The Sports Initiative Podcast

Todd Beane is Founder of TOVO Training and Academy Barcelona. Todd worked with Johan Cruyff for 14 years to create the Cruyff Institute for Sport Studies and to deliver total football training programs to professional clubs worldwide. In TOVO academy he combines proven pedagogical practices with the visionary components of Cryuff's well known style of play to create a dynamic and practical training methodology. As an athlete, Todd played NCAA Division I soccer at Dartmouth College before playing professional soccer in the USISL Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Geoff Noonan is a FACYD for the English Football association. Supporting coaches with their NGB and Uefa qualification's, Geoff aims to challenge and support coaches with their craft relative to their individual environment. Formally a coach in his own right, Geoff has worked of the likes of Crystal Palace and Fulham where he helped produce players like Ryan Sessognon and Omar Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cam Meighan is a specialist Set piece consultant in football. Working with a very successful and prominent team in the WSL, Cam analyses future opponents strengths and weaknesses and provides a report for the team to use in the upcoming fixture, This type of role is becoming increasingly interesting with Thomas Gronnemark at Liverpool setting a trend that Manchester United and Arsenal have followed this off season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Brownhill is the Player Pathway Coach for Gloucester Rugby. In this role he focuses on player and skill development for players within the academy hoping they can transition into the first team. He also works for the Scottish Rugby as an age group coach. Within this role he focuses on player identification and then engrossing players in the national teams style of play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian is a sports psychologist who has worked with some of the best English golfers including Danny Willett, Chris Wood and Tommy Fleetwood. Brian also has a wealth of experience in other sports, having worked with 12 medallists in Olympic and Commonwealth Games boxing, podium winners in single seat motor racing/sportscars including LeMans, F1 and professional cricket players. Alongside his work as a practitioner, he has become an accomplished author with books such as ’Mental Toughness for Golf: The Minds of Winners’. . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Morton is the Lead Under 15/16 coach at Leeds United. During his 2nd stint with the club Mike has had a pitch side view of Marcelo Bielsa and his team as they have turned Leeds from a Mid table Championship side to one of the Premier League's most enjoyable teams to watch. An A license team in his own right, Mike also spent time at Manchester City where he engrained himself in their academy philosophy which can be largely attributed to Barcelona and it's world renowned La Masia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greg Mannion is the Junior Academy Manager at Gallagher Premiership powerhouse Leicester Tigers. In this role, he focuses on developing a pathway for young players from the club and county set up, into the professional rugby. This transition is from the U13 age group through to the U18's and aims to provide players with the challenge and framework to develop whilst back in their localised set up. Formally a Rugby League player with St Helens and Wigan Warriors, Greg has used his rugby league skill base to inform his practice and skill development as a attack and backs coach in the union format. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Hughes is the Head of Coaching at Cardiff City FC. Formally a player, David played for Aston Villa, Shrewsbury and Cardiff City. After retiring, he turned to coaching where he has worked for some of the best academies in the country including Watford, Aston Villa and Southampton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Gale is a 22 year old Great British Track and field athlete. Competing in the High Jump, Tom has won bronze and silver medals at the European U20 and U23 championship respectively. Currently ranked 25th in the world after an injured ravaged 2020, Tom is hoping to secure his place at Tokyo 2021 at the British Championships later this month and compete for a medal after being one of only 5 athletes in the world to jump 2.33 during the 2020 indoor season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kylie Stannard is the head mens soccer coach at Yale University. Joining the programme in 2014, Kylie turned a programme that had won a total of 5 games across 2 campaigns into Ivy League winners in 2019. This was the first time the university had completed this feat since 1991. Formally of Michigan State University and Northern Illinois University, Kylie has a wealth of experience in the US collegiate system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.