In this episode, I discuss the intricacies of motivational coach behavior, emphasising the importance of understanding all - rather than just some - categories of behaviour. I explore the dimensions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, and how these needs can be supported or frustrated by coach behaviors. The conversation highlights the often overlooked category known as need deprivation, which can passively undermine athlete motivation and is thus a secret problem. I want to stress the need for coaches to actively support their athletes' psychological needs while being aware of their own behaviors and the environment they create, while pushing influential actors on coaches to recognise the role they play in coaches' behaviours.

Takeaways

• The quality of motivation is crucial for athlete engagement.
• Coaches must support the psychological needs of their athletes.
• Need deprivation is a subtle yet damaging form behavior.
• Active support for athletes is essential for their growth.
• Neglecting athlete needs can lead to long-term issues.
• Coaches should reflect on their behaviors and their impacts.
• Different forms of coach behaviour play out at once.
• Coach behaviors can be complex and multifaceted.
• Creating supportive environments for athletes, and coaches, is vital for athlete development.
• Dialogue among coaches can enhance understanding and practices.
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My PhD:

STORRE: A qualitative multiple case study exploration of the antecedents of the interpersonal behaviours of youth football coaches in Scotland based on a self-determination theory framework

In this episode, Professor Mark Williams and I discuss discuss several myths surrounding skill learning and performance in sports, and what the practical implications are for sport coaches looking to support athletes. We explore the place of cognitive skills, the role of visual function, and the significance of anticipation over reaction time. The conversation also delves into the integration of technology in training, the transfer of skills across different sports, and the distinction between performance and learning in practice sessions. We consider the need for coaches to critically evaluate their training methods and the effectiveness of their approaches. The discussion also problematises the race for strong research and innovation in sports organisations, the challenges of talent identification, and the dogma of constraints-led versus cognition led approaches to coaching, advocating for a more integrated and evidence-informed - but not necessarily driven - methodology in athlete, and coach, development.

Takeaways

• Myths in skill learning and performance can mislead practitioners.
• Cognitive skills alone do not determine expertise.
• Visual function does not guarantee superior performance.
• Anticipation is more important than reaction time.
• Technology must be integrated effectively into training.
• Transfer of skills across sports is not guaranteed.
• Performance in practice does not equate to learning.
• Coaches should focus on long-term player development, without losing sight of situational importance of now.
• Experience plays a crucial role in developing cognitive skills.
• Evaluating training effectiveness is essential for coaches. There is a need to balance performance and learning in training.
• Gimmicks are rife in the commercialised world of innovative coaching methods
• Drills can be beneficial but must maintain specificity to be effective.
• Neuroscience has potential but lacks strong empirical support in sports training.
• Talent identification models often lack empirical evidence for their effectiveness.
• The constraints-led approach requires experienced coaches to be effective.
• Coaching should be viewed as an art form or philosophy informed by science.
• Specificity in practice environments is essential for skill transfer..
• Collaboration between skill acquisition specialists and coaches is necessary for progress.

Chapters

03:00 The Importance of Scientific Evidence

07:04 Myth 1: Decision-Making Under Pressure

17:36 Myth 2: Visual Function in Experts

28:26 The Role of Technology in Skill Development

37:02 The Myth of Transfer of Skills Across Sports

40:34 Pathways to Excellence in Sports

41:50 The Importance of Physical Literacy

46:47 Specificity vs. Repetition in Training

49:27 Performance vs. Learning in Practice

01:01:30 The Role of Neuroscience in Sports Training

01:10:34 The Role of IQ in Sports Performance

01:14:24 Challenges in Talent Identification

01:19:19 The Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching

01:21:48 Navigating Coaching Philosophies

01:34:16 Optimizing Practice for Performance

If you enjoy hearing about this topic, I suggest checking out these previous episodes:

Shawn Myszka - Skill acquisition specialists FOR coaches

Laura Carey - Neural activity in expert performance

Rob Gray - Clarifying constraints based coaching

In this episode I'm joined by Temisan Williams, founder of Coach Accelerator, to discuss the importance of social media for coaches. We explore how coaches can leverage platforms like LinkedIn and X to build their personal brand, network effectively, and enhance their coaching careers. Temisan explains the need for coaches to balance their on-field responsibilities with a strong online presence, offering practical tips for creating engaging content and understanding social media algorithms. The conversation highlights the significance of adding value to others in an increasingly digital world (and by extension, yourself).

Key Takeaways:

• Social media is essential for modern coaches.
• Coaches should plan their social media strategy like they do for coaching sessions.
• Building a personal brand can open up new opportunities.
• Engagement on social media is more important than follower count.
• Coaches need to add value to their audience through content.
• LinkedIn and X are powerful tools for networking in the coaching industry.
• Consistency in posting can significantly enhance visibility.
• Understanding social media algorithms can improve post performance.

• Temisan's Coach Accelerator consultancy website

If you enjoy hearing about this topic, I suggest checking out this previous episode:

Russell Earnshaw - Entrepreneurship in sport coaching

In this episode, I'm joined by Shawn Myszka to discuss the emergence of a new member of sport coaches' multidisciplinary team within a high performance setting. The skill acquisition specialist. We use Shawn's recent introductory paper to work through potential criticisms of the role which - when taken at a glance - could appear combative with the coach's place. But there's more here than meets the eye.

• Shawn's paper

If you enjoy hearing about this topic, I suggest checking out this previous episode:

Rob Gray - Clarifying constraints based coaching

In this episode I'm joined by founder of Movement Mojo, Robert Francis, to discuss why sport coaches should consider the benefits of movement-centric learning for the attainment of sport-specific skills. Take a leaf from strength and conditioning coaches.

• Move Mojo UK | Inclusive Physical Activity For Everyone

What to expect on this podcast.

In this episode I'm joined by Kurt Lindley, founder of Be More Learning and Development, to discuss how coach educators - through the help of learning science - can create more meaningful experiences for coaches.

• Be More Learning and Development

In this episode I'm joined by Dr Andrew Abraham, head of subject in sport coaching and physical education at Leeds Beckett University. We discuss the tricky and perhaps over bracketed topic of ethics in coaching.