The Constraints Collective

In this episode with discuss the challenge of changing the tackle height in rugby league. Does this challenge need a shift in focus away from solving problems for players to providing environments that set problems and challenges for players to solve?To help us make sense of this issue we are joined by Anthony Sullivan and Cameron Owen. Anthony Sullivan is a Welsh former professional dual code international rugby league and union footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. He played representative level rugby league for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Hull KR and St Helens. He has experience of coaching both rugby union and league.Cameron Owen is a research fellow in sports performance with an interest in research and statistical methods. Currently this is primarily focused on concussions and head acceleration events in rugby league. Additionally, he has a strong practical background providing physical performance in several sports including rugby league, diving, rugby union and netball. This combination of experiences gives him an unique perspectives on the application of research in sport and identifying key areas for academia to focus.

Carl has over 20 years of experience in teaching and coaching rugby. He is currently the Coach Education Manager and Performance Lead at the National Rugby League (NRL), where he collaborates with the National Education Program Development team to design, develop, and deliver a sustainable long-term Performance Coach Program in Rugby League. He is also a PhD candidate at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), researching the factors that influence creative decision-making in rugby union and the optimal pedagogical approaches to foster such expertise. His coaching philosophy is based on the constraints-based approach, which enables players to think critically, make decisions under pressure, and maximize their potential within the game. Carl's goal is to share his knowledge and insights with the rugby community and inspire the next generation of coaches and players.Enjoy the show!

Jack is a PhD student at La Trobe University. He is interested in the Ecological Dynamics Framework and its application to 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.

Jamie Hamilton, a UEFA A-licensed coach and academy coach at Ayr United FC, dives into the fascinating world of football tactics and coaching methodologies. He discusses the evolution of strategies from traditional positional play to innovative concepts like 'relationism.' The importance of communication on the field shines through, along with an exploration of cultural influences from Brazil's football scene. Hamilton also critiques the current tendencies in coaching, advocating for a blend of analytics and human understanding to enhance player development.

Matt is a coach, coach developer and lecturer in sport coaching with fifteen years’ experience across grass roots, elite and paralympic environments covering team and individual sports. Theoretically underpinned by an Ecological Dynamics rationale of learning, Matt’s research explores how coach learning can be guided in context by a coach developer. As a coach, Matt has been a British Athletics team member (speed and hurdles) on seven international age group teams. His first selection being a particular highlight, Cali Colombia, for the World U18 Championships, where he supported athletes through to five finals, a UK record and medal winning performances. Matt joined the University of Northampton in June 2023, from his previous institution, Cardiff Metropolitan University where he was part of the Sport Coaching and PE teaching teams. He is currently completing a Professional Doctorate in Sport, exploring the practice of a coach developer adopting a constraints-led approach. In this research Matt collaborated with a national governing body in the redesign and delivery of mentoring and in-situ coach development across three environments and sixteen coach participants.

Matt is a coach, coach developer and lecturer in sport coaching with fifteen years’ experience across grass roots, elite and paralympic environments covering team and individual sports. Theoretically underpinned by an Ecological Dynamics rationale of learning, Matt’s research explores how coach learning can be guided in context by a coach developer. As a coach, Matt has been a British Athletics team member (speed and hurdles) on seven international age group teams. His first selection being a particular highlight, Cali Colombia, for the World U18 Championships, where he supported athletes through to five finals, a UK record and medal winning performances. Matt joined the University of Northampton in June 2023, from his previous institution, Cardiff Metropolitan University where he was part of the Sport Coaching and PE teaching teams. He is currently completing a Professional Doctorate in Sport, exploring the practice of a coach developer adopting a constraints-led approach. In this research Matt collaborated with a national governing body in the redesign and delivery of mentoring and in-situ coach development across three environments and sixteen coach participants.

Duarte Araujo, director of Expertise in Sport at the University of Lisbon, dives into the fascinating interplay of cognition and sport. He discusses how conscious and unconscious learning impact performance, challenging traditional coaching methods. The conversation explores 'active perception', urging athletes to engage dynamically with their environment, and rethinks coaching strategies to foster autonomy and self-organization in athletes. Araujo also critiques conventional performance metrics, advocating for a holistic understanding of intelligence in sports.

Duarte Araujo, director of Expertise in Sport at the University of Lisbon, shares his insights on the critical role of cognition in athletic performance. He delves into how cognition and ecological dynamics intertwine, pushing for a holistic understanding shaped by environmental interaction. Duarte discusses the complexities of memory, emphasizing its significance beyond muscle memory. He critiques traditional coaching methods, advocating for future-focused learning that enhances athletes' adaptability and problem-solving skills in dynamic situations.

This week we are joined by Paul Garner live from the Manchester Festival of Coaching. Paul is an Assistant Professor in Sport Coaching and Player Development at the University of Birmingham. Paul has represented Great Britain as a member of the British Alpine Skiing Demonstration Team, and has worked extensively in snow sports as a performer, coach, coach developer and assessor. Paul continues to work closely with a number of governing bodies to drive excellence in coach education, development and assessment across the coaching landscape. Enjoy!

Join Craig Morris, a British Canoe Slalom coach, as he shares his journey from athlete to coach. Explore his coaching philosophy evolution towards a constraints-led approach, emphasizing athlete involvement, game design, and performance analysis. Discover the challenges faced and the importance of evolving coaching practices and building relationships with athletes. Dive into the publication of an academic paper on skill training periodization for the Olympics, highlighting collaboration between academia and practitioners.