Labours of Sport Coaching: The Science and Art of Coaching, Motivation, and Self-Determination
Labours of Sport Coaching combines academic research with professional expertise to help coaches develop Herculean strength in knowledge. Sign up for my newsletter: https://laboursofsportcoaching.beehiiv.com/subscribe Learn more about me and access my services: https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/ DISCLAIMER: The views I express on the podcast are my own and do not represent the views of my employers. Similarly the views of my guests do not represent my own as the host. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only.
Merging psychology and footballing actions, with Dadi Rafnsson
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In this episode I chat with Dadi Rafnsson about his latest research working with football clubs to establish a position specific 5 Cs psychosocial language for football coaches and players to use to tangibly bring psychology alive, as a precursor to nurturing their psychosocial development in training and on matchdays. Coaches have a massive part to play in unlocking the developmental potential of psychology in young athletes, and this latest development is a key next steps to realising...
Athlete autonomy isn't real! BITESIZE KNOWLEDGE
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In this short episode I tackle the conundrum of advocating for athletes' autonomy within the coaching process, when the coaching process is orchestrated - and controlled - by the coach. Even when it feels like athlete choice, it’s ultimately about the coach’s agenda, right? Exploring this argument thought pokes fun at dogmatism in the context of athlete centred coaching, while simultaneously reminding autonomy supportive coaching cynics that coaches still have a duty to AIM for autonomy with...
Relatedness support 101
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In this episode, I introduce relatedness support as the lowest hanging fruit* (with an asterisk to be explained) of the three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Relatedness support is intrinsic (no pun intended) to all functional, effective coach-athlete relationships. Yet we are guilty of taking for granted its importance. Learn how relatedness enhances and unlocks feeling of competence and autonomy, and how we coaches can support or inhibit perceptions of relatedness through every day behaviours...
Competence supportive coaching 101
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In this episode, I introduce what competence support is, what it entails (both as encouragement and structure, in the various forms and considerations), and the relationship of competence support with autonomy, relatedness, and adaptive forms of motivation. We need to break out of the notion that hands off coaching is unproblematic and build a sense of trust as coaches that we're structuring our athletes' environment to strengthen our bond and empower their independence. While at the same time...
A Christian approach to sport coaching, with Don Vinson
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In this episode I'm joined by Professor of Sport Coaching, Don Vinson, from the University of Worcester to discuss the perspective of Christian sport coaches. This rarely encountered conversation offers a case study of how sport coaches can align their values, and Christian faith, with a model of leadership known as servant leadership, in order to meaningfully support the many needs of athletes. A conversation which celebrates spirituality and religion within leadership in sport, for the value it...
Reframing motivation with SDT
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In this solo episode I go through some of the basic assumptions of motivation within sport and a sport coach's role, through a self-determination theory lens. Questions explored include who's responsible for motivating athletes, why amounts of motivation are just part of the equation, and what the relationship is between an athlete's motivational orientation and the environmental supports they receive (or not) for their basic psychological needs.
Keywords:
self-determination theory, coaching, athlete motivation, intrinsic...
International coaching leadership, with Chris Duncan
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In this episode I sit down with Chris Duncan, Head Coach of Scotland's National Women's Hockey team and Programme Lead for Women's Pathway. We discuss leadership, strategic coordination, managing coaching dynamics, fostering and nurturing relationships, and coach development.
Lessons to be learned for those coaching within international set ups and club level set ups alike!
Takeaways
Coaching is about guiding athletes to long-term improvement while balancing short-term results.Clear role definition within coaching...Autonomy supportive coaching 101
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In this solo episode, I break down and offer practical tips for implementing the 7 core autonomy supportive coaching behaviours for adaptive motivation in athletes, as outlined in Mageau and Vallerand's 2003 conceptual paper of the coach-athlete motivational model.
Keywords
coaching, autonomy, athlete development, self-determination theory, motivation, coaching behaviors, athlete feedback, independence, sports psychology
Takeaways
Autonomy is a fundamental need for athletes.Providing meaningful choices enhances athlete ownership.Explaining tasks increases athlete buy-in...Critiquing the constraints led approach, with Dave Collins
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In this episode I'm joined by Professor Dave Collins of the University of Edinburgh to discuss the good, bad, and ugly of the widely promoted - but rarely critiqued - ecological dynamics model as an explanation of, and framework for, skill learning in athletes.
Paper discussed:
Collins, D., Carson, H. J., Rylander, P., & Bobrownicki, R. (2024). Ecological Dynamics as an Accurate and Parsimonious Contributor to Applied Practice: A Critical Appraisal. Sports Medicine, 1-12.
C...
Lessons from the best coaches, with John OSullivan
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For this episode I sat with John OSullivan, who is an author, coach, and host of the Way of Champions podcast. We reflect on the key lessons John has learned from over 400 interviews with top coaches including all time great Chicago Bulls basketball coach Phil Jackson, as well as John's own wisdom gained through an extensive career within coaching.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
05:38 The Impact of John's TED Talk
08:10 Current...
Coaching as a science, with John Lyle
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In this episode I sit down with leading and longstanding coach researcher Professor John Lyle of Leeds Beckett University. For over 40 years John has established and pushed forward coaching as a science, and we reflect on where we've got to as a discipline in that time, the research issues we need to fix, and the avenues we should explore next within the academic world of coaching, to best serve coaches.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Coaching...
Coaching habits, with Ray Power
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In this episode I'm joined by long time coach and coach developer Ray Power, who is Technical Academy Director at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan, the biggest academy in South Asia. We talk about practical coaching habits in preparation, delivery, and reflection that can improve coaching practice while importantly making life a little easier for coaches.
Takeaways
Planning helps in aligning goals with daily actions.Without reflection, one may feel lost in their pursuits.It's important...When to coach, teach, or train, with Dennie Wilson
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In this episode I chat with Dennie Wilson, Dance Artist and Educator at the Royal Academy of Dance, about her paper 'Building a case for coaching: informing an innovative, pedagogical approach to dancer development'. The paper outlines a framework for reconceptualising what it means to educate dancers by differentiating and diversifying our thoughts and actions across teaching, training, and now coaching. The conversation is about more than mere semantics and offers food for thought around the pedagogy of...
Ancelotti's half-time team talk coach, Eamon Devlin
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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...Building and seizing opportunities in coaching, with Alejandro Sánchez
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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 opportunityTargeting involvement with your sport's...A salutogenic approach to talent development, with Andrew Kirkland
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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 healthUnderstanding our athletes' challenges can help coaches...Can a coach change sports? Reflections with Tom Hartley
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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 workingFailing to filter out noise in alien sporting environments can distract...Effective children's coaching, with Peter Sturgess
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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...
Myths of motivating athletes - Guest appearance on Rugby Coach Weekly
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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...
How FREE AI tools can enhance your coaching today
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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...
The hidden dimension of motivational coach behaviour
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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...
Mark Williams - Debunking myths in skill learning and performance
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In this episode, Professor Mark Williams and I discuss discuss several myths surrounding skill learning and performance in sports, and what the practical implications are for sport coaches looking to support athletes. We explore the place of cognitive skills, the role of visual function, and the significance of anticipation over reaction time. The conversation also delves into the integration of technology in training, the transfer of skills across different sports, and the distinction between performance and learning in...
Leveraging social media as a sport coach, with Temisan Williams
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In this episode I'm joined by Temisan Williams, founder of Coach Accelerator, to discuss the importance of social media for coaches. We explore how coaches can leverage platforms like LinkedIn and X to build their personal brand, network effectively, and enhance their coaching careers. Temisan explains the need for coaches to balance their on-field responsibilities with a strong online presence, offering practical tips for creating engaging content and understanding social media algorithms. The conversation highlights the significance of...
Skill Acquisition Specialists FOR coaches, with Shawn Myszka
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In this episode, I'm joined by Shawn Myszka to discuss the emergence of a new member of sport coaches' multidisciplinary team within a high performance setting. The skill acquisition specialist. We use Shawn's recent introductory paper to work through potential criticisms of the role which - when taken at a glance - could appear combative with the coach's place. But there's more here than meets the eye.
Shawn's paperIf you enjoy hearing about this...
Movement first skill learning, with Robert Francis
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In this episode I'm joined by founder of Movement Mojo, Robert Francis, to discuss why sport coaches should consider the benefits of movement-centric learning for the attainment of sport-specific skills. Take a leaf from strength and conditioning coaches.
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What to expect on this podcast.
Fostering engagement in coach education, with Kurt Lindley
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In this episode I'm joined by Kurt Lindley, founder of Be More Learning and Development, to discuss how coach educators - through the help of learning science - can create more meaningful experiences for coaches.
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Andrew Abraham - Ethics in coaching beyond legality
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In this episode I'm joined by Dr Andrew Abraham, head of subject in sport coaching and physical education at Leeds Beckett University. We discuss the tricky and perhaps over bracketed topic of ethics in coaching.
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Kevin Nicol - Providing structure within tactics
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In this episode I'm joined by Kevin Nicol, Manager of Mjøndalen who compete in Obos Ligaen, the second tier of the Norwegian football pyramid. We discuss the connections between Kevin's lived experience of senior performance coaching and insights from a recent study Kevin published looking at Norwegian perspectives on competence support in football.
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Learning from esport COACHING, with Matthew Watson
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In this episode I chat with Matthew Watson, a coach and PhD researcher in Esport Coaching. We use our time together to explore and discuss the interesting, growing, but not overly dissimilar coaching domain of Esports.
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Sport coaches' self-care, with Richard Husseiny
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In this episode I'm joined by Richard Husseiny, a performance coach for support staff in sport, and founder of Men Behind Sport. In this episode we discuss the sport coach as a performer, and person, with their own important support needs.
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Sport coaching for social change, with Mark Adams
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In this episode I'm joined by Mark Adams, a social inclusion officer at Glasgow City Council, to discuss how coaches can mould better citizens and stronger individuals within their practice.
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<...Russell Earnshaw - Entrepreneurship in sport coaching
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In this episode I'm joined by independent coach and coach developer Russell Earnshaw to discuss launching your own business within sport coaching, and making it a success.
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Neural activity in expert performance, with Laura Carey
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In this episode I'm joined by Dr Laura Carey, Sport Psychologist and Lecturer at UWS, to discuss her latest paper which reveals the neural pathology of successful vs unsuccessful putting performance among expert golfers.
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Being a parent-coach - Experience and effects on behaviour
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In this episode I discuss findings from a chapter of my PhD research which looked at influences on the coach-created motivational environment. The chapter in question explores the challenges of coaching your own child, and implications for the quality of your coaching environment.
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Influence within sport coaching, with Adam Nichol
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In this episode I'm joined by Dr Adam Nichol, Assistant Professor in Sociology of Sport at Northumbria University, to discuss all things influence on and through coach behaviours, using both sociological and philosophical theory.
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Rob Gray - Clarifying constraints based coaching
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In this episode I'm joined by the world renowned constraints based coaching expert Rob Gray, Associate Professor in Human Systems at Arizona State University. We chat all things constraints, pitching the conversation a little above entry level to really get into more nuanced conversations on a widely used motor learning philosophy.
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A defence of competition in youth sports, with Cesar Torres
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In this episode I'm joined by Professor Cesar Torres, a sport philosopher and historian from SUNY Brockport university in the USA. Cesar offers an alternative way of viewing and using competition when working with young sport participants, that contrasts with the popular villainisation of competition in youth sport circles.
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Managing people, with Michael Tuohy
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In this episode I'm joined by Michael Tuohy, Head of Girls' Football at Celtic Football Club. We chat about vision and operational planning, alongside Michael's experiences as a trophy winning First Team Coach at the club.
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Reprioritising fun in coaching, with David Baird
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In this episode I'm joined by David Baird, creator of Scoreboard Soccer. We look at fun in coaching - it isn't always present, but should be!Â
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