Talking Split S3 Ep3: Melbourne United High Performance Manager Eric Hollingsworth
May 11, 2018
Eric Hollingsworth, High Performance Manager at Melbourne United and former elite track and field coach and administrator. He talks multi-sport development and the right age to specialise. He explains designing age-appropriate competition and training windows. He covers building high performance habits, long-term pathway planning, and fixing gaps in coaching and competition to create sustained pro-level growth.
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Lana Sparked A Basketball Journey
- Eric's daughter Lana introduced the family to basketball and led him into club involvement at McKinnon.
- That club role later connected him to Vince and ultimately to Melbourne United work.
De-Emphasise Youth Winning
- Reduce youth competition load and prioritise structured skill work like passing, dribbling and shooting.
- Judge junior coaches on skill development outcomes, not win-loss records.
Give Skills Space And Time
- Protect dedicated practice courts and daily training environments so skill work isn't displaced by competition bookings.
- Design training windows that let coaches apply patience during maturation rather than forcing constant competition.