The Sports Initiative Podcast

Greg Revak is a hockey coach, coach developer and podcast host of Hockey IQ.The podcast covered a range of topics related to hockey and soccer, with a focus on coaching education, player development, and game strategy. The speakers discussed the importance of ongoing education and development for coaches, as well as the challenges of balancing parenting and coaching. They also explored the evolution of hockey and soccer, including changes in tactics and the use of technology. The speakers emphasized the importance of creating a positive learning environment for players and coaches, and the potential for collaboration and mutual benefit in the podcasting world.The speakers discussed the logistics of their podcast episode, including the time frame, format, and editing process. They also shared their respective podcasts and the inspiration behind them. The conversation was friendly and informal, setting the stage for a productive and enjoyable podcast recording session. The speakers also discussed a new AI tool that Michael is using to take show notes for his podcast, which Greg expressed interest in.Greg Revak shared his personal story of a hockey game where he passed on an empty net to a teammate, which resulted in a goal. He talked about how this experience taught him the importance of teamwork and helping others. Greg also discussed his role as a coach developer at US Hockey, which involves a four-level curriculum and a volunteer army of coach developers who drive the content and present it to coaches. The speakers also discussed the learning opportunities that the coach education program provides for both coaches and coach developers.The speakers explored the shift in tactics in ice hockey defense, emphasizing the need for new strategies to break down man-to-man coverage and transition from defense to offense. They introduced the concept of "surfing" in defense, which involves actively hunting down the opponent and controlling space to create more time for the next play. They also discussed the importance of body orientation and pivoting in defense, and how mobility has become crucial in the game. The speakers also discussed their love for European soccer and how they study coaches like Arsene Wenger and Marcelo Bielsa, exploring the transferability of principles between soccer and hockey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Wright interviews Paul Felton, an expert in biomechanics and bowling technique. Felton discusses his background and passion for cricket, as well as his ongoing research on prosthetic blades for Paralympic athletes. The discussion also covers the principles and application of fast bowling, including the key parameters for consistent fast bowling and the challenges of applying these principles to junior bowlers. Felton emphasizes the importance of talent identification and individualized coaching for fast bowlers.Introduction and Small Talk 0:16Biomechanics in Cricket 6:44Felton explains how he got into biomechanics and his passion for cricket, and discusses the work of Peter Worthington and his research on fast bowling. He also describes the process of analyzing movements in biomechanics and the importance of starting with a question rather than data.Biomechanics in cricket bowlingSensor Technology and Body Tracking 16:25Michael asks about the level of sensor technology used in a study and which body parts were tracked. Paul explains that they used reflective markers on 18 different body segments, including wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles. He also mentions the emergence of new technologies like inertial measurement units and machine learning for body tracking. Paul notes that the technology is rapidly changing and may move away from reflective markers in the future.Principles and Application of Fast Bowling 19:01Paul Felton shares insights from research on fast bowling, including the four key parameters for consistent fast bowling and the importance of talent identification. He also discusses the challenges of applying these principles to coaching and the need for individualized coaching based on a bowler's strengths and limitations.Illegal Action and Technical Issues in Cricket 28:15Paul Felton shares a story about Charlie Morris, a cricket player who was called for an illegal action. Felton and Matt Mason, a bowling coach, spent months trying to change Morris's technique, but it wasn't until Felton's friend Stuart Mcc and Nailer pointed out that Morris had a physical problem that they were able to solve the issue. Morris went on to have a successful professional cricket career.Individualized Coaching and Building Pressure in Sessions 30:19Felton and Wright discuss the challenges of coaching bowlers to improve their technique while maintaining their skill level. They also talk about the unique aspects of cricket technique and the need for individualized coaching based on physiological differences. They emphasize the importance of laying foundations for young players to develop their skills and reach their potential.Individualization in coaching and trainingDeveloping Safe Bowling Practices for Junior Players38:04Paul Felton shares his experience working with Matthew Mason in Western Australia during Covid, where they developed a new approach to coaching young bowlers. By focusing on alignment and safety before speed, they were able to develop some of the strongest pace bowlers in the world. This approach has been successful in Western Australia and has helped young bowlers avoid injury and develop their skills over time.Factors Affecting Fast Bowling Speed40:44Paul Felton explains that fast bowlers like Mark Wo and Jeff Rach have different bowling styles, but both have key factors like alignment and hyper mobility that allow them to bowl at high speeds. He also discusses the importance of horizontal momentum and range of motion in fast bowling. Importance of Backfoot Contact in Bowling 48:45Discussing the use of models in sports science research 52:00 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brenton Del Chairo is the hitting coach and player development lead for the Milwaukee Brewers. Show notes 1:00 - Brenton provides his playing and coach credentials2:30 - What drew him to coaching6:00 - His experience as a pro8:30 - The jump in talent at the MLB level10:00 - How good coaching was modelled14:30 - The role of a hitting coach18:30 - Developing key KPI'a for performance21:00 The scheduling of feedback23:40 - Helping players identify performance trends29:30 - The power of multi sports in Baseball33:00 - The power of players being adaptable as in game and swing37:00 - Trying to encourage creativity in the swing pattern42:00 - Managing the time during and between innings47:00 - Sifting through the analytical data51:00 - How would Brenton liked to be described in 3 words Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wayne Goldsmith's coaching, thinking and teaching have influenced some of the world's leading athletes, coaches and teams . He is an inspirational speaker and presenter who is able to educate, entertain , challenge and engage audiences of all ages. Working across the world, Wayne has experience of working with regional and national sports teams helping them improve their overall team performance.Show notes::0:30 - The heartache of being a Tottenham fan2:00- - Wayne provides an overview of his credentials and current work4:00 - A history of how he transitioned from the medical side to being a coach8:30 - Coaching is the art of inspiring change 13:30 - The challenge of current coaching education system16:30 - Measuring what we can see rather what we/the players can feel and why this may be leading us down the wrong path19:00 - Providing context on psychological requirements in your sport26:30 - Mental toughness in Rugby League looks different to that in swimming (or ant other sport)29:30 - How mental toughness looks different for Tottenham vs Man city33:30 - The power of 'what do we do now' after conceding a try or score37:00 - Culture is what you do every day39:30 - The skill of story telling in powerful leaders43:30 - How to create goals without ceilings or floors49:15 - Why people are a product of their place53:00 - Recruiting Crusaders56:00 - How would Wayne like to be described in 3 words Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cody Royle is a AFL coach who formally worked as a coach for the Canadian National team. Alongside this he is a two time author of 'The tough stuff' and 'where others won't' as well as acting as mentor to coaches around the globe.Show notesCody Royle and Michael Wright discussed a range of topics related to coaching, including Royle's background and journey to becoming a coach, the psychology of fear in sports, and the importance of human qualities such as awareness and communication in coaching performance. Royle emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to coaching that focuses on both technical knowledge and human qualities. He also discussed the challenges of removing subjectivity from coaching and suggested that coaches can benefit from seeing things from different perspectives and engaging in conversations to identify areas for development.Royle and Wright also discussed the challenges of becoming a head coach and the different pathways that coaches can take. They emphasized the importance of giving opportunities to coaches who may not fit the traditional mold and how this can lead to new and innovative ideas in coaching. They also talked about the pressures of coaching at different clubs and how it can affect a coach's career trajectory. Overall, the discussion highlighted the need for more diversity and inclusivity in the coaching industry.Throughout the meeting, Royle emphasized the importance of empathy, thoughtfulness, and belief in coaching. He believes that coaches often need someone to believe in them and that this can be emboldening. Wright thanked Royle for his time and they discussed promoting Royle's upcoming book. The meeting provided valuable insights into the world of coaching and highlighted the importance of a holistic approach that focuses on both technical knowledge and human qualities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Tenney is the High Performance Director at Austin FC. Formally of the Seattle Sounders and NBA team Orlando Magic, David has in depth understanding of player performance and how to assist management in best preparing players to perform through a season of competitive action.Show notes:2:00 - David provides his credentials and background6:25 - Preparing a team performance10:00 - An overview of how team location can affect player preparation11:30 - The distances MLS players will covered per game14:00 - How tactics affect the players conditioning20:00 - The challenges of cognitive and physical fatigue24:30 - How to bullseye and catch players in moments27:00 - The difference between perception and reality in coach message32:00 - Preparing teams for different climates36:00 - Differences between the MLS and NBA41:00 - The riggers of an NBA schedule45:00 - Giving ownership during an individualised approach Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip O'Callaghan is a teacher and tennis coach. He focuses on the use of ecological dynamics and constraint based approach when working with tennis players in skill development.Show notes:1:50 - Philip provides his credentials and overview of his career3:15 - What interested Philip in skill acquisition4:40 - How it effected his game5:50 - The theory behind the games based approach7:20 - Real life example of constraint based approach in tennis8:30 - Simplification of a task or game11:30 - Developing a new technique from this approach and it's challenges14:40 - Creating repetition in constrained environments17:00 - Replicating these ideas as an individual at home23:30 - How to stress test the skills developed26:30 - The success case study30:30 - Challenging the perfection necessary narrative36:00 - Twitter space conversations39:00 - The future of the constraint based coaching45:00 - How would Philip like to be described in 3 words Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Pascarella is the assistant coach at Forward Madison. His has also had stints with MLS sides Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United. John has held a variety of roles and positions in his time from goalkeeper coach through to head coach.Show notes:2:00 - Introduction to John and his credentials5:30 - What is good coaching?10:00 - Understanding the role of an Assistant coach13:00 - How to gain intel on the environment you are entering 17:30 - How do keep the same ideas fresh in training21:00 - The power of study visits and gain information22:30 - The power of the right questions24:00 - The Sir Alex Ferguson meeting28:00 - The power over zooming out32:00 - Why taking familiar faces to new clubs can help or hinder and environment34:00 - The importance of non negotiables36:15 - Developing the mean of a group37:00 - How does our coaching team resonate with our players?39:00 - Preparing to be a Head Coach when an assistant43:00 - How to stress you decision making process48:00 - Preparing for challenges conversations49:00 - The stop which resonates with John the most52:00- How would John like to be described in 3 words? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Scott is the Director of Rugby of Seria A Pesaro. Formally working for the RFU in England, Nick has helped sculpture the rugby system in England helping it produce some of the modern day internationals such as Maro Itoje, Anthony Watson and Marcus Smith.Show notes:1:30 - Nick provides his story and overview of his credentials5:30 - What drew him to Rugby8:00 - Biggest challenges transitioning into rugby full time11:30 - The transition from amateur to professional15:00 - Providing coach specific support as part of the RFU20:00 - Challenging poor practice within a pathway22:00 - The importance of informal contact points25:00 - Learning the skills of critical thinking27:00 - The decision to leave the RFU30:00 - The biggest change to becoming a Director of Rugby36;:00 - The use of professional coaches in Italy40:00 - Game zone and skill zone43:30 - Player identification throughout the pathway46:00 - The importance of trusting personal feeling49:00 - Being a maverick 24/750:00 - The importance of self reflection in elite performers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Cheetham MBE is a coach and lecturer at the University of Winchester focusing on coach development. He has also worked as a consultant for a variety of NGB's and professional sporting organisations assisting their coach development programme and environmental demands.Show notes:1:35 - Richard provides an overview of his credentials2:15 - How he got into coaching whilst in NZ3:40 - The key principles of good coaching5:00 - Why to focus on interpersonal skills rather than technical and tactical7:20 - Challenging of watching as a Dad10:30 - Challenging behaviours which may not help children's long term development12:50 - The skills of differentiation17:00 - Some tips games for getting to know people/players22:00- How to encourage brave practitioners to carry on 'new ides' in working environments26:00- The shift to child led environments31:00 - How to manage group dynamics to secure equity35:00 - Understanding the context of groups dynamics/presentation38:00 - The challenges of more sedentary lifestyle and no ball game signs40:00 - Formal to informal learning environments47:00 - How would Richard like to be described in 3 words? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.