The Sport Psych Show

I'm delighted to speak with Dr David Eccles in this episode. David is Professor of Sport Psychology at Florida State University. His primary area of research interest is skilled and expert human performance and its development, particularly from a cognitive perspective. David has written a paper along with Emma Leone and Prof Mark Williams entitled Deliberate Practice: What Is It and How Can I Use It? This fascinating paper introduces the reader to 7 principles for applying deliberate practice – established training techniques, existing skills as building blocks, pushing the envelope, enhancing mental representations, responding to feedback, total application of focus, and specific goals. We discuss these principles and then link deliberate practice to a second paper David has written entitled How To Help Athletes Get The Mental Rest Needed To Perform And Stay Healthy.

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.

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.

Dr. Ed Cope, a lecturer in Sport Coaching at Loughborough University, and Prof. Chris Cushion, a Professor of Coaching and Pedagogy, explore the evolution of direct instruction in coaching. They discuss its complexities, arguing against oversimplified views that ignore context and individual athlete needs. They advocate for a balanced approach between direct instruction and discovery learning to enhance youth development. The conversation emphasizes the role of structured guidance in fostering both competence and enjoyment in the learning process.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.