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In this episode I chat with Eamon Devlin, founder of Minute9, a company consulting elite clubs on delivering effective half-time team talks using science and cross-sport methodology. There are disruptive perspectives and tangible strategies for coaches of all levels and kinds to apply, for better (and possibly also less) dialogue with athletes during those all important breaks on match days.

Takeaways

• The role of the coach is to intervene if he or she thinks it can make a difference to those players.
• Coaching is more of a supporting role than a directive one.
• Effective coaching should perhaps go unnoticed, similar to good service in a restaurant.
• Timing is crucial in providing support to players.
• A good coach fills the gaps at the right moments.
• The best coaching creates a half-time environment where players can thrive without overt interference.
• Subtlety in coaching can lead to greater player autonomy.
• Players should feel supported without being distracted by the coach's presence.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Halftime Team Talks

07:59 The Importance of Communication in Coaching

10:53 Understanding Player Perspectives

13:44 The Role of Coaches in Player Development

16:20 The Science of Memory and Retention

19:10 Visual Aids and Effective Communication

21:45 Cultural Considerations in Diverse Teams

24:26 Frameworks for Player Engagement

27:16 Building Confidence in Young Players

37:17 Exploring Coaching Frameworks

41:44 The Role of Positive Reinforcement

46:19 Emotional Regulation in Coaching

49:37 The Impact of Appearance on Coaching

52:50 Adapting Coaching for Grassroots

56:35 Timing and Context in Coaching

01:00:09 The Constraints of Football Coaching

01:03:56 Research Landscape in Half-Time Coaching

If you enjoy this episode's topic, I suggest checking out these other episodes:

Skill acquisition specialists FOR sport coaches, with Shawn Myszka

Kevin Nicol - Providing structure within tactics

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In this conversation with Director of Football at Al Balad FC, Alejandro Sanchez, we explore Alex's long and interesting CV from coaching in different countries to creating a master's degree programme with Real Madrid FC, and discuss lessons and philosophy Alex has learned in career development and progression.

Takeaways

• Mental problems arise from unbalanced internal and external narratives across careers.
• Having multiple skills and interdisciplinary knowledge drives effectiveness and builds opportunity
• Targeting involvement with your sport's industry and being patient with success rather than chasing a specific position and being in a hurry to get there can offer more opportunity and contentment
• Travelling to open a closed mind is not effective; open mindedness is a mindset coaches must cultivate first, then travel to make the most of opportunities.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Career Aspirations

06:00 Coaching Journey and Development

08:37 Transitioning to International Coaching

11:33 The Importance of Sports Science in Coaching

14:08 Integrating Psychology and Coaching

17:15 Adapting to the Coaching Industry

19:56 Lessons from the Fitness Industry

22:58 Creating a Personal Narrative

25:50 The Role of Ego in Coaching

28:27 Personal Development and Mindfulness

36:47 Navigating the Tension Between Passion and Profit

44:37 Evolving from Coach to Leader

56:37 The Importance of Patience in Career Development

01:07:14 Empowering Others: The Role of a Head Coach

If you like this episode's topic, I suggest checking out this previous episode too:

Craig Clark - Breaking through in senior coaching

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This conversation with Dr Andrew Kirkland from the University of Stirling delves into how individuals cope with life's challenges based on their sense of coherence, offering a paradigm shift towards a health based approach to coaching and nurturing talent.

Takeaways

• Coping mechanisms are essential for navigating life's challenges.
• Sense of coherence is a framework for understanding resilience.
• Salutogenic perspective focuses coaches' attention towards the origins of good athlete health
• Understanding our athletes' challenges can help coaches nurture their development.
• Coping is a dynamic process that can change over time.
• A biopsychosocial lens is key to holistic coaching
• Coaches shouldn't think only about what an athlete lacks, but also what they can do and what qualities they do possess due to their life course, and build from there

Chapters

01:56 Introduction to Solutogenic Talent Development

10:23 Understanding Stress and Coping Mechanisms

14:09 The Importance of Meaningfulness in Performance

18:24 Life Course Perspective in Talent Development

22:08 Community-Based Models in Sports

26:37 Strength-Based Approaches in Coaching

39:53 Harnessing Leadership in Challenging Environments

45:31 Motivation and Performance in Sports

51:23 Balancing Sport and Life

56:04 Building Social Connections in Coaching

01:01:08 Expectations and Accountability in Coaching

01:05:31 Influencing Life Courses Through Coaching

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In this conversation with Head of Competitor Development at Motorsport UK, Tom Hartley, we delve into the benefits of exposing coaches to different coaching environments to enhance their understanding and effectiveness, based on Tom's insights of moving across to Motorsport from football.

Takeaways

• Coaches benefit from experiencing different coaching environments.
• Coaches, and sports, need disruptors in the form of alien voices and ways of working
• Failing to filter out noise in alien sporting environments can distract coaches from key transferable insights.
• Sports move at different evolutionary rates, but past approaches shouldn't always be forgotten or abandoned
• Exploratory frameworks can help coaches focus on relevant information when on a coaching 'exchange'.
• Coaches need to train themselves on how to learn from different sports and perspectives
• Changing sports as a coach is possible

Chapters

00:00 Transitioning Between Sports: A Coach's Journey

10:06 The Importance of Intentionality in Coaching

15:45 Shared Learning Across Contexts

21:34 Emotional Intelligence in Coaching

26:58 Exploring Flow and Performance in Sports

39:00 The Evolution of Instruction in Motorsport

46:52 The Time Traveler's Perspective in Coaching

57:15 Overcoming Barriers to Learning as a Coach

If you like this topic, I recommend checking out this other episode:

Russell Earnshaw - Entrepreneurship in sport coaching

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In this episode, I speak with former English FA national lead children's coach Peter Sturgess about the nuances of coaching children's sport, with our conversation emphasising the importance of adapting the game to fit the developmental needs of young players. We explore the differences between children's and adult sport, the significance of technical development, and the necessity of creating a positive and supportive environment. Our discussion also highlights the importance balance between challenge and support, the role of emotional development in learning, and the value of small-sided games in fostering skills. Ultimately, the conversation aims to provide insights for coaches to enhance the experiences of children involved in football as well other sports.

Takeaways

• The children's game is its own game.
• Technical skill development is crucial during the early years of sport.
• Creating a positive environment fosters a sense of belonging and competence in young players.
• High challenge in sport must be accompanied by high support.
• Emotional development is as important as technical skills in young athletes.
• Encouraging autonomy in young players enhances their engagement and learning.
• Small-sided games are essential for developing skills and understanding the game of football.
• Coaches should focus on individual needs within a team context.
• Every child should have the opportunity to play a full game each week.

If you enjoy hearing about this topic, I suggest checking out these previous episodes:

Cesar Torres - A defence of competition in youth sports

David Baird - Reprioritising fun in coaching

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AUDIO OF MY APPEARANCE ON RUGBY COACH WEEKLY. CHECK OUT THIS PODCAST FOR GREAT GUESTS AND INSIGHTS! Podcasts - Rugby Coach Weekly

In this conversation, Dan Cottrell and I explore the complexities of motivation in sport coaching. I discuss the role of coaches in fostering an environment where athletes can motivate themselves, the continuum of motivation from intrinsic to extrinsic, and the dynamic nature of motivational drivers. The conversation also touches on the importance of understanding individual athlete needs and the contrasts between different motivational theories, including Maslow's hierarchy of needs and self-determination theory. The discussion revolves around the complexities of coaching, particularly focusing on the balance between autonomy and structure, the quality of one's motivation versus mere persistence, and the role (and validity) of psychological safety in sporting environments. I also highlight the importance of challenging athletes while maintaining a caring approach, on the knowledge that motivation is a nuanced and multifaceted aspect of coaching that requires careful consideration and adaptability.

Takeaways

• Coaches should create environments for self-motivation.
• Intrinsic motivation leads to better long-term outcomes.
• Understanding athlete motivation is complex and dynamic.
• Coaches influence athlete motivation through their actions.
• Different athletes have varying motivational needs.
• Empirical evidence supports the importance of internal drivers.
• Motivation can shift based on circumstances and experiences.
• Consulting athletes about their motivations is crucial.
• Balancing external and internal motivators is key.
• Autonomy is a significant factor in athlete motivation. But people often prefer not to make choices.
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs can inform coaching strategies.
• Autonomy support in coaching is about providing guidance, not just freedom.
• Quality of motivation is more important than quantity.
• Retention of players doesn't always indicate good motivation.
• Context is crucial in understanding and judging coaching behaviors.
• Psychological safety in sports is complex and often misunderstood.
• Coaches need to balance care with the need to challenge athletes.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Motivation in Coaching

02:30 The Role of Coaches in Athlete Motivation

05:46 The Continuum of Motivation

09:29 Dynamic Nature of Motivation

12:13 Consulting Athletes on Motivation

15:32 Creating a Positive Motivational Environment

18:23 Navigating Different Motivational Frameworks

20:43 Maslow's Hierarchy vs. Self-Determination Theory

26:51 The Balance of Structure and Autonomy in Coaching

35:21 Understanding Motivation: Quality vs. Quantity

43:11 Psychological Safety vs. Challenging Coaching

49:08 The Complexity of Coaching and Motivation

If you enjoy hearing about this topic, I suggest checking out these previous episodes:

The hidden dimension of motivational coach behaviour

Colum Cronin - Coaching as a caring enterprise

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In this episode, I discusses the potential of free AI tools for coaches, explaining the importance of early adoption and suggesting some ways free AI - using Chat GPT as a case example - can enhance coaching practice, even within its current limitations. I explore creative brainstorming, the role of AI as a critical friend, using AI for bridging theory and practice, and leveraging AI for social media content creation. I encourage coaches to start using AI now to benefit now, and by doing so better prepare for its future (rapid) advancements.

Takeaways

• AI is evolving rapidly, and tomorrow's AI will improve significantly.
• Early adoption of AI tools can ease future learning curves.
• AI can assist in creative brainstorming for session planning.
• Using AI as a critical friend can provide valuable insights for your reflection.
• AI helps break down complicated theory to assists its practical application.
• Coaches can utilise AI to enhance their social media presence.
• Coaches should not wait for AI to become perfect before using it.

Chapters

03:04 The Importance of Early Adoption

06:12 Creative Brainstorming with AI

08:47 AI as a Critical Friend

11:30 Bridging Theory and Practice

14:32 Enhancing Social Media Engagement

19:54 Conclusion and Future Outlook

If you enjoy hearing about this topic, I suggest checking out this previous episode:

Temisan Williams - Leveraging social media as a sport coach

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In this episode, I discuss the intricacies of motivational coach behavior, emphasising the importance of understanding all - rather than just some - categories of behaviour. I explore the dimensions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, and how these needs can be supported or frustrated by coach behaviors. The conversation highlights the often overlooked category known as need deprivation, which can passively undermine athlete motivation and is thus a secret problem. I want to stress the need for coaches to actively support their athletes' psychological needs while being aware of their own behaviors and the environment they create, while pushing influential actors on coaches to recognise the role they play in coaches' behaviours.

Takeaways

• The quality of motivation is crucial for athlete engagement.
• Coaches must support the psychological needs of their athletes.
• Need deprivation is a subtle yet damaging form behavior.
• Active support for athletes is essential for their growth.
• Neglecting athlete needs can lead to long-term issues.
• Coaches should reflect on their behaviors and their impacts.
• Different forms of coach behaviour play out at once.
• Coach behaviors can be complex and multifaceted.
• Creating supportive environments for athletes, and coaches, is vital for athlete development.
• Dialogue among coaches can enhance understanding and practices.

My PhD:

STORRE: A qualitative multiple case study exploration of the antecedents of the interpersonal behaviours of youth football coaches in Scotland based on a self-determination theory framework

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