The Constraints Collective #74 Ian Renshaw on the Cricketer Podcast
Dec 16, 2025
Ian Renshaw, an experienced sports coaching and skill acquisition expert, shares his journey in cricket coaching and academia. He discusses his new book with Stephen Rollnick, aimed at transforming coaching through constraint-led, game-centred methods. Renshaw highlights innovative backyard practice techniques used to train his son, international cricketer Matt Renshaw. The duo emphasizes the importance of making coaching practical and accessible, advocating for gamified practice over traditional techniques to enhance players' skills.
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From Mining Team To Cricket Research
- Ian Renshaw recounts his coaching and academic journey from Nottingham to QUT and a PhD focused on cricket.
- He links early experiments (bowling machines, removing umpires) to his coaching frustrations and research-driven practice.
Start With Conversations, Then Design Games
- Design practice around game-centred, constraint-led activities rather than isolated technique drills.
- Start coaching conversations first and use motivational interviewing to put players at the centre of change.
Backyard Play Shapes Sporting Skill
- Childhood 'backyard' games shape later sporting behaviour and decision-making.
- Building practice that mimics those exploratory, playful environments fosters adaptable players.