The Sport Psych Show

I’m excited to speak with positive psychology and performance coach, John Yeager in this episode. John is the founder and chief executive officer of Yeager Leadership which works with sports, business, and education clients. John holds a Doctorate in education from Boston University and a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania. He has authored/co-authored five books, including his latest The Coaching Zone: Next Level Leadership in Sports which he co-wrote with Jon Cunha. With more than 50 years of sports coaching experience between them, John and Jon joined forces to create a roadmap for coaches to better navigate the three focus areas: self, athlete, team. The book covers a wide range of concepts drawn from mindfulness traditions, sport psychology, positive psychology, and positive organisational behaviour. It tells many stories illustrating both the challenges that coaches face and the solutions that worked – or didn’t work. The book also provides 48 exercises that you can use to practice as you learn.

I speak with Dr Oliver Eslinger in this episode. Doc is Head Men's Basketball Coach for the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Since his initial campaign, Doc's Caltech squads have set more than 145 team and individual records, including most conference wins in a season, the best start in history, and most victories in a season since 1954. Prior to his role at Caltech, Doc was an associate head coach at MIT. He is an NABC Guardian of the Game and the all-time programme leader in NCAA wins. Doc completed his EdD at Boston University in Counselling and Sport Psychology under Dr Leonard Zaichkowsky.

I speak with Adam Miles in this episode. Adam is manager of talent development and player pathway at Otago Cricket Association in New Zealand. Adam also coaches New Zealand first class cricket team, Otago Volts. Adam moved from the UK to New Zealand on a PhD scholarship in Sport Psychology at the University of Otago exploring Life Skills Development in Elite Athletes. We speak about how coaches of all sports can help their players develop mental skills, how New Zealand coaches are embracing sport psychology and how this positively influences their ability to develop some of the best competitors in world.

In this episode, I speak with Gordon MacLelland. Gordon is founder and CEO of Working with Parents in Sport (WWPIS) which supports organisations, parents and coaches in working together to provide children with the best possible sporting experiences. Gordon has a BA/Hons degree in Sports Science from University College Chester and a PGCE from Lancaster University. He has been Director of Sport at an independent prep school in the UK for the last 13 years and has worked in schools in both the UK and New Zealand for the last 16 years. Gordon is also the author of three books, ‘Two Hats’ – a book for parent coaches who are coaching or thinking of coaching their own children,  ‘Great Sports Parenting’ – A pocket guide for parents of children in sport and ‘Engage’ – A coaches guide to building positive relationships with parents.

I’m excited to speak with Dr Nicole Gabana in this episode. Nicole is Director of Sport Psychology for the University of Massachusetts. Previously, Nicole was Assistant Professor of Sport Psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems at Florida State University. She is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Nicole’s interests centre on athlete mental health and well-being, specifically the integration of positive psychology. Nicole and I discuss positive psychology and we explore the concept of gratitude as a trait and a state.  

I’m delighted to welcome Ian Peek back on the show. This time, Ian is joined by Steven Orr. Steven is a golf coach with 20 years of experience. He is a PGA Master Professional - the highest educational level in The PGA and has an MSc in Sports Coaching. He is currently undertaking his professional doctorate at the University of Central Lancashire. Ian has been coaching golf for almost 30 years. He is a transition & performance coach, helping his clients achieve their goals whether that’s transitioning to a new level of achievement or maintaining their position at the top of their sport or industry. Ian holds a Master’s degree in Sports Coaching and is a PhD researcher. He is also a PGA Master Professional. Ian, Steven and I speak about the tools and techniques they utilise in their coaching practices. We discuss how these tools can help coaches have better conversations with players; understand players as people first; and utilise Motivational Interviewing to become better listeners.

I’m excited to speak with Dr James Hegarty in this episode. James has a PhD in Experimental Psychology, with a strong background in basic behavioural sciences, he is a registered clinical psychologist, and a fellow of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists. James also has an interest in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training) and he has written a book along with Christoph Huelsmann entitled ACT in Sport: Improve Performance through Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Commitment which is a practical workbook providing a variety of simple strategies for athletes, sport psychologists, and coaches for growing their skills. It is a manual for anyone wanting to become familiar with this increasingly popular but poorly understood approach to the psychology of sports performance.

I’m delighted to welcome Dr Mustafa Sarkar back on the show. This time, Mustafa is joined by Kirsten Fasey. Kirsten is a PhD researcher at Nottingham Trent University. She previously studied Sport and Exercise Psychology at Loughborough University. Mustafa is Associate Professor of Sport and Performance Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. His main area of research is on individual, team and organisational resilience in elite sport. And it’s the topic of organisational resilience that we’re going to be focusing on in this episode. We will discuss in detail a research paper Kirsten and Mustafa have co-written entitled “Defining and Characterising Organisational resilience in Elite Sport” which aims to identify resilient characteristics of elite sport organisations.

Dr. Duncan Simpson is the Head of Mental Skills at IMG Academy and a former Associate Professor in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. He discusses the collaborative approach taken at IMG Academy, integrating mental conditioning with technical and physical training. Duncan emphasizes the importance of mental skills in athlete development, the academy’s holistic programs, and effective communication among staff. He also addresses the psychological challenges in tennis, advocating for a growth mindset and supporting athletes in navigating competition pressures.

I’m really excited to speak with Ethan Kross in this episode. Ethan is one of the world’s leading experts on controlling the conscious mind. An award-winning professor in the University of Michigan’s top ranked Psychology Department and its Ross School of Business, he is the director of the Emotion & Self Control Laboratory. Ethan has just released the absolutely brilliant book Chatter. The Voice in Our Head and How to Harness It, in which he interweaves cutting-edge science with real-world case studies to explain how our inner conversations shape our work and relationships. Then he reveals the tools you need to harness your own voice so that you can be happier, healthier and more productive. Ethan and I delve into this fascinating book discussing practical tools and techniques players and coaches from all sports can use.