Sam's coaching background includes multiple coaching roles for AFL New Zealand, however, he has primarily been a skills coach in Rugby Union and League, specialising in kicking and high ball catching. He has worked across the youth, community and professional ranks, including the Auckland Rugby Academy and the New Zealand Warriors NRL team. Sam completed a Masters of Sport & Exercise at AUT University researching 1st XV rugby players’ perceptions of their coaching environment. He also worked for Auckland Rugby and was influential in changing their structure of youth sport, shifting the focus to the player experience rather than performance. In March 2020, he relocated to Melbourne becoming Coaching Content & Learning Lead for the AFL, leading the design and delivery of the coach learning content across Australia. Sam is passionate about the humanistic approach to sport and coaching, spending the last decade in national and regional sporting organisations across both player and coach development. As a coach, coach developer, and researcher, he brings academic research on coaching pedagogy to practitioners through adult learning strategies. In this episode Sam discusses: How negative experiences in sport shaped his own sporting journey. Remembering who you're there for. “The reason adults should look as though they are having fun, is to give kids a reason to want to grow up." The bias of coaching pathways towards senior level coaching as a measure of success. The rising professionalism in NZ Schoolboy Rugby and it's impact on the player experience. His research on the perceptions of 1st XV schoolboy rugby players in terms of environment, culture and coaching. The demands and pressure this places on the on kids' time, schooling and other commitments. 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.

Nathan Parnham is an Athletic Development Coach based in Sydney Australia. He has worked in various roles throughout his career in the development and professional space across both genders for close to two decades. He has recently taken up a role as head of athletic development for St Augustine’s College. He has played role in the development of a range of state, national, and professional athletes currently plying their trade in the Australian Netball League, A/W-league's, NRL, Super Rugby, Rugby7s, and the ITF Tennis Circuit. In this episode Nathan discusses: His career at the Australian Women's Rugby 7's, Paramatta Eels and 3 different schools. His mindset shift from building the physical to having an impact on individuals for life. How you will learn the most skills from the most uncomfortable environments. His new role delivering an Athleic Development framework from year 5 - 12 at St Augustine's College. The need for long term stability in Coaching staff for effective LTAD programs. Creating "The Sporting Parent" to provide a credible resource to educate and empower parents. The difference between coaching a 10 year veteran and a aspiring athlete. You can keep up to date with Nathan via his personal Instagram: @nathan_parnham as well as The Sporting Parent on @thesportingparent and via the website www.thesportingparent.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.

Shayne qualified with a first- class honours degree in Sports and Exercise Sciences from University of Limerick in 2010, completing his MSc in Sport Science in 2012, certifying as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in 2013. Shayne has been working in elite football for over 11 years across first team and academy squads in the Premier League, including Manchester City, Liverpool FC, Blackburn Rovers and Cardiff City. He also spent several years with the Wales National Squads during international campaigns at U21 level. As the founder and director of SDM Performance, Shayne currently works with sports people independently as well as remaining a consultant for City Football Group, which is a global football organisation. As part of his role with City Football Group, he recently led the sport science department at New York City FC in the US for their pre-season. He also works with the Scottish FA as a Football Scientist and Setanta College as a Masters Lecturer.  In this episode Shane discusses: His career at Cardiff City, Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool and Manchester City The importance of running based movement skills in football. The rise of athletes having their own personal performance staff. Being selective over what CPD resources you use and when. You can keep up to date with Shayne via his Instagram: @sdmperformance . 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.

Robin is currently the Men’s Pathways Athletic Performance Manager at England Rugby, having worked with the Under-20s team for 6 seasons now. Having previously held roles in the Academies at both Gloucester Rugby and Leicester Tigers, Robin has good experience working with the developing Rugby Player. In this episode Robin discusses: His involvement with England's Senior squad at the 2015 World Cup and 2016 6 Nations Grand Slam. His unique situation to experience the 14 Premiership Academies. Using the simplest method to get the biggest output with the smallest input. His philosophy of How well, How much and How fast. The importance of understanding the athlete's why, background and family situation. Bringing all the stakeholders together through clarity and transparency. Why "What you see isn't what you get" with young athletes. How every training session is a complex social interaction. You can keep up to date with Robin via his Twitter: @psrve and email him via robineager@rfu.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.

Amy Spencer is an Accredited Sports Psychologist at Southampton FC. She has worked at the club for the last eight years ranging from 1st team players to U9’s, covering various aspects of performance to well-being. She is also currently completing a PhD in mindfulness in football. Megan Hill is a final year PhD Student at the University of Bath in collaboration with Southampton Football Club, studying age group coaches perceptions, experiences and management of male adolescent football players. In this episode they discuss: The player centred and holistic approach at Southampton. How the club focusses on the Psychological factors of Cohesion, Resilience and Flow. The initial bias for Relative Age and Maturation state at the club. The influence of the maturation process on match grades and coach perception of Academy football players The psychological demands and experiences of playing by maturation bands. How the club utilises Maturation monitoring to inform the timing of selection decisions. Integrating mindfulness practice into the Academy. You can keep up to date with Amy via her Twitter: @AmySportPsych and Megan via her Twitter: @Meg_Hill13 . 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.

Mark Robertson is a former International Rugby Sevens player and Olympian, amassing 56 tournaments for Scotland Sevens, securing their first ever HSBC World Series win in London, as well as winning a silver medal for Great Britain at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Since retiring he has worked as a Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Scottish Rugby Academy before moving on to ASM Clermont Auvergne. In this episode Mark discusses: Growing up in the 7's hotspot of Melrose. How goalsetting became a big driver in his development and performance. Acheiving the "Dream" of a Melrose 7's final and his journey to the Pro game. The lows of injury and deselection in his career. The highs of the first World Series win at Twickenham, going back to back, and the Rio Olympics. The importance of players building interests and identity outside of their sport. The challenges of moving to France and coaching in a different language. You can keep up to date with Mark via his Instagram: @markyrobertson and learn about the School of 7's via their website www.schoolofsevens.com  and Instagram: @schoolof7s . 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.

Dr Martina Navarro is a Senior lecturer in the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth. She is an Experimental Psychologist, with a range of interests in the area of skill learning, expertise and performance under pressure. Martina is particularly interested in how practice design and psychophysiological processes mediate motor development and decision-making performance. She holds a BSc in Sport Science and a PhD in Human Physiology (Neuropsychology) from the University of Sao Paulo , Brazil. Her PhD focussed on the effects of training strategies and high levels of stress and anxiety in human cognition (eg. attention and decision making) and motor control. During her PhD she joined a Sandwich program  at the MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam at the VU University Amsterdam under the supervision of Prof. Geert Savelsbergh who along with Rene Wormhoudt, created the Athletic Skills Model (ASM), which Dr. Navarro is currently working on its implementation in the UK and Brazil.  In this episode she discusses:  Her childhood in Brazil playing a multitude of sports.  How curiosity has driven her range of research interests and global travel.  How the Athletic Skills Model provides a different way of thinking about movement.  The aim of ASM to create Good Movers, Athletes and then Specialists.  The transfers of learning across sports and activities. The 3 Building blocks of ASM.  How ASM may help performance under pressure.  How to join the ASM community of practice in the UK.  You can keep up to date with Martina's work via Twitter @UoPSportScience , if you want to join the ASM community of practice you can do so by sending Martina an email: martina.navarro@port.ac.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.

Over the last 19 years Owen has worked with youth, senior, international and professional athletes as well as working in the entertainment and corporate health industries, spending time working in London, Australia, and New Zealand. He also has a history, as an athlete, in rugby, CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting. In this episode Owen discusses: Helping people become better versions of themselves. What it takes to coach a human being. Why mistakes and frustrations are actually net positives in the long run. His 10 years at Hartpury College and University. Why you must take into consideration the other aspects of athletes' lives. How Student Athletes often have basic life skills missing and how these can limit performance. How he overcame some of these absent life skills in his athletes. His new role contracting for Hintsa Performance and working with Mercedes. You can keep up to date with Owen via his Instagram: @betterhumanperformance . 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.

Kelvin Giles is a legend in Strength and Conditioning. A former UK National and Olympic Track and Field Coach, he spent 30 years in Australia’s High Performance Sport environment across organisations including the Australian Institute of Sport, Queensland Academy of Sport, the Canberra Raiders and the Brisbane Broncos. He also led the Australian Rugby Union Elite Player Development program. He’s coached 14 Olympic and World Champions athletes over a 40 year career in coaching. He is the CEO of Movement Dynamics UK Ltd and consults for a range of National Governing Bodies and Federations. He also authored the Physical Competency Assessment resources. In this episode, Kelvin discusses: His incredible 40 year career in coaching in the UK/Australia and the influence of mentors. Why training should be athlete-appropriate before sport-appropriate. Quality vs Quantity and "Flirting" with the progression ceiling. Why we should train the physical, technical, tactical in that order. Why coach development is the limitation to athlete development. Why coach mentoring should start the day you get your coaching award. Explicit and Implicit coaching Why patience is so important in coaching. You can follow Kelvin on Twitter via: @kbgiles and via the Movement Dynamics site: www.movementdynamics.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.

I first came across Annika when she was presenting a series of webinars in collaboration with Black Box on: Developing Mental Fitness, Building self awareness and Finding and Enhancing Resilience Annika work with athletes, coaches and personal trainers to help them train and compete with confidence. Her approach focuses on optimizing self-beliefs, mindset and confidence to create success without the roller-coaster of negative emotions, self doubt and burnout. She has a BA in Psychology from the University of Victoria and an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology. She is also an Equine Canada Competition Coach. She specializes in building new beliefs, mindsets and habits that form the foundation of confidence and consistent performance.  In this episode Annika discusses:  Her realisation of the 2nd world of sport.  Why the brain perceives all change as a threat.  How the Corona Virus pandemic can be reframed as an opportunity to start new behaviours.  How important it is to develop a Growth Mindset and Why.  The Let Be, Let Go, Let In model she uses for managing anxiety.  The false idea that motivation precedes action.  Why identity can become such a huge influence in behaviours and habits.  Why coaches should be using an "Ask" rather than "Tell" approach with their athletes.  You can keep up to date with Annika via her Instagram account: @map_performancepsych and via her website www.annikamcgivern.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.