The Constraints Collective

Greg Souders is a jiu-jitsu black belt under David Jacobs who worked extensively with Lloyd Irvin and is the founder of Standard Jiu-Jitsu, one of the top no-gi jiu-jitsu/submission wrestling gyms in the sport. Greg is known for his novel approach to grappling based on Ecological Dynamics, a methodology he used to develop highly successful athletes such as Deandre Corbe, Gavin Corbe, and Alex Nguyen. 

This week we are joined by some of our Patreon members live from the 5th Movement Skills Acquisition Conference. 

Explore the art of coaching with a focus on creativity and adaptability. Discover how sports coaching thrives on balancing guidance with innovative thinking and problem-solving. Learn about the impact of emotional states on performance and why fostering a culture of exploration is crucial. Highlights include unique passing techniques in rugby that challenge traditional coaching methods. Dive into the importance of nurturing creativity in youth sports and how it can transform training environments into dynamic spaces for growth.

Michael is a skill acquisition specialist who has worked within the National Institute Network (Australia) as a practitioner and researcher since 2012. He has a PhD in skill acquisition in sport, with a focus on practice methods for skill retention and transfer.Michael has had industry appointments as a skill acquisition specialist at the South Australian Sports Institute and the Australian Institute of Sport where he was responsible for the support of coaches seeking to develop the skills of their athletes. He has a joint appointment between the AIS and the University of Canberra as a lecturer of skill acquisition.

Tom Coyd is an English rugby league player and wheelchair rugby league coach. He plays for Medway Dragons in the London and South East Rugby League and is the head coach of London Roosters and the England national wheelchair rugby league team. In the King's 2023 Birthday Honours he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to wheelchair rugby league football. Tom Coyd's first coaching experience with the national side was in 2018 when he joined as an assistant coach. He was promoted to head coach in 2020. In November 2022 he led England to victory in the 2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup final. Coyd was awarded an MBE for services to wheelchair rugby league in the King's 2023 Birthday Honours. At the 2023 Man of Steel Awards, Coyd was named the Wheelchair Super League Coach of the Year. At the 2023 UK Coaching Awards, he won the "Greatest Coaching Moment" award for sporting events between 1 November 2022 and 20 November 2023 with the World Cup victory, narrowly surpassing Sarina Wiegman's World Cup campaign with the England women's national football team which cumulated in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final. Made of Steel: Wheelchair Rugby’s Fiercest Rivalryhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001r9zl/storyville-made-of-steel-wheelchair-rugbys-fiercest-rivalry

Rob Gray, a Professor at Arizona State University and an expert in skill acquisition, shares his insights on enhancing sports performance through better understanding of perception and action. He emphasizes the value of implicit learning and innovative coaching methods that embrace mistakes. The conversation delves into the dynamics between pitchers and batters, exploring strategies like tunneling to confuse opponents. Gray also highlights the interconnected nature of performance events, advocating for creative coaching techniques that foster adaptability and effective learning.

Pete Sturgess has dedicated his life to football coaching and coach development. Pete retired in March 2023 after working at the FA for 17 years. The majority of his tenure leading the way in coaching young children in the Foundation Phase. He has long been internationally recognised as an expert in his field and his retirement year saw him recognised formally for his contribution to football, coaching and sport. In honour of the influence Pete has had on coaches in the region, the Lancs FA renamed their 3G pitch to become the Pete Sturgess Hub. In October 2023, Pete was inducted into the Coach Development Hall of Fame at St George’s Park where his photo sits beside some of the other greats in coach education and in December 2023, Pete received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Annual UK Coaching Awards.We were truly honoured to have Pete join us for episode 35.Check out Pete's website https://www.thesessioncollective.co.uk/

Adam Gorman, a Senior Lecturer in Skill Acquisition at QUT and former Senior Skill Acquisition Specialist at the Australian Institute of Sport, discusses innovative coaching methods. He emphasizes enhancing athletes' skills through self-organization and dynamic learning experiences. Adam shares insights on using exaggerated scenarios in basketball and swimming to improve adaptability. He advocates for realistic training environments that foster creativity and collaboration, revolutionizing traditional coaching practices for better athlete engagement.

Jona Bronswijk is a boxing coach working with the Dutch Olympic boxing squad. He is interested in practice and training designs that are informed by the constraints led approach. Jona is also studying for a masters degree in sport coaching science. 

Dr Kane Middleton is an Associate Professor of Sport and Occupational Biomechanics within the Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science and the Sport, Performance, and Nutrition Research Group. Kane also serves as La Trobe University's Academic Program Director for the La Trobe - Sheffield Hallam joint PhD program. He completed his PhD in Sports Biomechanics at The University of Western Australia and has previously held post-doctoral positions at The University of Western Australia and the University of Wollongong.Jack Bale is a PhD student at La Trobe University. He is interested in the Ecological Dynamics Framework and its application to combat shooting, where he is uniquely positioned to combine his sports science background with extensive experience as an ISSF rifle shooter. Jack has shot for Great Britain at European Championships, World Cups, and the World Championships. He is actively applying his shooting knowledge by coaching ISSF rifle athletes in Australia, from athletes just starting out to those aiming for success on the world stage.