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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:

#288 Jonathan Pendlebury - Coaching at the Developmental Phase Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with Jonathan Pendlebury this week. Jonathan is the U18 Head Coach and Pathway Development Coach at the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the national governing body for rugby union in England.

Jonathan oversees player development for the U17 and U18 year old (men) in the programmes and pathways of the RFU and the Premiership Rugby (PRL) Regional Academies in England.

Jonathan is qualified to RFU Level 4 coaching award. He has experience coaching and working with all age groups and abilities from junior to senior.

Prior to his position at the RFU, Jonathan worked at Wasps Rugby and with Yorkshire Carnegie as Academy Manager, building upon the experience he gained as a professional rugby player of ten years, having represented Premiership and Championship clubs until 2012.

Jonathan has also completed a BSc (Hon) degree in Sport Coaching with Leeds Beckett, achieving first class honours. He also has a MSc in Sport Coaching.

#287 Paddy Ryan - Developing a Culture of Care Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with Patrick "Paddy" Ryan this week. Paddy is Chief Coach of Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC) for the women's programme.

Paddy has a wealth of rowing experience, having first started as a rower himself in his native Australia. After a move to the UK, he joined the Thames Rowing Club. Paddy also spent six years at London Youth Rowing (LYR) helping the small charity grow to a London-wide group, supporting thousands of teenagers every year.

Paddy began his career at CUBC in 2013 as assistant coach of the women's programme, bringing his considerable knowledge from his rowing experiences, and most importantly, his recipe for 'knowing how to win'. In 2021 Paddy became the CUBC chief coach for the Women's programme.

His career highlights include, as an athlete, winning Wyfold Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, winning the first Blondie Race in 2016 as Assistant Coach and then as Chief Coach, working with the winning 2022, 2023, and 2024 Blue Boat.

Paddy and I speak in depth about the culture he has created at CUBC.

#286 Alan Keane - Building a Coaching Toolbox Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with basketball coach and qualified teacher, Alan Keane this week.

Alan is a performance basketball coach with a focus on meeting the needs of the people he works with. He is the Great Britain U20 National Team Basketball Head Coach.

Alan is also co-founder of MVMT sports, a mission-driven business for people who believe sport should be a movement for good (not bad). MVMT provides training, support and tools for coaches who want to be difference-makers. The MVMT brand champions coaches who put people before winning.

Alan is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Coaching Science. He researches current strategies, motivations and evaluator approaches used by coaches, and intervention strategies to develop self-regulated learners.

Alan has won numerous coaching and teaching awards including: Great Britain National Team Coach, England Commonwealth Games Coach, Sky Sports Living for Sport Outstanding Contribution by a Teacher Award Nominee, Chris Morgan Coach of The Year Winner, and Sky Sports Teacher of The Year Finalist.

#285 Dr Richard Young - Building a System for High Performance Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with mentor, speaker and author, Dr Richard Young this week. Richard works with leaders and experts to help them uncover sustained competitive advantage.

Richard consults internationally to help people build sustainable performance systems and achieve faster. He works with Olympic sports, professional sports, national coaches, and former elite athletes.

Richard has been involved with nine Olympics as an athlete, coach, researcher, technologist and leader working across more than 30 sports for three countries focused on Olympic performance.

Richard has a PhD in physiology, medical science and biomedical engineering. Richard is also the founder of a number of international performance programs including, the Technology and Innovation for GB and NZ, and the Performance Knowledge & Learning program for NZ Olympic, Winter Olympic and Paralympic teams.

Richard has researched the differences between medallists and non-medallist athletes, coaches, support staff and organisations across 5 Olympic cycles and identified the behaviour and system differences between those who achieve and those who don't.

#284 Rob Walter & Adam Miles - Developing a Psychological Programme for High Performance in Elite Sport Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

I'm delighted to welcome back Adam Miles to the show this week. Adam is joined by Rob Walter, the Head Coach for the South African White Ball team in this episode.

Rob holds a degree in Human Movement Sciences. He started his coaching career as conditioning and fielding coach for the Proteas, the South African National Cricket Team. During this time, he also worked in the Indian Premier League for Pune Warriors and Delhi Daredevils. Rob was then Head Coach of the Titans Cricket Team in South Africa before pursuing head coach roles in New Zealand. He was Head Coach of Otago Cricket for 5 seasons before taking up the same role for Central Districts Cricket for almost 2 seasons. In 2023 Rob was named the ODI and T20 Coach of the Proteas.

Adam currently works as a psychologist in Primary Care. He is also team psychologist at Otago Cricket and Southern Steel in the New Zealand Netball League. Adam was previously Assistant Coach at Otago Cricket, working closely with Rob to develop a mental skills programme at the Club. Prior to this, Adam was manager of talent development and player pathway at Otago Cricket Association. Adam also coached 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.

#283 Derek O'Riordan - The Craft of Coaching May 20, 2024

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with Derek O'Riordan this week. Derek is Partnership Manager for Sport Scotland, the national agency for sport in Scotland. Derek works with governing bodies to support their investment for development.

Derek is also a lecturer in sport management and coaching at the University of Stirling and a coach developer working in situ with coaches. Derek also coaches Rugby Union in the Premiership in Scotland.

Derek and I discuss his experiences as a coach and coach developer, including: the intricacies of coach development – the differences between education and development; what healthy involvement in sport can look like for children; the role of deliberate practice; the use of attentional cues for learning and performance.

#282 Jordan Cassidy - Tailoring Coach Development to the Individual May 13, 2024

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with Jordan Cassidy this week. Jordan is a Sports Scientist specialising in skill acquisition and coach and athlete development. Jordan's work is aimed at supporting coaches to best support their players and athletes.

Jordan has worked across a number of sports across the globe including with the Hong Kong National Rugby Union Team as a strength and conditioning coach and then working as a sport scientist. Jordan is currently conducting research in skill acquisition and coaching at Queensland University of Technology, while working as a coach and player development consultant for clubs and schools across Queensland.

Jordan aspires to support coaches to deliver more engaging and enjoyable sessions for their athletes, in their unique context. Jordan aims to encourage reflective practice and provide feedback on: empowering players within training, coaching behaviours within a session and training session (micro-planning) and training block design (macro-planning).

#281 Elisabeth Oehler - Coaching Across Cultures May 06, 2024

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with Elisabeth Oehler this week. Elisabeth is a Sports Performance and Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Elisabeth has worked in various sports in multiple countries and is currently Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Saudi Olympic Training Center. Elisabeth has her own consultancy practice EO Performance. Previously, Elisabeth was the Strength and Conditioning Coach for DHL Stormers Western Province Rugby in South Africa.

Elisabeth takes a holistic approach to athlete development in her coaching to make her athletes stronger, faster, and more powerful. Besides the physical performance aspects, she helps her athletes to develop mental toughness, integrity, the ability to work in a team, discipline, respect, and leadership skills on and off the field or competition floor.

Elisabeth is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Elite Performance at Dublin City University.

#280 Michael Caulfield - Building Trust with Athletes and Coaches Apr 29, 2024

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with sport psychologist, Michael Caulfield this week. Michael has worked in professional sport for over 25 years. He currently supports a number of teams, organisations, coaches and athletes in elite sport. Michael has worked with teams and players in the Premier League as well as international and domestic cricket and has wide experience across many of the sporting codes.

Michael is a registered performance psychologist with the Health and Care Professionals Council, having retrained in psychology after a career in sport and sports administration. Michael is a regular keynote speaker at sport and business conferences on key areas such as wellbeing, rest and recovery, sleep, developing confidence and how to cope with the range of demands placed on people in all walks of life. Michael is also a regular contributor to BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC News and Sky Sports.

#279 Allan Steele - Reflections on Coaching and Leadership at the Elite Level Apr 22, 2024

Show notes

I'm delighted to speak with Allan Steele this week. Allan has held many positions in football including Director of Football, Technical Lead, Academy Manager in the Premier League and pro-licence coach.

Allan was Director of Football at Forest Green Rovers Football Club. Previously he held roles at Brentford Football Club – as B Team Technical Lead and Assistant Coach, and as Education and Welfare Manager and Academy Coach.

Allan and I discuss his coaching and leadership experiences and approaches having worked across three different footballing cultures.

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