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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:

#69 Dr Jonathan Fader - Coaching Athletes to be Their Best Part 2 Dec 23, 2019

Show notes

I am speaking with Dr Jonathan Fader in this episode. Fader was Director of Mental Performance for the New York Giants and served as the team psychologist for the New York Mets for nine seasons. He is a certified consultant by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and a resource doctor for Major League Baseball's Rookie Development Program. Through practical strategies Fader helps athletes and teams to achieve improved results.

This episode follows on from last weeks' episode when I spoke with Prof Stephen Rollnick. Fader and Stephen co-authored the fantastic book Coaching Athletes to be Their Best: Motivational Interviewing in Sports and in this episode we will speak about the concept of "I insist you resist"; guiding vs fixing; how to be an empathetic listener; affirmations; helping build a player self-efficacy and understanding people's perspectives.

#68 Prof Stephen Rollnick - Coaching Athletes to be Their Best Part 1 Dec 16, 2019

Show notes

I have the pleasure of speaking with Prof Stephen Rollnick in this episode. Stephen provides consultancy, mentorship and training on the subjects of motivation, change, teamwork and Motivational Interviewing (MI) of which he is a co-founder.

Stephen is a clinical psychologist and an Honorary Distinguished Professor in the School of Medicine in Cardiff University. He has also co-authored the brilliant book Coaching Athletes to be Their Best: Motivational Interviewing in Sports and it's this book we mainly speak about, specifically relationship building; Motivational Interviewing (MI); how to speak to groups to get the most out of them; using empathy to help people change; building trust with players; and we give an example of what MI can look like in practice.

#67 Dr Jennifer Fraser - Building Better Brains and Bodies Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

I'm excited to be speaking with Dr Jennifer Fraser in this episode. Jennifer is an award-winning educator, researcher and best-selling author. Her online courses and workshops provide dynamic lessons in the impact neuroscientific knowledge has on personal development and culture-change.

Jennifer set up Motion Press to help coaches, parents and those who work with children and youth learn about the practical applications of brain science via online courses, workshops and articles.

She has also just finished her fourth book, The Bullied Brain: What Neuroscientists Know about Brain Scars and How to Heal Them. And it's this book we mainly speak about, specifically, the impact of 'aggressive coaching' on athletes; the importance of coaches knowing about the brain; the adolescent brain; deliberate practice; changing mindsets; what is bullying?; mastery; the role of empathy; peer connectivity and coaches helping players to 'grow' their talent.

#66 Jenny Williams - Think Prepare Play Like a Champion Dec 02, 2019

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with Jenny Williams in this episode. Jenny represented South Australia in six sports: lacrosse, indoor lacrosse, touch, soccer, cricket and Australian rules football (AFL). Throughout her sporting career Jenny has coached many different sports including tennis, basketball, volleyball as well as the sports she herself played in.

Jenny has a Masters in psychology and has worked as team psychologist in various sports including golf and AFL.

Jenny has also written the fantastic book Think Prepare Play like a Champion which aims to uncover how to get to the top as a player, coach or manager.

And it's this book we mainly speak about, specifically, caring for players; self-awareness; the role of luck in sport and in life; different thinking styles and patterns; flow and players preparing for all eventualities.

#65 Mark Bennett MBE - Getting the Very Best out of Yourself and Your Players Nov 25, 2019

Show notes

I'm speaking with Mark Bennett MBE in this episode. Mark is founder of Performance Development Systems (PDS) - a robust set of principles that facilitate world class learning and performance cultures and environments. PDS was designed for coaches, managers and teachers to better understand themselves and learn how to influence and get the best out of the people around them. Before establishing PDS, Mark was a British Commando and senior instructor within the Army Physical Training Corps.

PDS is being used in 30 different sports from grassroots to the Olympics and professional teams as well as in schools helping disengaged children by supporting the teachers and mentors.

We speak in detail about PDS and look at examples of Mark implementing it in different sporting environments. Specifically, we speak about coaches utilising their players to help them grow; helping players self-manage; building confidence in players; coaches being aware of their own coaching style - why they coach the way they do; accountability; being adaptable in the moment and the importance of reflection and review.

#64 Simon Williams - Player Development: Ideas to Get Coaches Thinking Outside the Box Nov 18, 2019

Show notes

I'm excited to speak with Simon Williams in this episode. Simon has a football playing background, is a former football coach and is now Life Skills Manager for League Football Education (LFE). LFE was established in 2004 by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) and the English Football League (EFL) to be responsible for education and welfare across all EFL clubs.

We speak about the role of LFE; supporting young players outside of football; player identity; helping athletes understand the importance of having interests outside of their sport; explaining the 'why' to players; transferable skills; how the psych-social side can help a player's performance; self-awareness; grassroots coaching and Simon gives some fantastic examples of thinking outside the box to help players develop mental skill.

#63 Jamie Taylor - Why High Potential Players Don't Make It Nov 11, 2019

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with Jamie Taylor in this episode. Jamie is a former a coach and PE Teacher with a keen interest in human performance. He was head academy coach at Leicester Tigers and now works in the Pathways Team at the English Institute of Sport supporting Olympic and Para-Olympic talent pathways to develop their practice in talent development.

We speak about motivation and commitment; the importance of self-regulation in sport; understanding your athletes; missing windows of developmental opportunity; parents nurturing their children's sport and allowing children to have a range of experiences.

#62 Dr Carla Meijen - Mental Techniques to Maximise Performance Nov 04, 2019

Show notes

I speak with Dr Carla Meijen in this episode. Carla is an HCPC registered sport and exercise psychologist and a senior lecturer in Applied Psychology at St Mary's University, London. She graduated with an MSc in Social Psychology from the University of Amsterdam, followed by an MSc in Performance Psychology from the University of Edinburgh. Carla then completed her PhD at Staffordshire University, where she focused on challenge and threat states, examining athletes' cognitive, affective, and cardiovascular responses to demanding situations. Carla has also edited the fantastic book 'Endurance Performance in Sport'. And it's this book we mainly focus, specifically we speak about challenge and threat states in athletes; endurance performance; motivation; 'if-then' planning; automatic association; attentional focus; process-driven goals; flexible goals and the importance of reflection.

#61 Ian Peek - The Holistic Coach Oct 28, 2019

Show notes

I have the pleasure of speaking with Ian Peek in this episode. Ian 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 - the highest educational level in The PGA - which recognises PGA Members who make a significant effort to improve themselves as golf professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their operations.

We speak about the biopsychosocial model; the importance of looking at all aspects of a person's life as a coach; coaches being great actors; being the best version of yourself and the importance of adaptability as a coach.

#60 Thomas Gronnemark - Stories of Success and Failure from Liverpool FC Throw-in Coach Oct 21, 2019

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with throw-in coach, motivational speaker and author, Thomas Gronnemark in this episode. Thomas is the throw-in coach for Liverpool FC as well as for other European clubs.

Thomas has himself had a very varied sporting background having played soccer for over 18 years and moving into athletics in his late teens. He was on the Danish National team for both athletics and bobsleigh and he holds the Guinness World Record for the longest throw-in.

After having not been able to find any information on coaching throw-ins, Thomas decided to create his own course on the subject which then led to him specialise in coaching throw-ins.

We speak about athletes speaking up about nerves and anxiety; evaluating performances; asking for help; experiences not perfection; the importance of having a throw-in strategy and maximising energy.

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