formula 1 coverage in Belgium.
Marc Mclaren is a Foundation phase coach at Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers. Working mainly with U11's age group, Marc has in depth experience of academy football and how to support players with their development journey. He has also seen mass development at club, both in it's infrastructure and it's on pitch performance and culture under Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
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Larry Sunderland is the Director of Player Development at MLS franchise FC Cincinnati. Formally the U17's coach for the US national team, Larry has a wealth of experience in creating and harnessing youth development environments across the US. In previous roles he also helped establish the academies at Chicago Fire and Portland Timbers.
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Steve Guinan is a former professional footballer with over 450 apperances at a selection of clubs including Nottingham Forest, Plymouth Argyle and Cheltenham Town. Now working for the F.A as the player to coach lead, Steve focuses on aiding players with their transition away from playing and into the coaching domain. Working with such individuals as John Terry, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, Steve has a vast array of experience assisting elite player with the beginning of their coaching journey. Also formally of the PFA, Steve has completed a number of study visits to international tournaments such as the 2018 World Cup and 2019 U21 Euro Championship.
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Alex Ball is the Lead Professional Development Phase coach at Bristol City FC. Working mainly with the U23 age group, he focuses on aiding players in their transition into the first team environment. Formally the Lead Foundation phase coach at Southampton FC, Alex has over 20 years experience of working with player across a variety of age groups.
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Josh Bednash is a Youth Development Phase coach at Crystal Palace. Focused mainly with the U15's, Josh provides support to players as they transition into their scholarship decision making year. Alongside his coaching role he also works as a technical analyst for Spielverlagerung. This in-depth analytical work, in which he breaks down intricate parts of the game such as showing inside during counter attacks or receiving positions as a 4, can be found on his social media accounts.
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Ian Hughes is the Vice President of player, coach and curriculum development at Steel Sports. Formally a tutor for FAW, Ian has worked with some of the most well respected coaches and coach educators in the game such as Osian Roberts, Roberto Martinez and Patrick Vieira. He also worked for the FAW as a analyst in the lead up to the historic Euro 2016 tournament and world cup qualifiers.
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Dan Wright is a Youth Development Phase coach at a Cat 1 Premier League academy. A Uefa A licensed coach who is well known for his work around constraint based coaching, Dan has also recently published a book focusing on the delivery of Small Sided Game in Youth football. Also a coach mentor for the Player Development Project, Dan works internationally supporting coaches in their delivery to players of all ages.
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Rod Underwood is a former professional footballer who now coaches in professional football across the globe. A club advisor, Rod spends much of his year travelling globally to help clubs set up infrastructures for long term player development at both the first team and youth levels. Also a coach in his own right, Rod has experience working for such clubs as Portland Timbers and Montego Bay United.
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Leanne Skarratt is the founder of Manchester Futsal club's women's team and has experience of playing in the top futsal leagues nationally in the UK. Richard Ward is an England international futsal player who has represented his country on over 50 occasions. Both are currently trying to raise awareness of the English F.A decisions to cut the futsal funding by a reported £900,000 in light of the Covid -19 pandemic, Highlighting the potential pitfalls not providing a sustainable model for futsal could have in players around the country, They hope to gain support in calls for the F.A to fulfil their 2018 6 year Futsal development strategy.
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Darren Higgins is the Head of Youth performance at Castleford Tigers RLFC. Part of the Betfred Super League, Castleford Tigers are known for their expansive style of play and player which is also exhibited further down their pathway in the development teams. Darren's role is to oversee players holistic development from initiation into the club right the way through to the first team environment.
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Joel Moody is the Lead Foundation phase coach at Coventry City Fc. A Uefa A licensed coach, Joel has experience of working in some of the top clubs across the country including Southampton, Swansea City and Newcastle United. He also spent time over in North America working for Vancouver Whitecaps.
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Megan Hill is a PHD student out of the University of Bath. Her research project for her thesis focused on 'growth and maturation in talent identification in an elite football academy'. During this period, she studied how growth and maturation affects players within a Cat 1 academy and how using processes such as Bio banding and growth related individualisation can support players in their long term development. Field expert Sean Cummings was her supervisor on this project and helped sculpt her work in the field.
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Brian Rzeppa is the author of 'You're Hired, a guide to working in sports'. Aiming to provide clarity and great depth of knowledge behind the hiring process in sports; Brian interviewed some of the top personal in both college and professional sports in the US. This includes such individuals as; John Cohen from Mississippi State University, Phillip Fulmer from the University of Tennessee and Lance Blanks Former General Manager of the Phoenix Suns.
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Steve Devereux is the Commercial Manager for the Bristol Flyers. He focuses on the engagement and growth of Bristol Flyers basketball both locally and nationally. The club is also part of the 'Bristol Sport' group which entails Bristol City Fc and Bristol Bears Rugby in a collaborative working environment. Most notably from a marketing stand point, the group created the goal 'GIF' campaign which is now common place up and down the country.
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Dr Richard Elliott is Head of the Football Performance and Participation programmes at Southampton Solent University. He has experience of working with a variety of leading organisation such as the Football Association, Premier League and League Managers Association, In a research setting, he has published worked investigating the challenges and difficulties in player migration; as well as mental health challenges faced within elite sport, in particular football.
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Lee Conroy is a coach and player developer within cricket. An ECB master coach, he has experience of working with some of the best up and coming players and coaches in the English game. In particular, his work at the Bunbury festival provided him with access to current England internationals at senior and junior levels. He also holds a masters degree in elite coaching.
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Steve Lilley is the founder of Ecan passNsupport, a coach development company for grassroots clubs and coaches. Formally a County Coach Developer for the Gloucestershire F.A, Steve spent the last 5 years delivering the level 1/2 and Uefa B to variety of course participants. Also a coach in his own right, Steve has worked for clubs such as Peterborough United, Cambridge United and Bristol City.
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Lee Collier is the Lead Professional Development Phase coach at MK Dons. Working with the U18's and 23's age groups, Lee's main role is to aid the players with their final transition into first team football. A coach with a wealth of knowledge, Lee has also worked for clubs such as Yeovil Town, Reading and Bournemouth. He has also worked for the FAW in a coach developer capacity.
Ebun Thomas is the Lead Foundation phase coach at Portsmouth Football Club. Formally working at Charlton Athletic and Barnet, Ebun has vast experience of working in youth development. In particular, Ebun has an in depth knowledge of the London 'Cage culture' and how to engage with players from differing cultures and backgrounds.
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Graham Mills is a Cat 1 academy coach in the Youth Development Phase. Also a lecturer at Southampton Solent University on their Football studies course, Graham combines academic theory with practical application in performance environments. Formally the Lead YDP at Bournemouth FC, Graham has an in depth knowledge of player development and has recently created 'Fifa' style IDP frameworks for multiple sports.
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Nathan Loader is the Pre-Academy lead for a Cat 1 academy. A specialist in Talent ID and skill development Nathan spends a large amount of his times developing young people both on and off the pitch. A keen self developer, he has also committed to self development in a variety of ways including ECAS and learning Mandarin.
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Tom Donati is a academy coach for a CAT 3 academy.. Formally working in the PDP, YDP and Head of coaching role at a variety of academies across the country, Tom has a wealth of experience of player development. The clubs he has worked at include Watford, Barnet, Charlton Athletic and Peterborough United.
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Russell Earnshaw and John Fletcher are founders of popular coaching development company The Magic Academy. Former age group coaches for the English RFU, the pair now focus on coach delivery and how best to inspire players. They have worked across a number of sports/clubs including England Hockey, Birmingham City FC and England Rugby.
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Greig Paterson is Head of coach education and development at the Scottish F.A. He formally also worked for the Irish F.A in a similar role and has experience of travelling around Europe to gain knowledge as part of the UEFA share scheme.
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Tom Drowley is the Senior EIS Strength and Conditioning coach. Formally working for Gloucester Rugby and Southampton FC, Tom now leads on the Women's GB and England Hockey.
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Oli Hhigginson is the assistant foundation phase lead coach at a Cat 1 academy. A Uefa qualified coach, one of his man roles is to engage with young players with their Individual Development Plan. He has also been fortunate enough to go on numerous study visits across Europe.
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Fraser Franks is a former professional footballer with 273 total apperances. Most notably playing for Brentford, AFC Wimbledon, Stevenage and Newport County, Fraser also represented England C on multiple occasions. Forced to transition away from the sport due to a heart defect, Fraser now works for a legal company providing advice to young professionals on their social media interactions.
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Danny Talbot is a current Great Britain track and field athlete. A competitive sprinter, Danny has competed in a host of international tournaments, most notably the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics. Now training dual based out of Texas (USA) and Loughborough (UK), Danny is hoping to overcome an injury ravaged period to compete in the Tokyo Olympics.
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Megan Fletcher is an Irish Judo athlete who formally competed for Great Britain. A commonwealth gold medallist in 2014, Megan hopes to overcome her previous injury setbacks in order to compete in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
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Takumi Nishida is the Strength and Conditioning coach for Japan's Rugby 7's progamme. A graduate in Sport and Exercise science from the University of Bath, Takumi has spent time working for organisations such as the LTA, Badminton Wales and the EIS with their bob skeleton athletes. Now back in his native Japan, Takumi continues to develop is knowledge and understanding in all aspects of athlete performance.
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Kevin Bowing is the former Rugby Head coach for Wales from 1995-1998. Now a coach developer, Kevin has worked for a variety of companies including the English RFU and the Premier League on their ECAS programme. A nationally known coach developer, Kevin has worked with the likes of Stuart Lancaster and Toby Booth on their journeys to becoming elite level coaches.
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Barry Maddocks is the skills coach at Dragon's Rugby. Focusing on Individual Player Development both on and off the field, Barry aims to provide holistic improvement in cooperation with the players. Formally of Bath Rugby, Barry also spent time coaching the development age groups for the Welsh RFU.
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Che Wilson is a former professional footballer who played a total of 269 league games for a range of clubs but most notably for Norwich City, Bristol Rovers and Southend United. Now a coach, Che is Head of Football at the University of Bath, whilst also studying to be become a doctor of science in sports coaching at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
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Aaron James is a former professional rugby player who played for Wasps. Now a coach, he is Head of Rugby at the University of Bath, whilst also working for the RFU as a coach mentor.
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Tom John is a Strength and Conditioning coach who has worked in the Foundation Phase and Youth Phase at a category 1 academy. The Hartpury graduate also spent his schoolboy years at Swansea City before completing his apprenticeship at Hereford United.
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Ben Fletcher is an Ireland international Judo athlete. Formally of Great Britain, he competed in the -100KG category at the Rio Olympics 2016 and is currently in qualification for Tokyo 2020/2021.
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Barry Scollo is a former tennis player who ranked top 100 on the Junior ITF circuit before ranking in singles and doubles on the ATP. Now a coach he is the Director of Tennis for TeamBath and works with the LTA in one of their elite player pathways.
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Toby Booth is a professional a rugby coach who has recently been announced as the next Head coach of the Ospreys. Formally of Harlequins, Bath Rugby and London Irish, Toby has an extensive career spanning over 3 decades. He was also Academy Manager at London Irish during the academy systems inception in England so has first hand knowledge of the development pathway.
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Jake Britton is a former academy footballer now turned Category 1 academy coach. He has experience of working across all age groups from Pre-academy through to Professional Development Phase.
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Tyler Sibbick is a current Foundation and Youth Phase coach at a Category 1 Football Club. He also played Non - League football in the South West of England gaining a reputation as a clinical goal scorer.
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Tom Reed is a former Judoka who won Silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014. Also a former GB athlete, he has now transitioned into coaching with the University of Bath.
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Amelia Coltman is a Great British Bob Skeleton athlete who won the Europa cup in her maiden season competing in the sport. She is also a graduate from Sheffield Hallam in Sport and Exercise Science.
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Billy Clark is a former professional footballer who played for a variety of professional sides, most notably Bristol Rovers, who he represented 248 times over a 10 year period. Now an A licensed football coach, Billy works for Bath City as their Under 18 Manager.
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Marvin Brown is a former England schoolboy and Bristol City's youngest ever appearance maker at 16 years and 71 days. He has now transitioned into the coaching world, owning Bristol based company Total Pro Soccer and working for Bristol City as Under 15 coach.
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Kate Grey is a former Paralympic Swimmer who competed at Beijing 2008. Now retired she is a broadcaster and ambassador for Youth Sport Trust.
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