The Sports Initiative Podcast

Chris Pike is a goalkeeping and set piece coach in the England U23's women's programme. Formally of Tottenham Hotspur Women's 1st team, Arsenal academy and Watford, Chris has a wealth of experience of supporting goalkeeping development in every age of their journey. Show notes:01:10 - Chris's grounding as a professional goalkeeper coach03:40 - Planning sessions suitable for every age group within an academy07:00 - Helping goalkeepers develop their technical ability with their feet09:00- Helping players identify the risk and reward of play out from the back.13:30 - How do you challenge players to develop skills they don't get easy access to15:50 - Developing player buy in to skill development20:00 - Managing training repetition load23:15 - The challenges of growth and maturation in goalkeeper coordination30:42 - The use of individual development plans in coaching across the age groups36:40 - Managing confirmation bias once developing such close working relationships39:00 - Gaining validity as a coach43:00 - Managing game specific challenges/research47:00 - The squad selection process50:00 - How would Chris like to be described in 3 words Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lauren Ammon is a former NCCA athlete turned founder of Performance reimagined which is service provided to athletes to help them develop their mental skills in preparation for performance sport.Show Notes1:30 - Lauren and her experiences in the sporting world4:00 - Why does performance sport resonate with Lauren6:00- The challenges of collegiate sport in the US9:00 - The campus pressures in collegiate sport11:00- The effect NIL will have on athletes16:00 - The Olympic 'Face of' cycle19:30 - Michael Phelps challenges between Olympic cycles23:00 - The gravity of the US sporting landscape26:00 - The role of performance reimagined28:00 - What does success look like?43:00 - The challenges of athletes receiving critical feedback34:00 - The barriers faced when implementing this type of work37:30 - How they develop co-dependent athletes who can work with coaches51:00 - Key identifiers of for high performing athletes54:00 - How would Lauren like to be described in 3 words and why? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Anna Stodter is a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett in sports coaching. Alongside her lecturing role, Anna is also completing a PHD into coaches and how they develop as practitioners through formal pathways and how they learnt on and around the course. She then went on to work at Cambridge University and GB Archery. Shows notes2:00 - Anna's role as a sport professional3:00 - What does good coaching look like?5:00 - What do successful coaches do to progress and become successful9:30 - The use of formal to informal feedback13:00- What is the assessment criteria in coaching and coach development14:45 - Theoretical models that focus coaching criteria18:00 - The use of formal coaching education22:30 - Filtering the appropriate information from coaching qualifications25:00 - The importance of supporting coaching contexts28:00 - Maverick coaches in more traditional environments30:00- The effect of Anna's research on her own coaching40:00 - The importance of hierarchy in enabling creative coaches44:00 - Analysing the environment before coaching45:00- Preparing the team for Cambridge vs Oxford48:00 - The challenges of a review process51:00 - How would Anna like to be described in 3 words? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Shorter is the founder of Non-perfect Dad an organisation which looks to provide organisations and parents with critical insight into creating a collaborative and evidence based approach in supporting young people participating in performance sport.Show notes02:30 - Richard role as non perfect Dad05:30 - Why is support needed in performance sport08:30 - The key characteristics of positive player support14:00 - The necessity of player feedback in the development pathway19:00 - Scaffolding the preparation of bad news or 'being released?'28:00 - The importance of no surprises for an upcoming decision33:00 - Understanding how the experiences of being in pressurised sport can be beneficial 37:00- Staying connected to the organisation long term.38:30 - Creating collaborative parent, player and coaching environments Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Relf is the Director of Sport at Canterbury Academy. Formally working in professional cricket, Phil worked as the academy director and first team assistant at Kent and also went on to work of the England Cricket Board (ECB). Show notes01:20 - Previous experiences as a practitioner06:30 - Groundings as a practitioner in the grassroots settings09:00 - How Phil allows 'flow' within his sessions11:45 - The role of academy director in Cricket16:00 - Periodisation in the cricket season19:30 - Preparing plays to play across formats during a short season28:00 - How do you manage players obsession to score runs33:30 - The balance of practice in a progression pathway35:30 - The role of social architects in a group development38:00 - The need for hostility in the training environment 40:00 - How New Zealand were ahead of the curve in their player development42:00 - How did the Red Sox manage difference in pitching action to the benefit of batters50:00 - The use of ball type in effecting coaching outcomes54:45 - Managing meetings with high numbers of staff57:30 - How to engrain players in culture setting 1:02:00- Gaining player feedback for a practitioner.1:04:00 - Describing Phil in 3 words Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tadhg Leader is a former professional rugby player in Ireland and Italy and for the American National Team. At aged 29 he transitioned to American Football and played as a Kicker for the Aviators in the CFL, the step below the NFL.Show Notes:1:30- Tadhg athletic journey3:30 - Why is there a transition into American Football6:00 - The culture of 'kickabouts' around the globe7:30 - The technical detail around ball striking in the American Football10:00 - Negating the pre conceived ideas within 'industry knowledge'13:00 - The challenge of outcome over process15:00 - What does an NFL team want from it special teams kicking unit21:00 - Managing load during training24:00- How coaches pressurise training sessions to replicate games for better performance29:00 - Roberto Aguayo and the yips in kicking within American Football35:00 - How can you utilise different ball striking techniques in American Football40:00 - Freelancing within game plans44:00 - How would Tadhg like to be described in 3 words? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aaron Gershenfeld is a defensive co-ordinator for the MLB powerhouse New York Yankee's. Part of the Player Development Pathway, Aaron aims to helps players progress into the Major league team having acquired the necessary skills to perform consistently at the highest level.Show notes:1:00 - Introduction to Aaron and his roles within baseball2:46 - History of baseball and watching LA dodgers camps4:45 - The role of defensive with baseball8:00 - Creating digestible content for players9:00 - Creating marginal gains within baseball12:40 - The importance of mental skills whilst in the field16:00 - Preparing for the All star hitter18:30 - Creating the holistic player23:30 - Helping self directive learners30:00 - The role of senior players in creating a learning environment32:00 - The challenges of a 100+ game season34:00 - Creating a longitudinal player development plan36:00- Curiosity the develops a player38:10 - How would Aaron like to be described in 3 words Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karl Marius Askum is the U19's coach at Odds Ballklubb. Alongside this role he has also completed a PHD in Visual Perception in football. More frequently called 'scanning', visual perception is becoming increasingly focused on within academic literature with emphasis on the importance it plays in top players taking in and analysing the game around them.Show notes:1:00 – Who is Karl Marius Aksum2:40 – Norwegian performance football pathway8:00 – Academy progression in Norwegian football11:20 – Playing catch up with technical capabilities15:00 – Visual perception in football19:00 – Casemiro scanning capability in football21:00 – Why is scanning important24:30 – The challenges in of ball fixation29:00 – Session design to increase scan frequency33:00 – Key identifiers to support players in scanning ability37:00 – Coaching positional play as part of a visual perception framework41:00 – Utilisation of extra’s to improve scanning50:00 – How would Karl like to be described Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michal Pujdak is the U23's coach at Leeds United. Formally of Grimsby Town and Manchester City, Michal is the last stop for players looking to transition into Jesse Marsch's first team and looks to equip players with necessary tools to prepare them for the first team environment. Show notes:0:45 - Introduction and current role with Leeds United05:00 - Influence of playing on his coaching skills08:00 - Journey as an academy coach13:30 - The differences of culture from Poland to England21:00 - The importance of understanding club history in football30-00 - Weekly schedule with Leeds U23's31:30 - The Leeds Way40:00 - Framing what a 'chance' to impress is in the first team environment43:30 - The importance of self guided learners52:00 - Promoting the willingness to ask questions1:01:00 - How would you like to be described by those you work with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Casella is the National Talent Identification Coordinator at Australian Basketball. With over 20 years experience working in basketball within Australia, Tony has seen some of the best and most high profile Australian basketball players transition into the professional ranks including the NBA. Show notes 01:00 - Introduction to Tony Casella basketball experience04:00 - Australian basketball talent and participation pathway10:30 - Talent identification criteria for high potential players15:40 - The talent ID framework within Australian Basketball22:00 - Assessing players who are ready to make the jump in competition level28:31 - RAE effect and bio banding challenges in talent ID35:00 - Using physical metrics as performance indicators40:00 - Creating a programme that allows the system to create multi skilled and positional players44:30 - Greatest challenge faced within Tony's role.48:00 - How would he want to be described by fellow practitioners Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.