

The Athletic Evolution Podcast
Rob Anderson
A podcast for Parents, Sports Coaches, PE Teachers, Support staff and anyone else interested in Youth Athletic Development! Our mission is to support grassroots coaches in the development of youth athletes.
Here you'll find interviews with technical coaches, support staff, researchers and former athletes, helping us all to improve our coaching with young athletes.
Here you'll find interviews with technical coaches, support staff, researchers and former athletes, helping us all to improve our coaching with young athletes.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 25, 2019 • 1h 26min
John Scriven (Jersey Sport Foundation): Talent Development
John Scriven is the Head of Services at the Jersey Sport Foundation.
In this podcast, he discusses:
His frustration in athletics forming the foundation for a curiosity in coaching.
His long list of coaching influences.
A brief overview of Russian talent development systems in the communist era.
The journey of creating and establishing a talent support structure in Jersey.
Some fantastic reading resources for those interested in talent development.
You can follow the work of the JSF on Instagram: @jerseysportfoundation Facebook: @JerseySportFd and via their website: https://jerseysportfoundation.org.je/
You can get in contact with John via his Facebook page, or via his email: john.scriven@jerseysportfoundation.org.je
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.

Nov 18, 2019 • 54min
Steve Curnyn (Hibernian FC Academy): Creating ownership
In this episode Steve Curnyn, Head of Academy Football Medicine and Science at Hibernian FC discusses:
His journey into coaching, including his 5 minutes of fame!
Why ownership is the ultimate success in a youth physical development program.
Why bringing the energy or being the "magic man" is so important.
Why Hibernian FC assesses Growth & Maturation in their players.
What they do with this Maturation information.
Managing growth related injury in young players.
You can follow Steve's work Twitter: @SteveCurnyn and on Instagram: @stevecurnyn
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.

Nov 11, 2019 • 47min
Simon Brundish (StrengthLab): Physical Literacy for Superheroes
In this episode Simon Brundish, Founder of StrengthLab and creator Superheroes discusses:
How many coaches have come from a PE teaching background.
His unique purpose for coaching kids. The problems with modern day PE curriculum.
How he came to create the Superheroes program and it's success in both schools and sports academies.
The challenges with integrating physical literacy curriculum into the school setting.
You can follow Simon's work on Instagram: @strengthlabsuperheroes Twitter: @UK_StrengthLab and Facebook: @Strengthlabonline and via his website: https://strengthlab.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.

Nov 4, 2019 • 1h 7min
Andy Bruce (Merchant Taylors’ School): Implementing S&C in an Independent School
In this episode Andy Bruce discusses:
His unusual journey to becoming a Youth Strength & Conditioning Coach.
What "success" looks like to him as a Youth coach. The challenges of implementing S&C in an independent school setting.
A new app he is involved in developing to help monitor the various activities of school pupils.
His love of learning and recommendations for CPD.
You can follow Andy on Instagram at @acbcoaching Facebook ACB Coaching and Twitter @acbcoaching as well as his website www.acbcoaching.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.

Oct 21, 2019 • 37min
Rob Smaldon & Sam Guy (Cornwall High Performance): Running a successful youth coaching business
In this episode Sam Guy and Rob Smaldon, Founders of Cornwall High Performance (CHP) discuss:
Their varied sporting backgrounds.
How Cornwall High Performance began.
The challenges they face coaching youth athletes.
The autonomy of running your own business vs being an employed coach.
Advice for those running a youth coaching business.
You can follow CHP on Instagram at @cornwallhighperformance and Facebook at Cornwall High Performance and via their website www.cornwallhighperformance.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.

Oct 21, 2019 • 53min
Grant Mcleod (Buriram United FDP): Creating a common coaching language and coaching across cultures.
In this episode Grant Mcleod, Head of Performance Projects at Buriram United FDP discusses:
The challenges of coaching in a foreign language and culture in Thailand.
Creating a common coaching vocabulary and syllabus.
Using small sided games to develop technical skill and conditioning.
Why different age groups require specialist coaches.
You can follow Grant on Instagram at @gmcl.sc and Facebook at Grant Mcleod or email him directly on grant.mcleod@brutd.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.

Oct 14, 2019 • 1h 3min
Shane Fitzgibbon (Connacht Tae Kwon Do): 6 x World Champion in Tae Kwon Do, 2015 IYCA Coach of the Year.
In this episode Shane discusses:
The influences behind his entry into Martial Arts.
His dual career in Martial Arts Instructing and Strength & Conditioning Coaching.
His "Why" for coaching kids in particular, with one of the best coaches a compliment can receive!
The 4 chores he makes all his students/clients complete.
Why "3rd party power" is an important component in coaching.
Why holistic development of the child/athlete is so important in his coaching.
The worrying trends he sees in 26 years of coaching kids.
Links to resources he mentions: Spiderfit Kids, Kelvin Giles work.
You can follow Shane's work in Tae Kwon Do via the website Connacht Tae Kwon Do and Facebook page. You can keep up to date with his S&C work via his Coaching Facebook page.
Keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our Website, Twitter and Instagram. If you want to leave us some feedback or a question for future episodes you can do so here.

Oct 7, 2019 • 1h 5min
Fergus Pringle: From South Africa to Edinburgh Rugby with the Watsonians Super 6 coach and former Romania U20's Coach and East Lothian Rugby Development Officer
*This podcast was originally recorded in January 2018*
In this episode Fergus discusses:
Growing up in South Africa playing cricket, rugby, squash and hockey.
How he got into coaching as a young student.
Differences coaching younger athletes.
Why love of the game is important.
The fundamental values in order to be successful in his programs.
Support vs Challenge in a developmental environment.
What is success for him.
Being deliberate in setting training culture.
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.

Sep 30, 2019 • 1h 10min
Ben Pipes: From Hull’s concrete floors to the Olympics with the former Team GB Volleyball Captain and London 2012 Olympian.
*This episode was originally recorded in February 2018*.
In this episode we discuss:
Ben's journey from discovering volleyball as a schoolboy, to playing at a Home Olympic Games in front of 15,000 fans.
Sharing a bubble bath with Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs in the process!
Failing into volleyball and it’s importance in his progression.
Hearing your getting dropped…from your mum!
The standards required to get to Olympic level.
Why time management is a critical skill for young athletes.
Building the habit of overcoming barriers.
Making choices not sacrifices.
You can follow Ben on social media on Twitter: @Ben_Pipes and Instagram: @pipes_ben
Keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our Website, Twitter and Instagram. If you want to leave us some feedback or a question for future episodes you can do so here.

Sep 27, 2019 • 2min
Introduction
A brief introduction to the Athletic Evolution Podcast!