The Sports Initiative Podcast

Dan Wright is a Youth Development Phase coach at a Cat 1 Premier League academy. A Uefa A licensed coach who is well known for his work around constraint based coaching, Dan has also recently published a book focusing on the delivery of Small Sided Game in Youth football. Also a coach mentor for the Player Development Project, Dan works internationally supporting coaches in their delivery to players of all ages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rod Underwood is a former professional footballer who now coaches in professional football across the globe. A club advisor, Rod spends much of his year travelling globally to help clubs set up infrastructures for long term player development at both the first team and youth levels. Also a coach in his own right, Rod has experience working for such clubs as Portland Timbers and Montego Bay United. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leanne Skarratt is the founder of Manchester Futsal club's women's team and has experience of playing in the top futsal leagues nationally in the UK. Richard Ward is an England international futsal player who has represented his country on over 50 occasions. Both are currently trying to raise awareness of the English F.A decisions to cut the futsal funding by a reported £900,000 in light of the Covid -19 pandemic, Highlighting the potential pitfalls not providing a sustainable model for futsal could have in players around the country, They hope to gain support in calls for the F.A to fulfil their 2018 6 year Futsal development strategy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darren Higgins is the Head of Youth performance at Castleford Tigers RLFC. Part of the Betfred Super League, Castleford Tigers are known for their expansive style of play and player which is also exhibited further down their pathway in the development teams. Darren's role is to oversee players holistic development from initiation into the club right the way through to the first team environment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joel Moody is the Lead Foundation phase coach at Coventry City Fc. A Uefa A licensed coach, Joel has experience of working in some of the top clubs across the country including Southampton, Swansea City and Newcastle United. He also spent time over in North America working for Vancouver Whitecaps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Megan Hill is a PHD student out of the University of Bath. Her research project for her thesis focused on 'growth and maturation in talent identification in an elite football academy'. During this period, she studied how growth and maturation affects players within a Cat 1 academy and how using processes such as Bio banding and growth related individualisation can support players in their long term development. Field expert Sean Cummings was her supervisor on this project and helped sculpt her work in the field. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Rzeppa is the author of 'You're Hired, a guide to working in sports'. Aiming to provide clarity and great depth of knowledge behind the hiring process in sports; Brian interviewed some of the top personal in both college and professional sports in the US. This includes such individuals as; John Cohen from Mississippi State University, Phillip Fulmer from the University of Tennessee and Lance Blanks Former General Manager of the Phoenix Suns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Devereux is the Commercial Manager for the Bristol Flyers. He focuses on the engagement and growth of Bristol Flyers basketball both locally and nationally. The club is also part of the 'Bristol Sport' group which entails Bristol City Fc and Bristol Bears Rugby in a collaborative working environment. Most notably from a marketing stand point, the group created the goal 'GIF' campaign which is now common place up and down the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Richard Elliott is Head of the Football Performance and Participation programmes at Southampton Solent University. He has experience of working with a variety of leading organisation such as the Football Association, Premier League and League Managers Association, In a research setting, he has published worked investigating the challenges and difficulties in player migration; as well as mental health challenges faced within elite sport, in particular football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lee Conroy is a coach and player developer within cricket. An ECB master coach, he has experience of working with some of the best up and coming players and coaches in the English game. In particular, his work at the Bunbury festival provided him with access to current England internationals at senior and junior levels. He also holds a masters degree in elite coaching. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.