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The Sport Psych Show — Amateur
The Sport Psych Show

Join Sport Psychologist, Dan Abrahams, on The Sport Psych Show as he aims to demystify sport psychology for players, coaches and parents by speaking with some of the most influential people in sports performance today. Dan is on a mission to learn more about how sport psychology philosophies, tools and techniques positively impact participation, progression and performance in sport. He wants to learn more about how to drive participation – what motivational tools engage players and inspire people to play and stay in their sport. He wants to explore how players can progress quicker and more effectively – what is great practice and training? And how does learning in sport really happen? Finally, he wants to hear what his guests have to say about the psychology of performance – how do they think players can improve their ability to high perform consistently under pressure? Discover simple and practical tools and techniques by listening in to Dan’s conversations with elite competitors, sports coaches, sport scientists, and psychologists.

Latest Episodes:

#139 Dr Don Vinson & Victoria Huckle - Examining Landscapes of Practice in Sports Coaching Apr 26, 2021

Show notes

In this week's episode I speak with Dr Don Vinson & Victoria Huckle. Don is a principle lecturer in Sports Coaching at the University of Worcester with a particular interest in athlete and coach learning and coach development. He is also a coach and coach developer with England Hockey within the talent development programme.

Victoria is a PhD student at the University of Worcester in the School of Sport and Exercise Science. Victoria's main research interest is how coaches learn. In addition to working towards her PhD, Victoria has worked with the UK Invictus team, and now works as a professional rowing coach with Bedford School Boat Club.

Don and Victoria, along with Dr Andy Cale, have written paper about understanding how sports coaches learn outside of their coaching community. Recent approaches to facilitating coach development place considerable emphasis on social interaction aimed at enhancing participants' learning through collaboration and discussion. This investigation examined the usefulness of utilising the Landscapes of Practice (LoP) framework to better understand such "social" learning.

#138 Prof Roger Kneebone - Expert: Understanding the Path to Mastery Apr 19, 2021

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with Prof Roger Kneebone in this episode. Roger directs the Imperial College Centre for Engagement and Simulation Science (ICCESS), based within the Division of Surgery. Roger co-leads a multidisciplinary research team whose aim is to advance human health through simulation, collaborating closely with clinicians, scientists, patients, and experts outside medicine.

Roger is the expert on experts, having spent a lifetime striving to learn about expertise and in his book Expert: Understanding the Path to Mastery he combines his own experiences as a doctor with insights from extraordinary people and cutting-edge research to map out the path we're all following - from 'doing time' as an Apprentice, to developing your 'voice' and taking on responsibility as a Journeyman, to finally becoming a Master and passing on your skills. And it's this fascinating book that we discuss on this week's episode.

#137 Dr Ed Cope & Prof Chris Cushion - Redefining Direct Instruction in Coaching Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Ed Cope & Prof Chris Cushion.

Ed is a lecturer in Sport Coaching at Loughborough University. He completed his BSc in Sport Coaching from Leeds Beckett University, his MSc in Sports Coaching Science from the University of Worcester and his PhD at the University of Bedfordshire. Ed has also worked at the English Football Association, where he was responsible for the design and development of their education courses.

Chris is Professor of Coaching and Pedagogy at Loughborough University. Starting out as a football coach, Chris has worked at every level of the game – from community schemes, grassroots football and academy professional clubs at all age levels.

Ed, Chris and I discuss a paper they have written together entitled "A Move Towards Reconceptualising Direct Instruction in Sport Coaching Pedagogy" which looks at what 'direct instruction' is and what it encompasses.

The paper is available to read here https://impact.chartered.college/article/a-move-towards-reconceptualising-direct-instruction-sport-coaching-pedagogy/

#136 John Yeager - Next Level Leadership in Sports Apr 05, 2021

Show notes

I'm excited to speak with positive psychology and performance coach, John Yeager in this episode. John is the founder and chief executive officer of Yeager Leadership which works with sports, business, and education clients.

John holds a Doctorate in education from Boston University and a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania. He has authored/co-authored five books, including his latest The Coaching Zone: Next Level Leadership in Sports which he co-wrote with Jon Cunha.

With more than 50 years of sports coaching experience between them, John and Jon joined forces to create a roadmap for coaches to better navigate the three focus areas: self, athlete, team. The book covers a wide range of concepts drawn from mindfulness traditions, sport psychology, positive psychology, and positive organisational behaviour. It tells many stories illustrating both the challenges that coaches face and the solutions that worked – or didn't work. The book also provides 48 exercises that you can use to practice as you learn.

#135 Dr Oliver Eslinger - How to Turn a Losing Team into a Winning Team Mar 29, 2021

Show notes

I speak with Dr Oliver Eslinger in this episode. Doc is Head Men's Basketball Coach for the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Since his initial campaign, Doc's Caltech squads have set more than 145 team and individual records, including most conference wins in a season, the best start in history, and most victories in a season since 1954. Prior to his role at Caltech, Doc was an associate head coach at MIT. He is an NABC Guardian of the Game and the all-time programme leader in NCAA wins.

Doc completed his EdD at Boston University in Counselling and Sport Psychology under Dr Leonard Zaichkowsky.

#134 Adam Miles Developing Mental Skills Mar 22, 2021

Show notes

I speak with Adam Miles in this episode. Adam is manager of talent development and player pathway at Otago Cricket Association in New Zealand. Adam also coaches New Zealand first class cricket team, Otago Volts.

Adam moved from the UK to New Zealand on a PhD scholarship in Sport Psychology at the University of Otago exploring Life Skills Development in Elite Athletes.

We speak about how coaches of all sports can help their players develop mental skills, how New Zealand coaches are embracing sport psychology and how this positively influences their ability to develop some of the best competitors in world.

#133 Gordon MacLelland - Great Sports Parenting Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, I speak with Gordon MacLelland. Gordon is founder and CEO of Working with Parents in Sport (WWPIS) which supports organisations, parents and coaches in working together to provide children with the best possible sporting experiences.

Gordon has a BA/Hons degree in Sports Science from University College Chester and a PGCE from Lancaster University. He has been Director of Sport at an independent prep school in the UK for the last 13 years and has worked in schools in both the UK and New Zealand for the last 16 years.

Gordon is also the author of three books, 'Two Hats' – a book for parent coaches who are coaching or thinking of coaching their own children, 'Great Sports Parenting' – A pocket guide for parents of children in sport and 'Engage' – A coaches guide to building positive relationships with parents.

#132 Dr Nicole Gabana – Gratitude as a Mental Skill Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

I'm excited to speak with Dr Nicole Gabana in this episode. Nicole is Director of Sport Psychology for the University of Massachusetts. Previously, Nicole was Assistant Professor of Sport Psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems at Florida State University. She is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Nicole's interests centre on athlete mental health and well-being, specifically the integration of positive psychology.

Nicole and I discuss positive psychology and we explore the concept of gratitude as a trait and a state.

#131 Steven Orr and Ian Peek - Tools for Coach Development Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

I'm delighted to welcome Ian Peek back on the show. This time, Ian is joined by Steven Orr. Steven is a golf coach with 20 years of experience. He is a PGA Master Professional - the highest educational level in The PGA and has an MSc in Sports Coaching. He is currently undertaking his professional doctorate at the University of Central Lancashire.

Ian has been coaching golf for almost 30 years. He is a transition & performance coach, helping his clients achieve their goals whether that's transitioning to a new level of achievement or maintaining their position at the top of their sport or industry. Ian holds a Master's degree in Sports Coaching and is a PhD researcher. He is also a PGA Master Professional.

Ian, Steven and I speak about the tools and techniques they utilise in their coaching practices. We discuss how these tools can help coaches have better conversations with players; understand players as people first; and utilise Motivational Interviewing to become better listeners.

#130 Dr James Hegarty - ACT in Sport: Improve Performance through Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Commitment Feb 22, 2021

Show notes

I'm excited to speak with Dr James Hegarty in this episode. James has a PhD in Experimental Psychology, with a strong background in basic behavioural sciences, he is a registered clinical psychologist, and a fellow of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists. James also has an interest in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training) and he has written a book along with Christoph Huelsmann entitled ACT in Sport: Improve Performance through Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Commitment which is a practical workbook providing a variety of simple strategies for athletes, sport psychologists, and coaches for growing their skills. It is a manual for anyone wanting to become familiar with this increasingly popular but poorly understood approach to the psychology of sports performance.

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