Join Craig Morris, a British Canoe Slalom coach, as he shares his journey from athlete to coach. Explore his coaching philosophy evolution towards a constraints-led approach, emphasizing athlete involvement, game design, and performance analysis. Discover the challenges faced and the importance of evolving coaching practices and building relationships with athletes. Dive into the publication of an academic paper on skill training periodization for the Olympics, highlighting collaboration between academia and practitioners.

Themes covered in this episode include:What is a coaching philosophy and do we need one?Understanding experiences from others perspectives.Learning through corresponding/ interacting together.Best intentions, staying curious and humble.My fabulous guests bios and links to other content and resources are in part 2 due to word constraints.BibliographyThe meaning of some 'long words' used in the podcast. Despite the complexity of the words, these are important and useful concepts to think about regarding philosophy and guiding principles in coaching.Critical phenomenology examines how our experiences are shaped by power, social structures, and historical contexts. It emphasises the importance of understanding individual and group experiences, while also acknowledging larger societal forces. It critiques traditional phenomenology's focus on individual subjectivity and advocates for social and political critique to empower marginalised groups and create more equitable societies.Eco-feminism highlights the connection between women's oppression and environmental degradation, both caused by the patriarchal system. It advocates for more egalitarian and sustainable societies, emphasising the interdependence of all living beings.Positivistic objective philosophy emphasises empirical evidence and scientific methods to understand the world, seeking universal laws and objective truths while excluding subjective experiences and values. It prioritises quantitative data and a neutral observer to eliminate bias from scientific investigation.Ethnography is a qualitative research method used to understand human cultures and social phenomena by systematically observing and analysing people in their natural environment. Ethnographers aim to produce detailed accounts of social and cultural contexts through extended fieldwork, interviews, surveys, and document analysis, often using an emic (insider) or etic (outsider) perspective.Participant observation is a research method where the researcher becomes a participant in a social setting while observing and recording the behaviour of others. It provides a deep understanding of the cultural practices and beliefs of the group studied by experiencing them firsthand, and often involves note-taking, interviewing, and engagement with group members.Anthropocentric philosophy prioritises humans and their needs above all other living beings and the environment. It assumes nature exists solely for human benefit, promoting an unsustainable relationship with the natural world. This perspective neglects the interconnectedness of all life and has been criticised for being destructive.Pedagogy is the practice and theory of teaching and education, encompassing methods and strategies to facilitate learning, selecting appropriate materials, designing lesson plans, and creating an engaging environment. Effective pedagogy considers individual needs, promotes active participation, and varies by subject matter, age group, and cultural context.Ontology is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of existence, including the concepts of being, becoming, and reality. It is concerned with questions about what exists, what entities can be said to exist, and how such entities can be grouped, related within a hierarchy, and subdivided according to similarities and differences.Epistemology is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge. It explores questions related to how knowledge is acquired, the criteria for evaluating knowledge claims, and the limits of what can be known. Epistemology also examines the various sources of knowledge, such as perception, reason, and testimony, and investigates the methods used to validate knowledge claims, such as the scie

Craig Morris, an accomplished athlete, shares insights from his captivating Olympic journey. He discusses the delicate balance of luck and legacy, emphasizing the importance of community support in sports. The conversation dives into the mental dynamics athletes face before competition, highlighting the need for emotional well-being and team cohesion. Craig also reflects on the significance of open communication in coaching, recounting personal anecdotes that reveal how vulnerability shapes team dynamics. His reflections on Olympic moments underscore the beauty of acceptance in sports.

Craig Morris, an Olympic Canoe Slalom Coach, shares how he chose to see reality without the bias of his toolbox. He discusses the importance of 'not knowing' and embracing curiosity for personal growth. The podcast delves into his journey, coaching techniques in Canoe Slalom, and the evolution of coaching philosophy towards adaptability and athlete feedback.

Olympic Canoe Slalom Coach, Craig Morris, discusses power development, constraint-led coaching, and challenges faced by athletes. Topics include the evolution of canoeing pathways, attributes for success in water sports, adaptability in coaching, diverse approaches in football skills, personalized feedback in training, training techniques for kids, cultural influence on sports success.