Dr John Radnor is a Lecturer and researcher in Strength and Conditioning at Cardiff Metropolitan University. His research interests surround youth S&C, and he has recently completed his PhD in Paediatric Exercise Science. John has previously worked with Welsh Rowing and the GB Start Programme, as well as previously being an academy S&C coach at Exeter Chiefs and Exeter City. Taking a step back from coaching at the moment, one of John’s main roles at the University is as the work-based learning lead for the SCRAM UG programme, developing links with NGB’s, pro teams, and local clubs for placement students. Within this role, John looks to develop research links ensuring that research is helping to answer “performance problems” for the clubs. In this episode John discusses: His difficult decision to leave Exeter Chiefs Academy to take up a PhD position. Why all coaches should Educate, Enthuse and Enhance. How his research his helping understand whether performance improvements are down to Maturation or Training. Some of the main findings of his PhD research. What this means for coaches in evaluating their programs. You can keep up to date with John via his Research Gate profile, or via Twitter: @John_Radnor . Keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our Website, Twitter and Instagram. 

Amanda Johnson has worked as a physiotherapist in several sports at a high level including Great Britain Aquatic teams particularly swimming, synchro swimming and 10 years with the GB diving team. She has also travelled with the England Athletics Team to international camps and competitions. Mandy served for 5 years as the England Women’s Football team physio and as a senior lecturer for the Football Association. She spent 10 years as the senior physiotherapist at the Academy of Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson before becoming the lead physiotherapist at Aspire Academy for 8 years. Amanda's PhD and research interests a  are related to issues and injuries suffered by developing youth athletes in all sports. She has lectured at many international conferences on youth development, maturity and injury.  In this episode Amanda discusses:  Being specifically hired by Sir Alex Ferguson to discover why young athletes were getting injured.  The forward thinking approach of the Manchester United Academy using biological assessment 20 years ago.  The wide span of biological ages she found within each age group team at the Academy.  Why some injuries are specific to young athletes.  What exactly is happening during Sever's, Osgood-Schlatter's and Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease.  What sort of ages these injuries present and how they are often treated.  You can follow Amanda's work more closely via her Research Gate Profile here.  Keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our Website, Twitter and Instagram. You can leave us feedback or submit a question for future episodes here.

Brett Klika, founder of SPIDERfit Kids is regarded as an international expert in the field of inspiring kids to be active for life, He is also an  IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year award winner, author, and international motivational speaker inspiring men, women, and children around the world to create a culture of wellness in their home and live the best version of their life. In this episode Brett discusses: How his fitness journey got started earning a pair of Nike Air trainers. His journey from development to the US Olympic training centre, then back to development. How the birth of his daughter was a catalyst for SPIDERfit kids. How exercise is a gateway for personal growth and identity. His focus on "Powerful Play" Why movement is so important in holistic human development. His approach manipulating "movement variables". The impact and future of SPIDERfit kids program. You can keep up to date with Brett via the SPIDERfit Facebook page , Instagram: @spiderfitkids and SPIDERfit Kids Youtube Channel and on the website: www.spiderfitkids.com . Keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our Website, Twitter and Instagram. You can leave us feedback or submit a question for future episodes here.

Jamie Salter has worked in professional football and rugby league with both youth and adult athletes in a physical preparation role at Barnsley FC, Middlesbrough FC and York Knights RLFC whilst working with various athletes on an ad-hoc basis for many years. Alongside applied experience, he has spent most of my career in education as a lecturer in further and higher education environments. He is currently a Lecturer at York St John University delivering to under- and post-graduate students in areas of injury prevention, rehabilitation and strength and conditioning. He has presented at several major international conferences and is a current PhD candidate researching the associations between biological maturation and training loads in youth football. In this episode Jamie discusses: His unique method of getting work experience in professional football. An influential experience coaching for Everton FC's disability group. His strength of building rapport and relationships with students and athletes. His research on training load and maturation monitoring at professional football academies. His research on the perceptions of training load in athletes of different maturity status. His current thought on the relationship between accelerations, decelerations and change of direction on growth related injuries. You can keep up to date with Jamie via his Twitter: @jay_salter and @AthleteDiscov , via Instagram: @athletediscovery and via the website www.athletediscovery.co.uk . Keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our Website, Twitter and Instagram. You can leave us feedback or submit a question for future episodes here.

Helen Collins is a Sport & Exercise Scientist at the Institute of Sport and Exercise, University of Dundee.  She is currently undertaking a PhD through the University of Edinburgh, investigating resistance training as a strategy to encourage less active and/or overweight children to become more active and healthier.  During her 17 years at the University of Dundee she has lectured extensively on the University’s Sports Biomedicine degree, and more recently has become module co-ordinator for a student selected module on Exercise Deficit Disorder within the Medical Curriculum. As a BASES Accredited Sport & Exercise Scientist (physiology) and a UKSCA Accredited S&C Coach, she has delivered applied sports science in performance sport for a variety of sports and athletes. In more recent years, Helen’s interest and work programme has though re-focussed on health, specifically on the benefits of resistance training and this has led her to her current research topic. In this episode Helen discusses: How Avery Faigenbaum was key influence in her moving from performance sport to health. The incredible retention rate of her afterschool S&C program for inactive/overweight children. How the feeling of success and growing confidence drives participation in her group of children. Her PhD research on the benefits of resistance training on psychology, movement skills and body fat in children. The powerful feedback from both children and parents that reinforce the benefits of resistance training in children. You can keep up to date with Helen via her ResearchGate profile , or via Twitter @helen_collins1 . Keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our Website, Twitter and Instagram. You can leave us feedback or submit a question for future episodes here.

Andy Taylor was a professional footballer for nearly 10 years starting at Manchester United and then moving on to Exeter City. He completed a Foundation Degree in Sports Performance at the University of Bath in Sports Performance and a First Class honours degree in Strength and Conditioning at the University of Plymouth St Mark & St John. This combined with his practical work with young athletes over the last 6 years based at Ivybridge Community College has allowed him to put this knowledge in to action. In this episode Andy discusses: Signing for Manchester United during their famous treble season and being in the environment with David Beckham, Peter Schmeichel and Ryan Gigg. The high training standards set by Sir Alex Ferguson & Eric Harrison. The introduction of a coach specifically responsible for strength & conditioning in Mick Clegg. Getting advice from Roy Keane about injury. Moving to Exeter CIty and a famous FA Cup draw. Transitioning into S&C coaching. and his role at Ivybridge College coaching both secondary and primary students. The holistic benefits of strength & conditioning for students. You can follow Andy's work via his website www.taylormaderehab.com/ and via his Twitter @taylormaderehab , and follow Ivybridge S&C on @ivybridgeSaC . Keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our Website, Twitter and Instagram. You can leave us feedback or submit a question for future episodes here.

Andy Kirkland has been working professionally in sport for the last 10 years, initially as a sports scientist at the Scottish Institute of Sport, then British Cycling and now as a Lecturer in Sports Coaching at the University of Stirling. He’s been involved at every level, ranging from teaching young children to swim, working with development and performance athletes, through to providing high-performance support to international level coaches and athletes. As well as having a Ph.D. in Sport Science, Andy is a British Association of Exercise Sciences accredited sport and exercise scientist with chartered scientist status. His academic background, exploring mental health and wellbeing, influences the way he  think’s and attempts to solve problems. However, his experiences at the ‘coal-face’  are important to what he does. His developing expertise in behavioural change science helps him make sense of highly complex coaching environments. In this episode Andy discusses: How his experiences on council estates and in techno clubs influenced his coaching philosophy. Why health, mental health and performance should all be the same thing. Why wellbeing should not be sacrificed for performance. How High Performance sport is ruthless. Why parents are more important than coaches in the athlete's sporting journey. His 3 rules for dealing with the world of High Performance. How to decide if a training/competition environment is right or not. You can read Andy's article "A warts and all guide to being an athlete in a "High Performance" environment here. You can keep up to date with Andy via his Twitter account: @andykirkland71 .  Keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our Website, Twitter and Instagram. You can leave us feedback or submit a question for future episodes here.

Niall MacSweeney completed his MSc at St Mary’s University. Whilst studying, he secured a position as an S&C coach at White Lodge, which houses The Royal Ballet School students aged 11-16. Niall has previously worked with a variety of sports including the University of Liverpool sports teams, London Broncos, and GB Sitting Volleyball. Niall also has a private coaching business called Energia Performance. Matt Lamarque is an S&C working with The Royal Ballet School for the last three and a half years. He completed a Masters by Research in quantifying training loads in elite adolescent ballet in a collaboration between The Royal Ballet School and St Mary’s University. He has previously worked within both male and female rugby at Richmond Rugby and male football at Leyton Orient FC, as well as a short stint in academy level cricket.  In this episode they discuss:  Their context delivering S&C to ballet students aged 11-19 and their normal weekly training load.  The evolution of ballet performance  from a delicate to a more explosive endurance performance.  The extreme number of jumps dancers complete on a daily basis and the typical injuries reported in ballet dancers.  How S&C can provide the capacity to underpin the artistry in ballet.  The barriers they had to overcome to implement S&C in a ballet setting. and the gradual change in culture.  You can find keep up to date with Niall via his Twitter: @NiallMacSweeney and via his Instagram: @energia_performance .  You can keep up to date with Matt via his Twitter: @mlamarqueSC and Instagram: @matt_lamarqueperformance .  Keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our Website, Twitter and Instagram. You can leave us feedback or submit a question for future episodes here.

Wendy Glover is a Health and Physical Education Teacher and Coach. She has dedicated her 22+ year career to approaching teen athletes as future contributors to sport through education, community involvement, and mentorship. She has written Health and Wellness, and Sport Management courses for the Ontario Ministry of Education, and many programs to support the holistic development of the athlete. Wendy wanted to improve the sport community experience all, this led to her creating an innovative #AthLeadership program to recruit and train teen athletes to be future coaches in the province of Ontario. Through this program AthLeaders gain many industry certifications (e.g. coaching, ethics, sport management), and dozens of volunteer community service hours in areas of sport, individualized for them. Over 400+ athletes have been through this program and have been empowered to contribute to sport in Canada. In this episode Wendy discusses: How the lack of age appropriate sporting experiences for her own children inspired her to action. Why the Win/Loss record isn't a good tool for measuring coaches. The idea and creation of the Athleadership program. What the Athleadership program entails for those involved. Giving youth a taste of different experiences to find their aptitudes and enthusiasm. Why we should be encouraging young athletes to "pay it forward" to the community and Why "You're not special" Why negative or positive perceptions of youth can become a self fulfilling prophecy. Being an "Athleader for life" and the importance of developing an identity outside of being an athlete. You can find keep up to date with Wendy via her Twitter account: @developathletes . Keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our Website, Twitter and Instagram. You can leave us feedback or submit a question for future episodes here.

Stuart Edwards or “Eddo” is the Head of Rugby at Stewarts Melville College recently winning the Scottish Schools Cup in 2019. He is also the Backs coach for the Scotland U18 National Team, as well as a current player for Heriots in the Super 6 league in Scotland. In this episode He discusses: His experiences in the National Age Grade system in Scotland at U18, 19 and 20 National Squads. How some of the negative experiences shaped his approach as a coach. Defining "success" at School and National level of the game. Why fun is the underpinning component of player progress. Why relationships supercede everything else. Teaching athletes about the on/off switch. You can keep up to date with Stuart via his Twitter account: @stuarted10 . Keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our Website, Twitter and Instagram. You can leave us feedback or submit a question for future episodes here.