Parents in Sport Podcast

In this episode human development and performance consultant Beth Kerr joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss ‘Technology and Talent' and how we can support young people's performance and personal development.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The emotional tug-of-war that parents face regarding technology useThe pros and cons of technology usage on performance and personal developmentCause and Effect - is linking this to their performance outcomes key in supporting positive behaviours with technologyTeaching young people about how their developing brains affect impulse control, emotional reactivity and peer influenceCo-creating positive habits in the home environmentThe value in sporting organisations and coaches creating environments where expectations around technology use are transparent and enforced, while also allowing for support and compassion if rules are brokenThe complexities of parents managing social media accounts for their childrenBeth Kerr is a human development and performance consultant. She specialises in empowering adolescents - and those who work with or care for them, to build the skills needed to thrive in high-performing environments. Educated at Loughborough University (BSc) and University College London (MSc in Child and Adolescent Mental Health), Beth is a global educator, researcher, consultant, and experienced media commentator, with a particular focus on the health and wellbeing of young people in the digital age. Beth collaborates with a wide range of organisations, schools, and football clubs, equipping individuals with practical tools to take charge of their health and digital habits. Her work centres on strengthening relationships, enhancing wellbeing, and driving positive outcomes both personally and professionally. Deeply committed to meaningful change, Beth is passionate about challenging the status quo, shaping healthier digital cultures, and supporting people to thrive in an increasingly connected world.

In this episode High Performance Consultant Ivi Casagrande joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss creating the best environments and support for young female athletes to thrive.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The importance of consistent messaging to young athletes from parents and coachesProviding autonomy, encouraging exploration and developing decision-making skillsThe differences in how girls and boys experience pubertyThe coach and parent role in shaping positive body image perceptionsThe importance of educating young girls around strength, movement and neuromuscular coordination from an early ageHow to take advantage of hormonal fluctuations to optimise performance by tracking the menstrual cycleEffectively managing social media and technologyHolding our young people accountable without being overly authoritative helping to foster responsibility and independenceIvi is an expert in women's football and the founder of Casagrande Coaching. In a world where many clubs still apply men's football models without understanding the specific needs of female athletes, Ivi's female-centric whole systems approach is rewiring the system to benefit everyone: coaches and athletes of all genders.She is positively disrupting outdated norms to forge a more flexible, resilient and sustainable ecosystem in football, and beyond. Over 20 years spent in dressing rooms, first as a professional player and then coach, Ivi went from underdog outsider to become a pillar of the global sports community challenging the status quo. At an elite level, Ivi has worked as a performance coach with three national teams: Ireland Women's Team, Brazil Women's Team and US Youth National Teams.She now focuses on both early career and seasoned coaches via International coach education programmes, grassroots projects and progressive frameworks that create better environments for everyone to thrive. Currently Ivi delivers coach education for the Football Association of Ireland via a grassroots programme supporting young female football players, and with FIFA and UEFA as a Technical Expert delivering workshops for teams around the world.Raised in Brazil, Ivi played professional football at Atletico Mineiro before continuing her scholarship-enabled education and athletics in the US where she transitioned into coaching. Her professional women's coaching career started with Orlando Pride in the US and then Brighton & Hove Albion in the the UK Women's Super League.While Ivi's specialisms run deep, her practice is future-facing and always exploring new learnings beyond the boundaries of sport. At a time when the long suppressed women' s game is transforming the sport worldwide, Ivi is an active changemaker shifting perceptions of high performance while establishing a new baseline for what's valuable, aspirational and acceptable.

In this episode Associate Dean at University Campus of Football Business(UCFB) and author Dr. Richard Elliott joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss 'Supporting Mental Health in Young Athletes' and what that potentially means for us as sporting parents.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Mental health operating on a continuum, much like physical healthEstablishing a distinction between everyday struggles ("bad days") and long-term mental health issuesThe importance of parents aligning their expectations with their child's motivations for playing sportThe unpredictability of elite sport meaning that effort doesn't always lead to successRecognising that adolescents go through significant neurobiological changes, making them more prone to mood swings, anxiety, and emotional extremesThe importance of talking and normalising conversations about feelings and mental healthHelping our sporting children develop coping mechanisms for setbacks, just as they would for physical injuriesBeing an emotional anchor as a parent, not just a second coach or criticRichard Elliott is Associate Dean at University Campus of Football Business (UCFB). He has spent more than twenty years researching the lived experiences of elite athletes and the environments in which they work. He is the co-editor of Football and Migration: Perspectives, places, players (Routledge, 2014), editor of The English Premier League: A socio-cultural analysis (Routledge, 2017), and author of Mental Health and Sport: Supporting Elite Athletes (Routledge, 2024). An advocate for mental health literacy, Richard has developed a number of successful education programmes designed to support the mental and emotional wellbeing of elite athletes.To find out more about the topic you can buy Richard's book here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mental-Health-Sport-Supporting-Athletes/dp/1032395702/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

In this episode one of the UK's leading performance psychologists Katie Mobed joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss her reflections from a lifetime in sport as an elite performer, a performance psychologist and now a novice sporting parent.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Katie's background in gymnastics & sports psychologySome of the challenges we face in gymnastics and youth sportThe role of psychology in High Performance – success being more than just the medalsThe role of parents in helping to support a healthy identity in their young peopleThe importance of joy and balance in sport including setting environments that promote personal growth and autonomy along with providing breaks away from sportModern Challenges for Gen Z and both the positive and negative influence of technologyHer own novice sports parenting journey and acknowledging the challenges that may exist when parenting styles clashRe-evaluating the definition of success in sportKatie is one of the UK's leading Performance Psychologists with over 20 years of experience working alongside individuals and teams to explore their potential and navigate the journey toward meaningfulsuccess. Her career has taken her across a range of high stakes performance environments – from Olympic start lines to corporate boardrooms, helicopter pads to operating theatres – supporting people to grow, connect, and thrive under pressure. Katie's clients include Olympic champions, international sports teams, CEOs, andeducation leaders, and she considers it a privilege to play a small part in their wider journeys.For the past 15 years, Katie has been embedded within Team GB, supporting athletes and coaches to deliver outstanding performances at four consecutive Olympic Games, from London 2012 to Paris 2024.In the business world, she works closely with leaders to co-create environments where people flourish, fostering a culture of high performance grounded in trust and purpose. Her keynote talks, shaped by her experiences and lifelong curiosity about human potential, focus on resilience, the neuroscience of performance, and the art of building winning teams.As an experienced executive coach, Katie partners with leaders to develop authentic, sustainable approaches to leadership that inspire and empower others. Her work is guided by a fascination with how the brain works, a deep belief in the power of human connection, and an appreciation for the shared challenges and triumphs of life.Commitment to young people is a vital part of her work. Through her collaboration with 21st Century Legacy, she has co-created programmes that have reached over 250,000 young people, helping them build essential life skills. She has also co-authored two best-selling children's books with the inspirational footballer Marcus Rashford MBE.

In the first episode of Season 6, former England rugby international and World Cup Winner Lewis Moody joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss high performance, sports parenting and some of the things he has learnt and reflected on through a lifetime in sport.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Enjoying the journey as a family from development centre to young professionalThe importance of wider family structure and support on the journeyDeveloping our own self-awareness and communication skills to help us navigate the journey effectivelyExploring the information, we read and hear from different sourcesThe healthy management of expectations, balance and boundariesThe challenges of instant gratificationMaking healthy choices and recognising the potential consequences of our choicesThe importance of focussing on 'today' and not looking too far into the futureThe huge influence of parents and home in helping our young people fulfil their potentialLewis Moody is a former English rugby union player and world cup winner. He played for Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby and was part of the 2003 World Cup winning side. In May 2014, Lewis and his wife Annie set up The Lewis Moody Foundation, inspired by Joss Rowley-Stark, to fund groundbreaking research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours and give families a day out of the ordinary to lift spirits and create special memories.He is also a performance coach and sporting parent to two sons both currently thriving on their own sporting journeys.

In this episode, the parent of young Arsenal premier league footballer Myles Lewis-Skelly, Marcia Lewis, joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss sports parenting and how we can best navigate the journey from grassroots to professional football.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Enjoying the journey as a family from development centre to young professionalThe importance of wider family structure and support on the journeyDeveloping our own self-awareness and communication skills to help us navigate the journey effectivelyExploring the information, we read and hear from different sourcesThe healthy management of expectations, balance and boundariesThe challenges of instant gratificationMaking healthy choices and recognising the potential consequences of our choicesThe importance of focussing on 'today' and not looking too far into the futureThe huge influence of parents and home in helping our young people fulfil their potentialMarcia Lewis is the founder and CEO of No1Fan.club, a platform dedicated to supporting families of young footballers. Inspired by her son Myles' journey as a professional footballer at Arsenal, Marcia recognised the unique challenges faced by families of talented youth players.No1Fan.club was born out of her passion for creating a supportive community for these families, offering resources, advice, and a space to connect with others on similar journeys. With years of experience navigating the world of youth football, Marcia brings a wealth of knowledge on balancing family life, education, and the demands of elite sports. Her insights on supporting young footballers while maintaining a healthy family dynamic have made her a sought-after speaker and advisor in the football community.As a devoted mother and advocate for youth footballers and their families, Marcia is committed to fostering an environment where talent can thrive with the right support system. Through No1Fan.club and her various speaking engagements, she continues to inspire and guide families on their own footballing journeys.

In this episode mindset/performance coach and former professional cricketer Lewis Hatchett joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss the positives and perils of perfectionism and what we should be looking out for in helping to support our young performers.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Lewis' own personal battles with perfectionism throughout his careerWhy not all elements of perfectionism are bad when it comes to performanceSpotting the signs of perfectionist tendencies in our young peopleHaving the right and most realistic levels of expectation when it comes to performanceThe importance of allowing our young people to experience failureHelping our children focus predominantly on their regular process goalsWorking with our children to help them understand what their 'minimum, viable performance'(MVP) looks likeEncouraging our children to use practice and training time efficientlyHelping our children strive for excellencism rather than perfectionismLewis Hatchett is a Mindset and Mental Performance Coach, Former Professional Cricketer, MSc Student of Performance Psychology at Bangor University, Host of the Raising Your Game Podcast and Creator of the MindStrong Sport App.

In this 'Olympic Special' sports psychology consultant, speaker and author Chris Shambrook joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss the Olympic Games, High Performance and Supporting Young Athletes.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Chris' reflections on his Olympic Journey supporting world class performersLife behind the scenes of high performing teamsBeing curious about the information we hear as sports parentsStrategies for helping to support young high performersRecognising every child is different and ensuring co-collaboration with our childrenHelping our children intelligently define failureThe dangers of 'Silver Bullets' of advicePersonal highlights of the Olympics so farChris Shambrook is an accomplished speaker and author and as a sports psychologist worked over 5 Olympic Games with one of Team GB's (Rowing) most successful sports.He now uses this immense wealth of experience to support leaders and performers in the world of work.Chris designs and quality assures 'PlanetK2' programmes and content, and his common-sense, personable approach has had such a positive impact on the people he has worked with.He also has an Honorary Professorship from Staffordshire University and is the co-author of three books.www.planet2.com www.theperformanceroom.co.uk

In this episode Dr.Alison Maitland and Jenna Ashford join Gordon MacLelland to discuss their book 'Drop the Struggle' and how understanding their approach of using 'Acceptance and Commitment Therapy' may help us as sporting parents to help support our young people to fulfil their potential both in and out of their sport.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The writing of 'Drop the Struggle' and the motivations behind writing the bookNot falling into the trap of a one size fits all approach for every childHelping our children understand that we cannot control our thoughts and feelings but we can control how we act and respondThe danger of using phrases such as 'Don't cry, Don't be nervous'Using open questions and co-collaborating with our children around our role in supporting themEncouraging our children to share what they are thinking and feelingThe importance of parental role modelling in sharing our own thoughts and feelingsBeing conscious of not labelling our childrenCreating our own narratives of success, failure and disappointmentThe inevitabilities of sport, accepting them ourselves, and helping our children learn to accept and work with themThe power of being able to listenHelping our children acknowledge their emotion but then focus on the actions that followDr Alison Maitland is an experienced Health Professions Council registered and BASES accredited Sport Psychologist. She has a PhD in elite sport and uses her expertise in human performance in a wide range of settings in sport and businesses around the world. Not only has she helped elite athletes achieve World Championship titles and Olympic success, but she has a love and proven track record of supporting athletes and coaches taking the first step along their sporting journey. She continues to combine her use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in a sports context, with running a business equipping women in FTSE 250 businesses to lead unapologetic lives.Jenna is a Chartered Sport & Exercise Psychologist. She has a broad range of experience working with athletes from many different sports, from elite level to school sport. She was part of the team of psychologists at the Football Association who developed the high performance culture within England Football teams. Aside from her work in sport, she is a performance consultant in business, an executive coach and has extensive experience coaching leaders across many different sectors.

In this episode Sport and Performance Psychologist in Elite Sport Rebecca Levett joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss supporting a healthy identity in our sporting children.We all want our children to have the opportunity to explore various identities and learn that their sense of worth can come from different areas and that many skills and strengths are valued not just those associated with ‘achieving success'.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Identity and how we define ourselvesHow our children's identity may influence their behaviourNot closing things down too early and allowing our children to experience lots of different things in their lifeBeing conscious of what we praise and value as parentsHelping our children have a 100% focus on their sport at the right time, but not the whole timeSupporting the development of skills in our children that can then transfer into multiple domainsThe importance of parental role modelling particularly our interactions as parents around learning and disappointmentMaking sure our children know we 'love them' regardless of what they achieveHow their social groups can influence their identityDoes having an “on pitch” identity or persona mean being a different person?Rebecca is a Sport and Performance Psychologist with a wealth of experience in elite sport. She runs a consultancy called Sporting Success and is currently working with GB hockey with the Women's team, Harlequins Women's rugby and Sussex Men's Cricket. Prior to these roles Rebecca spent 4 years at the English Football Association as a Senior Psychologist: 3 years with the Men's U21s team and 12 months with the Senior Women's team, the Lionesses. In addition Rebecca has previously worked with the Women's first Team at Manchester City, spent 6 years with Archery GB with the Paralympic Squad and 9 years with Surrey Country Cricket Club alongside consultancy work for the England and Wales Cricket Board.Rebecca has a strong belief that sustainable high performance is underpinned by high levels of wellbeing and also that we are all performers in our own right whether on the pitch, in the boardroom or even at home! Rebecca's experience enables her to blend scientific knowledge with realities of what it is like ‘pitch side' to ensure solutions are practical and not just jargon! Rebecca is registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council and is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society.

In this episode Australian Institute of Sport Athlete Development Senior Lead Graham Turner joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss his latest book 'The Young Athlete's Perspective.'This book features six stories told by young athletes about their talent development experiences in sport. Each young athlete tells a personal story. They describe their own individual set of circumstances and provide a personal perspective that has been shaped by living in contemporary times.These unique stories are shared in the hope that they may support coaches and parents to better connect with the young athlete's perspective. When considered together, these individual insights confirm the essence of the talent development experience, and they reveal what every parent and coach supporting and developing the young athlete needs to know.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Understanding the mentality of young peopleWorking closely to understand your own child (they are all different)The importance of hard work and making the most from the whole sporting experienceHelping our children to trust themselves and find environments that allow them to thriveThe importance of positive relationships between the key people around young peopleCreating an environment for genuine, authentic conversationsImpression management and how information is perceived by all involvedThe importance of parental role-modelling and walking the walkGraham works for the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) as Athlete Development Senior Lead, supporting National Sporting Organisations to establish world's best High-Performance Pathways that identify, develop, and progress talented athletes to achieve medal winning performances. Graham's career in athlete development and talent pathways began in professional football at Wolverhampton Wanderers where he worked under former England National Coach Graham Taylor. He then went on to work for Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Crewe Alexandra, Leeds United and Bradford City. His subsequent experience includes research, design & implementation of National Strategy for Talent Development, (PE & Sport Strategy for Young People UK); design, delivery & evaluation of Coach Education, (Leeds Beckett University), Founder Member & Director on the Inaugural Board of the UK Strength & Conditioning Association; Coach & Athlete Development Consultant (Skill & Behaviour) for the Northern Territory Institute of Sport (AU) and National Elite Coaching Manager for Gymnastics Australia. Graham holds a PhD in Talent Development in Sport.

In this episode Michelin starred chef and sports parent Tom Kitchin joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss high performance and sports parenting. Tom has lived experience as a parent going through the football academy journey and it was great to discuss how his own working life in high performance has influenced his ongoing approach with his four children.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The realities and complexities of being a sport parentKeeping as balanced as possible in our approach throughout the ups and downs of the journeyThe importance of parental role modelling in shaping key character traits in our young peopleUsing the big challenges and moments to help fire drive, desire and determinationThe art of picking the right time to have the best conversations with our childrenAdapting and changing our approach as our children get olderThe similarities between high performance sport and high performance restaurantsThe importance of helping to instil the right attitude and discipline and being honest with our childrenBuilding confidence in our young peopleThe vital role of nutrition in fuelling our young people to help them achieve their bestTom Kitchin opened his first restaurant The Kitchin, on Edinburgh's Leith waterfront in June 2006. The Kitchin was awarded an acclaimed Michelin Star just six months after opening - an accolade that has been retained now every year since. The award-winning restaurant has been consistently voted one the UK's best restaurants since its opening whilst Tom and his wife Michaela were also named ‘UK Restauranteurs of the Year' in 2019 at the prestigious UK Restaurant Awards.Tom has become a well-known face on television, having appeared on BBC's Saturday Kitchen, UKTV Food's Market Kitchen, in BBC2's successful series and BBC2's Remarkable Places to Eat.Tom has, on many occasions, joined some of the UK's most renowned chefs on the MasterChef FinalChef's Table panel as a judge.

In this episode author and sports parent Catherine Baker joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss being a sports parent and the complexities of the role based on her experiences of parenting three sporting children, one of whom is currently involved in professional rugby.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The realities of being a sports parentLearning on the job and navigating the role of a sports parentThinking about our communication, our language and the messages we give our childrenReinforcing hard work and effortWorking alongside our own children's goals and motivationsThe importance of connectionThe challenge of navigating our children being injured or not being selectedPassing the baton to our teenage children and giving them a greater agency over the experiencePicking the moments to have important conversations with our teenagersThe lessons we can apply from Catherine's book 'Staying the Distance'Author, coach, and Keynote Speaker Catherine is relentless on the benefits of sport and movement. Catherine is a parent of three boys, all of whom have played sport at a high level. Through her business Sport and Beyond she has had the privilege of working with many elite athletes, elite coaches, and senior leaders across sport and business, with a focus on mindset and leadership. She is also a non-executive Director on various Boards, including the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust. Catherine's debut book, Staying the Distance: The Lessons From Sport That Business Leaders Have Been Missing, published by Bloomsbury Business, came out on 20th March 2023.

In this episode author and founder of 'The Changing the Game Project' joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss being a champion teammate, what that actually means and how we as parents can support our children to fulfil this role.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The importance of being a teammate in life, not just in sportHow we all need to learn to connect, compete and leadMaking the choice to be a 'Champion Teammate'Recognising the strengths and weaknesses of yourself and those around you'What can I give' as opposed to 'what can I get' in a society that promotes the latterThe challenges of technology in developing key character traits in young peopleThe importance of real connection and face to face conversationsPositive team dynamics and creating environments for this to flourishBeing the parent and the adult in the room particularly during times of adversityJohn O'Sullivan is the Founder of the Changing the Game Project and Host of the Way of Champions Podcast. He is the author of three #1 Bestselling books on parenting, coaching and team culture, and consults with sporting organisations across the globe including US Soccer, USOPC, USA Swimming, US Ski and Snowboard, Ireland Rugby, Australian Rugby League, the PGA, and numerous other schools, clubs and sporting organisations. A former collegiate and professional soccer player and a coach for three decades, his work has been featured by CNN, Outside Magazine, the Boston Globe, and his 2014 TED talk on "Changing the Game in Youth Sports" been viewed nearly 500,000 times. In The Champion Teammate, Jerry Lynch and John O'Sullivan share wisdom accrued from decades of consultation with well over 100 conference, national, and world championship teams and dozens of Hall of Fame coaches; interviews with hundreds of athletes, coaches, and leadership experts on their Way of Champions Podcast; and hundreds of workshops on being an exceptional teammate, leader, coach, and parent.

In this episode Motivational Interviewing expert and trainer and sports parent Orla Adams joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss 'Motivational Interviewing' and how it can help us as sports parents enhance the quality of conversations and navigate some of the difficult moments we face with our young people around their sporting experience.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:'Motivational Interviewing' and its place in sports parenting and the world of sportThe importance of identifying strengths, skills and abilities in our young peopleCreating space for our children to share their perspectives and points of viewHow we can become more self-aware of the moments and approach we take to have the most impactful conversationsHow instilling a fear of failure, focussing on weaknesses and making comparisons may have such negative connotationsTips and strategies for setting up the most difficult conversations that we can't avoid with our childrenHow using scaling techniques may help us communicate effectively with our children whilst encouraging self-evaluationThe importance of being able to listen well and what does that actually mean?Orla  Adams is the Dietetic Lead for Maternal Weight Management in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and she divides her time between this and delivering Motivational Interviewing (MI) training across the UK to various disciplines.  Orla attended her first MI workshop in 2006, became a member of MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers) in 2011, and gained MINT certification as an MI Trainer in 2023.  Orla is originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland and lives in Cardiff with her husband and two sons.  She is a sports parent and has been finding value in how MI has been helpful in some of the more challenging conversations.  

In this episode educational consultant, coach and parent Larissa Mills joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss ‘Effectively managing social media and setting up positive phone routines with our sporting children'.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Helping our children to develop 'real focus' in today's tech worldWorking on creating a healthy routine around devices at homeHow the brain and nervous systems are affected by the use of devices on a physical and mental levelSetting phone rules and standards at home and positively role modelling the rules as parentsHow the random use of phones can lead to a poor work ethicEducating our children about followers and enhanced safety around their social media accountsThe negative impact of device usage on communication skills and self-worth in young peopleThe perils of running a social media account for your sporting childrenDevice usage before competition - what physical and mental changes are children making to their bodies and what is a healthy pre-competition routine?Larissa Mills is the founder and Director of the Mental Game Academy.Leveraging a diverse educational background, Larissa is an esteemed Educational Behavioral Consultant holding a BA in Sociology, Psychology, and a Masters of Science in Education, specializing in brain functionality and learning mechanisms. With over 25 years of coaching experience across various sports, Larissa's insights have been honed through a deep understanding of athletic dynamics.

In this episode former NFL coach, Captain of GB Women's team and Sky Sports and Talk Sport Broadcaster Phoebe Schecter joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss her varied life in sport, being a strong role model and how parents can support and inspire their daughters on their sporting journey.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Phoebe's experience of coaching in the NFLThe importance of trust and humility in any organisationTaking opportunities when doors are opened for youBody image and the importance of young girls having access to the correct equipment and clothingThe increasing challenges of technology for young females todayCoaches understanding the importance of meeting the needs of female players and creating the right environments for themSupporting our daughters to develop key building blocks including resilience and effective conversation skillsThe value of role models and allowing our children to dreamPhoebe Schecter is a former NFL coach, Britain's first female coach in the sport, captain of the GB women's team, a flag football ambassador and now a broadcaster with Sky Sports and talkSPORT.

In this episode High Performance Consultant, Sports Physiotherapist and Former International Gymnast Rachel Vickery joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss high performance, character development and empowering self-advocacy in high performing young athletes.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The human stress responseThe true meaning of High Performance - excellence in craft, character and cultureThe importance of 'Character Development'Not expecting perfection as a sports parent and having high expectations of the right thingsThe value of intrinsic motivation and the mastery of craftHelping support a healthy identity in our young childrenThe impact of fear and how it can derail sporting performanceEmpowering our children to have a 'choice and a voice' in their journey and advocate for themselvesHelping support our children to understand the choices they make and the potential consequencesAligning our support to the goals and aspirations of our childrenRecognising and understanding that everyone has power and everyone has a voice in the process at a variety of points within the sporting journey (Organisations, coaches, parents and children)Rachel Vickery is a Human Behaviour and High-Performance Consultant, optimising performance, culture, communication and resilience in high pressure, high-stress and high stakes scenarios. She consults with Professional and Elite athletes, coaches and organisations; and other high-performance arenas including C-suite execs, trauma and emergency medicine personnel, elite military teams and tactical professionals as examples.In the sports world Rachel has worked with individuals and teams in the NBA (Golden State Warriors USA), the NRL (Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters) and the AFL (Brisbane Lions and Adelaide Crows) and numerous National, Olympic and World Champion level athletes, coaches and organisations from NZ, Australia and the USA, and is a performance ambassador for the global Leaders in Sport organisation. Rachel was an elite Gymnast on the New Zealand team for 6 years (Commonwealth Games and World Championships) before qualifying as a Sports Physiotherapist, then adding a few more qualifications to the toolkit to transition to her current field.To find out more about Rachel and to get in touch with her visit  www.breathingandperformance.com.

In this episode coach and author Reed Maltbie joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss the importance of language and how we as sports parents can help shape powerful and impactful conversations with our children.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Understanding key words and picking the correct moments to have conversations that have the maximum impactThe role of language and self-talk in high pressure situationsRecognising the power of 'Pause' and not jumping in to solve every challenging moment for our childrenPositive body language around matches and competitionSelf-awareness around the pros and cons of the 'Car Journey Home'Encouraging our children to seek support and have both positive and challenging conversations with the key people in their livesOur voice becoming our children's internal dialogue and the importance of our role-modellingBeing comfortable with telling our children how we feel about our own challengesTry to become a 'Reward Hunter' as a sports parent"Coach Reed" Maltbie is a bestselling author, TED speaker, educator, and optimum performance specialist, is a thought leader in his field. With dual master's degrees in sports psychology and early childhood development, combined with three decades of professional coaching experience, Coach Reed has established himself as a global authority on cultivating and achieving peak performance, creating cultures of excellence, and developing leaders who transform lives.His new book, "The Spartan Mindset: Mastering the Language of Excellence," became an overnight international bestseller, emphasising the impact of language on performance.

In this episode former international cricketer, coach and broadcaster Lydia Greenway joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss growing female sport and how we can best support and inspire the young females in our lives.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The variation in cultures around the cricketing worldLydia's book 'Women and Girls' Cricket' which aims to support clubs, coaches and parentsThe difference between how we support young boy's and girls in sportProviding a range of sporting opportunities for young children to lay really good foundationsThe value of informal playThe benefits of girls playing with and against the boys in the early stages of their developmentThe huge influence of parents and their role modelling in how they shape the values and beliefs of young peopleThe massive impact that Lydia's family had on her developmentManaging the aftermath of a poor performance as a parentAlways striving to be better every day and developing this positive type of focus and mindset with our childrenRecognising that development in cricket can be a 'slow burn' and littered with failureEncouraging parents to focus on the processes and building blocks of developmentLydia Greenway is a former cricketer who represented England, Kent and the Southern Vipers.  In 2017 she launched 'Cricket for Girls' focussing on training teachers and coaches. Since then she has launched the 'Girls Cricket Club' to focus on developing female cricketers at grassroots level.  Lydia is also a broadcaster and has recently been an assistant coach with the Mumbai Indians in the inaugural women's IPL.

In this episode author, teacher and consultant James Nottingham joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss 'The Learning Pit' - understanding how our children learn and what that may mean for us as sports parents.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The fact that we are all capable of improvement and progressUnderstanding the importance of self-efficacy and helping to develop it with our childrenAsking great questions and developing our listening skills as sports parentsEmbracing the reality of disappointment and setbacksNormalising with our children the ups, downs and cha-cha's of learning and sporting developmentHow we can help our children analyse, respond and effectively plan the next stages following disappointment and any mistakes they makeSupporting our children to be brave to step out of their comfort zonesHelping our children take ownership of their learning and developmentUnderstanding the motivations of our childrenJames Nottingham is the creator of the Learning Pit, a model used widely to help students articulate their learning progress. He is also the author of 11 books on teaching and leading.He started life by failing – firstly at school (he was expelled from two high schools) and then at pig farming and factory work. However, after some charity work in apartheid South Africa gave him the shake he needed, he returned to the UK to work as a teaching assistant in a school for deaf children.Growing up, James was one of the ‘naughty kids' at school; he spent more time on detention than he cares to remember and was expelled twice from secondary school. In 1999, James appeared in a TV documentary about Philosophy for Children (P4C), leading to an invitation to set up a social regeneration project in North East England. This multi-million-pound initiative won many prestigious awards for strengthening young people's lives, including “helping young people to become clearer, more accurate, less self-contradictory and more aware of other arguments and values before reaching a conclusion.” Independent research by two universities also found strong correlations between project inputs and national test improvements.As the European funding for this project wound down, James set up an independent consultancy to share the best practices with a wider audience. This company engages with educators on every continent (except Antarctica!). James splits his time between giving keynote speeches, leading his team, writing books, and offering demonstration lessons (give him any class, any age, and he'll show some of the best ways to move students from surface to deep learning).James has written 11 books for teachers, leaders, support staff, and parents. Many are bestsellers, and most have been translated into Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Spanish, and Swedish (with Japanese titles coming soon) 

In this episode Professor and head of the Lifespan Performance Laboratory at York University, Canada Dr. Joe Baker joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss 'The Tyranny of Talent'- how it limits and compels athletic achievement.....and why you should largely ignore it.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Trying to define talent and our misused application as coaches and parentsThe challenges of Talent IdentificationThe 'label of talent' and how it can potentially hinder motivationThe importance of the role of parents in the sporting systemOptimising talent development environments, putting the person at the centre of our thinking and not treating athletes as commoditiesPrioritising the sporting journey over any potential outcomesUndermining the power of sport by having unrealistic expectationsThe limitations of the 'Nature v Nurture' debateThe importance of an individualised approach with each athlete alongside a wider coaching frameworkThoughts on the development of the youth sporting landscape over the next decadeDr. Joe Baker is Professor and head of the Lifespan Performance Laboratory at York University, Canada. His research considers the varying influences on optimal human development, ranging from issues affecting athlete development and skill acquisition to barriers and facilitators of optimal ageing. He has worked with a range of teams and organisations around the world at the amateur and professional levels. He has published 12 books, the latest of which is The Tyranny of Talent: How it compels and limits athlete achievement… and why you should ignore it. In addition, he has published over 300 scientific articles, book chapters and commentaries. More info on his research can be found at https://www.yorku.ca/professor/bakerj/ or on Twitter @bakerjyorku.

In this episode sleep expert James Wilson(AKA The Sleep Geek) joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss supporting our children to sleep well for competitive sport. We are all too aware as sports parents of the many challenges that we face when it comes to sleep with our own children.James does a great job in dispelling a few myths and helping us all feel better about the challenges we face as well as giving us a few tips to point us in the right direction.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The importance of quality sleep and embedding it across whole sporting environmentsThe benefits of higher quality sleep as opposed to focussing on the quantity of sleepTrying not to be too prescriptive when discussing sleep with our childrenUnderstanding that sleep is a feeling rather than a numberSetting a sleep time that fits with our children's body rhythm Setting a realistic and thought out bedtime routine with our children rather than enforcing strict rulesHaving compassionate conversations and recognising that our teenagers may need to go to bed later than usUsing light boxes and sunshine alarm clocks to help our children have effective wake ups Working towards a consistency of sleepUsing 'naps' in a positive wayEffective tools for setting up a healthy bedtime routineHelping our children not to get too stressed if their sleep the night before and after competition is not as effective as the rest of the week The importance of effective mattresses, pillows and duvets as well as thinking about our body positions when sleepingJames Wilson (AKA The Sleep Geek) is the Founder and CEO of Kip Mate, a company that helps organisations, sports teams and poor sleepers get better kip, through realistic and simple advice, delivered via seminars, webinars, one on sessions and via their digital tool. As a sleep expert, he is  geared towards helping people understand their sleep, and helps crate cultures that support people's sleep.  with the likes of Coca Cola Hellenic, Red Bull, Zurich Insurance, Pret A Manger, Stagecoach, the NHS and Ernst and Young amongst his clients. In sport he is Sports Aid's sleep expert and has spent the last 5 years working in football with the like of Lincoln City, Rotherham United and Sheffield United and this season is continuing his partnership with West Ham, supporting the Men's and Women's teams and also the rest of the club. To find our more about how Kip Mate can help you sleep better go to www.kipmate,com and for more information on James' work go to www.thesleepgeek.co.uk

In this episode Head of Women's Psychology at the Football Association Dr. Kate Hays joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss life with the Lionesses and supporting and inspiring young girls to a life in sport.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Memories of last Summer's success with the LionessesCreating a bubble around athletes at high profile events to help them focus on performanceCreating safe spaces for athletes to process success, manage the aftermath of highly emotional events and helping to support the resetting of new goals to move forwardThe power of sport to inspire, create opportunities and provide amazing role modelsUnderstanding the individual needs of young performers in sport whether we are coaches or parentsThe importance of youth sport and facilitating safe environments for children to learn, develop as individuals and make mistakesFraming winning and competition in a positive manner whilst supporting our children to understand why and how they perhaps achieve specific outcomesCommon traits in top athletes and their drive to be the best, their drive to improve, their relentless focus on success, their ability to be objective in reviewing performances and how they leave no stone unturnedEveryone wants to win - so how do we win?Intrinsic v Extrinsic motivationThe potential job opportunities in sport for young females in sportDr Kate Hays is the Head of Women's Performance Psychology at the Football Association. Previously, she spent more than seven years in a similar role with the English Institute of Sport [EIS]. She has worked as a sport psychologist and been part of multidisciplinary teams for 20 years. During this time Kate has worked across a range of different sports and supported athletes competing in major global events including World Championships, Olympics and the professional equivalent – most recently among the team behind the team at the Tokyo Games.Her current role includes working closely with elite England players in an on-camp role as a key part of head coach Sarina Wiegman's support team. Day to day, she is responsible for ensuring a consistent approach is introduced across all development sides as part of a commitment to strengthening the women's player pathway.

In this episode author and world-renowned performance expert Steve Magness joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss 'Do Hard Things', his latest book, which takes a deep dive into real toughness and how we can get resilience so very wrong.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The motivation for writing‘Do Hard Things' Defining 'resilience' and what it actually means and looks like in realityDealing with the reality of the 'struggle' and embracing itHelping our children develop a toolbox to navigate the inevitable obstacles and challenges they will encounter during their sporting journeyNormalising the experience of loss and disappointment and giving our children space to process these moments whilst recognising our role in supporting themRecognising the sensitive period immediately after competition and reacting accordingly as sports parentsGiving our children the opportunity to share their perspectives and experiencesHelping our children 'raise the floor' and recognise the importance of improving the consistency of their performanceRecognising the importance of intrinsic motivation and the drive for sporting success coming from our childrenSteve Magness is a world-renowned expert on performance, well-being, and sustainable success. His most recent work is Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness. He is coauthor of the best selling Peak Performance and The Passion Paradox. In his coaching practice, Steve has worked with some of the best athletes in the world. 

In this episode Stuart Lancaster joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss sports parenting, working with and engaging parents early in the process and creating great sporting environments for young people.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:His new role at Racing 92 announced just hours before the podcast was recordedA coaching career that encompassed so many different roles across different age groups and different levelsClub rugby on a Sunday morning and helping develop coaches whilst supporting parents to support effectivelyRecognising that a lot of parents are hungry to learn and love being supportedThe importance of early parental engagement in helping to create healthy sporting environmentsStriking the sweet spot between development and winningThe importance of multi-sport participation at a young ageThe black hole of sports participation post 18The importance of connection, purpose and belonging in keeping young people involved in sportThe importance of developing effective sustainable sports systemsMotivating young people by understanding their needs and motivationsStuart Lancaster is the current senior coach at Leinster Rugby and will be joining Racing 92 as Director of Rugby at the end of this season.He was formerly the England Head Coach from 2011-2015. Prior to that he held numerous positions which included coaching the England Saxons and leading the England U20 side to a Grand Slam and 3 finals in the IRB World Junior Championships. 

In this episode Dr Amy Whitehead and Jenny Coe join Gordon MacLelland to discuss some of the myths of coaching in the sporting world and what it means for us as parents in trying to navigate the experience of youth sport.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Their motivations for editing and putting together 'The Myths of Sports Coaching'How myths come about and gain momentumThe 10,000 hour mythFinding the balance between science and the craft of coachingThe dangers of copying and pasting coaching content from social mediaNot putting all parents into the same category of being badly behavedThe importance of autonomy and enjoyment in the youth sporting experienceThe social and cultural influences that can direct behaviour in sports parentingRaising self-awareness and helping to change the narrative of success in youth sportWhat we should be looking for in a good coach as sports parentsWhat constitutes a really good coaching session for our childrenAmy is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Sport Psychology and Coaching at Liverpool John Moores University and is the lead of the Coaching and Pedagogy Research Group at LJMU. Amy is also a BPS Accredited and HCPC registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist and works as a sport psychology consultant with a range of sports and athletes.Jenny Coe has spent 25 years in different sporting roles from playground to podium she seen, heard and felt the importance of understanding the individuals and relationships within each environment. She values connections and the underpinning care that supports people in working towards and maintaining their why. She aims to nourish the relationships so the trust and openness can empower those she works with to embrace the new challenges.Jenny's current role is working as a Head of Performance and Wellbeing with West Ham Women's Football Team. A role where she is shifting the mindset in women's football to consider the idea of performance through wellbeing.

In this episode director of coaching and performance at Setanta College Des Ryan joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss  strength and conditioning for young athletes, how we can best support our children and dispels a few myths along the way.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The strength and conditioning minefield for parents of young athletesThe importance of regular activity (structured and unstructured)Early specialisation and a wider understanding of the debateBeing aware and managing training routines alongside growth spurtsStories of great practise and outcomes at Arsenal AcademyImproving speed and movement is possible for everyoneThe importance of individual values and disciplineHopes for the future for S & C coaches and how they may be able to benefit whole communitiesHere are a number of the links that Des recommended during the podcast.World Rugby Passport - Conditioning for RugbySetanta Academy Courses | Setanta College AcademyGrowth & Maturation | Player Development Insights Series #2 - YouTubeGrowth and maturity | FA Learning webinar - YouTubeDes Ryan works for Setanta College as Director of Coaching & Performance. Des is one of the leading youth coaches and performance managers in sport and a world-renowned practitioner and speaker in the field of youth athletic development. Des joined Setanta from his position as Head of Sport Medicine & Athletic Development at Arsenal Football Club Academy, a position he held for over 8 years where he re-shaped the concept of player development within the world of football. He has also previously worked as Head of S&C at Connacht Rugby, S&C to Ireland and as Fitness Education Manager within the IRFU, where he spent over 13 years developing the IRFU's coach and player development system.Des has a Masters in Strength and Conditioning and is also an Accredited Strength and Conditioning coach with the UKSCA. He also has achieved the High Performance Sports Accreditation from the British Association of Sports and Exercise Science and is a chartered scientist.

In this episode author, head of mentoring at the True Athlete Project and Olympian Laurence Halsted joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss the True Athlete Project, it's philosophy and where sport currently fits in society.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:'The True Athlete Project' and it's philosophyWhat it was like for Laurence growing up in a house of OlympiansLaurences' motivations for writing 'Becoming a True Athlete'Ethics in elite sportHaving a 'human first, athlete second' approach and how this does not need to compromise performanceUsing sport to as a vehicle to equip young sports people with skills for lifeThe power of sport in society and how it can bring communities togetherLaurence's first memory of being inspired by sportLaurence Halsted is a two-time British Olympic fencer and multiple European medallist, who competed in the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games. After more than a decade of performing at the highest levels of sport, Laurence hung up his swords and took on a role as the Performance Director of a national federation alongside becoming the head of mentoring at UK non-profit, The True Athlete Project. In 2021 Laurence published his first book - Becoming a True Athlete - which introduces and describes a practical philosophy for flourishing in sport, one that goes far beyond the results and medals to rediscover the true value of being an athlete. 

In this episode former Great Britain and England hockey coach Danny Kerry MBE joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss high performance sport, creating amazing cultures and sports parenting.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Danny's fondest memories of professional sportCreating a values based culture based on behaviours and actionsThe importance of 'Psychologically Safe' environmentsHaving a clear vision of the aims of our children's sporting programmes The importance of equipping our children with a range of character and life skills along the sporting journeyBeing prepared to sacrifice a short term win for a longer term successThe challenges of sports parenting and having really good conversations with our childrenThe differing demands of professional sport to a performance pathwayDanny's key learnings from his sporting experience as a childDanny Kerry has had a prolific career involved in high performance sport.During his career he has coached both the Great Britain and England Mens and Women's teams.Highlights include an Olympic bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games, at that time the first British Olympic hockey medal in 20 years. Post London 2012 Danny was appointed Performance Director to England and Great Britain Hockey and was responsible for the national teams and strategic development of performance hockey across the UK. In late 2014 Danny once again took on the role of Head Coach to the England & GB Women's hockey teams, winning historic Gold medals in the European Nations Cup in 2015 with England and at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with Great Britain. Danny was voted FIH World Coach of the Year for 2016 and Team GB coach of the year 2016. Subsequent to the Rio Olympic Games Danny has been awarded an MBE for services to hockey and Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Loughborough and Roehampton.

In this episode speaker, author and award winning educator Dr Jennifer Fraser joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss neuroscience,  what we know now,  what the research shows us and discuss what this means for sporting organisations, coaches and parents.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The ability to evolve, train and rewire our brainTom Brady and his use of brain trainingResilience and how eliminating threat can help develop this sought after skillThe importance of healthy and effective environmentsJennifer's new book 'The Bullied Brain'The value in parents celebrating the process of  holistic and character developmentHelping to foster intrinsic drive and motivationThe teenage brain and understanding the importance of peer connection for teenagersThe early adopters of brain training and the successes associated with itSporting organisations using the happiness of children as a key measuring stick in youth sport to help prevent drop-outCoaches adapting their approach to suit all of the different individuals within a group and leading with empathyThe challenges for parents in supporting their teenagers through adolescent development Developing 'empathic' listening skills when talking with our teenagersAre we 'watching' or 'observing' our children play sport?Jennifer Fraser is an award-winning educator and best-selling author. Her fourth book, The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health, came out in April 2022 with Prometheus Books. It draws on advancements in neuroscience and medicine in order to share evidence-based ways we can all strive to have healthier, happier, more high-performing brains even if we have suffered harm done by bullying and abuse. A science-informed approach, The Bullied Brain is meant to be a useful and practical guide for coaches, teachers and parents. You can find out more at bulliedbrain.com.

In this episode Clinical Psychologist, Emotional Fitness Consultant, speaker and author Dr Suzanne Brown joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss managing injury and recovery and how can we best support as parents at what can be a really challenging time for everyone.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The challenge of injuries for parents and childrenManaging our own emotions and behaviours around our child's injuryTrying to reframe our mindset to see it as a positive opportunityWorking collaboratively with our children and their clubs and coaches to create the best environment for rehabilitationNot rushing the process and keeping an eye on the bigger pictureSupporting our children to use rehabilitation to focus on other areas of their sport Ensuring that our children's programme is as varied as possible both in and out of sportHelping our children maintain a good routine during rehabilitation (e.g. sleep and nutrition)Dr Suzanne Brown is a Clinical Psychologist, Emotional Fitness Consultant, speaker and author. She is pioneering a new approach to mental health and performance which began with the realisation that "you anywhere is you everywhere" and how the work you've been willing to do on your psychological tendencies and relationship patterns is directly related to the work you're able to do in the world. Suzanne maintains a private practice offering 1:1 therapy whilst supporting high performing companies in business, sport and education through Emotional Fitness classes and programmes. Twitter: @drsuzebrownInstagram: @emotionallyconnectedWebsite: www.emotionallyconnected.co.uk

In this episode sports psychologist, author, podcaster and former professional golfer Dan Abrahams and Gordon MacLelland discuss match-day and competition, what that means for our children and how we can best support the process as parents.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Learning to sit back, watch and enjoy the experience of seeing our children competeLearning simple techniques and strategies to help manage the competition environmentHaving a parent face - borrow from memory, imagination and perceptionHaving a stretch and support dial for our children both in and out of sportAllowing children to take sport seriously if they wish to in a healthy and safe wayUse a scaling technique with our children to talk about their sport, strip away the emotion and then be able to follow up with great questionsAsking our children how we can best support them? Working together to co-collaborate and work in partnership with our childrenStripping away performance indicators that are out of our controlGame outcomes, performance outcomes and performance processes and focussing as parents on the latterCreating a 'match script' with our children around tasks that are specific, controllable and positiveFollowing up the 'match script' with healthy conversations and stretching and supporting our childrenThe difference between 'mastery oriented' and ego oriented' environments and the huge benefits of the formerBecoming comfortable with disappointment and allowing our children the space to work through itNot rushing to have dialogue immediately after training and competitionCo-collaborating with our children around the environment they want for the 'Car Journey Home'Dan Abrahams is a sport and performance psychologist. A former professional golfer, Dan has 25 years experience in high performance sport, and has spent the last 15 years as a qualified sport psychologist working with some of the best sports competitors in the world. He has held several senior positions in British sport including Lead Psychologist for England Golf and for England Rugby (working alongside Eddie Jones in the lead up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup). He has held contracts with a number of Premier League football teams, and is regarded as one of the go-to sport psychologists for elite athletes globally. He is the author of four best-selling books, one of which, 'Soccer Tough', was named by Gareth Bale as a book that changed his life. Dan also has a podcast (The Sport Psych Show) which has one million downloads, making it one of the leading sport psychology podcasts globally. 

In this episode former professional cricketer Patrick Foster and Gordon MacLelland discuss the world of gambling and gaming and the addiction that almost brought an end to Patrick's life.Gambling and gaming is very much a topic that parents need to be aware of in an ever changing world so that they can monitor and help support their own children to ensure things do not spiral out of control. Patrick through his current work offers some valuable support and tips for parents.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Living through 13 years of pathological gamblingHow gambling took hold at the most unexpected timeUsing gambling to escape the disappointment of being released from professional sportHiding the secret from everyone Staking £2,000,000 pounds, having nearly 200 payday loans, mountains of debt and losing his homeLast chance saloon - placing £50,000 on the Cheltenham Gold Cup and losingFailed suicide attemptsOpening up, telling the truth and going into rehabUsing the experience to now help support othersThe hidden dangers of early gambling  activity within traditional computer gamesGambling acting as a drug for competitive peopleThe pain and hurt of lost time through addictionParents putting firm time boundaries on children gaming whilst not excluding themParents helping protect their children's sleepSome of the key warning signs for parents to look out forThe importance of parents acting on any concerns they may haveThe world of  'Esports' and the challenges of the huge number who want to become professional gamersEveryone playing their part in education, regulation and supportPatrick Foster is a former professional cricketer, insurance broker and schoolteacher whose life was shattered by a pathological gambling addiction that brought him to the verge of taking his own life in March 2018. Now over three years into recovery, Patrick is the Head of Delivery for EPIC Risk Management, the leading independent gambling harm-minimisation consultancy in the UK and Ireland, specialising in the identification and prevention of problematic gambling. His new book 'Might Bite' is taking the world by storm, which is his brutally honest account of over a decade of pathological gambling addiction to recovery and beyond. Be sure to check it out. 

Season 3 of the 'Parents in Sport Podcast' gets underway as former professional footballer Paul Stewart and Gordon MacLelland discuss a life in football, living through child abuse and helping support parents in protecting their own children.Paul suffered horrific abuse as a child by a youth football coach, which led him to an adult life of drink, drugs and suicidal thoughts. Paul's story was featured in BBC1's “Footballs Darkest Secret”.His story is one of the most powerful stories you will hear, but it will bring hope as he still managed to succeed despite his experience.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Paul's memories of professional footballComparing todays academy environments to days gone byThe importance of developing people as well as footballers in academy environmentsThe fine line between expectation and pressureParents feeling empowered to have a voice in the journey of their children without the fear of negative ramificationsGiving children a voice in the process and asking great questionsBeing groomed as a young footballerSuffering sexual abuse as a child by his coach for 4 yearsThe long term effect of child abuse including drink and drugs, depression and suicidal thoughtsBreaking the news to his family and elderly parents The joy at helping and supporting young people and parents in his current roleThe importance of parents asking the right questions before leaving their prized possessions in other peoples careKeeping an eye on your children's personality and any significant changes in their demeanour and the language they useThe importance of everyone involved in sport having a voice and being open and transparentPaul now works as a safeguarding advocate, talking openly and honestly about the impact abuse had on his life.  He now works within football for the EFL and Premiership education in helping academy players and staff to cope with the pressure that football brings.To find out more about Paul's safeguarding work and details about his learning course click here.If you would like to read Paul's story 'Damaged' then click here.

In the final episode of Season 2, sports psychologist and author Dr Josephine Perry and Gordon MacLelland discuss sports psychology, the importance of mental skills and dig deeper into ‘I Can – The Teenage Athlete's Guide to Mental Fitness.'During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The importance of mental health support for teenagersCreating a safe place for teenagers to share and note their feelingsChildren not being commoditiesThe importance of positive conversations between parents and childrenFocussing on individual processes and values over scores and resultsChanging the narrative in organisations to be more process driven The danger of comparisonsImproving our ability to handle and recognise certain emotions and having appropriate coping mechanismsConfronting and having difficult conversationsIdentifying values at home and what is important to us and managing our conversations with our children to support these valuesPromoting the experiences of our children sporting journey over the outcomesThe importance of children having autonomy over their sporting experienceParents ensuring they remain the parent and do not become another coachDr Josephine Perry is a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist who founded and directs Performance in Mind, a consultancy integrating expertise in sport psychology and skills in communications. The consultancy supports athletes, stage performers and business leaders to develop the approaches, mental skills and strategies which will help them achieve their ambitions.Josephine works helps her clients to overcome barriers to their success and wanting to feel more comfortable performing under pressure. Using a mixture of psycho-education and acceptance and commitment theory she works directly with high performers, is bought in to support teams, gives keynote speeches for corporates and sports companies and lectures in Sport Psychology at both the Open University and Roehampton University.Josephine's previous career was in media and communications so alongside seeing individuals for psychology support she is regularly commissioned to create compelling and engaging content for the media in the form of feature articles, white papers, research reports, expert comment, blog posts, podcast interviews and speeches. She has published four books to date: Performing under Pressure: Strategies for Sporting Success (Aug 2019), The Psychology of Exercise (Oct 2020), I Can: The Teenage Athlete's Guide to Mental Fitness (April 2021) and The 10 Pillars of Success on Audible (August 2021)

In this episode gymnastics parent James Porter and Gordon MacLelland discuss the world of gymnastics and James' experience of parenting three sons all involved in performance level gymnastics.Here at WWPIS we recognise the importance of having these conversations with parents on the ground, who often share similar thoughts and feelings. This can often help us all reflect, manage and shape the environments that we create around our young people on their sporting journey.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The power and influence of other siblingsThe positive influence of the gymnastics club in nurturing the children's potential both in and out of the sportManaging levels of expectation and going with the flowTreating each child as an individual and understanding their motivationsHarnessing positive relationships with the coachEnsuring that they remain parents and give the coaches the space to coachManaging the competition experience and having strategies as a parent to manage thisSibling rivalry The importance of enjoying the ride of the sports parenting journey and not getting too caught up on the destinationGiving children the space to take ownership of their sporting journey

In this episode Laura and Daniel Massaro and Gordon MacLelland discuss the world of squash and Laura's rise to becoming world champion with her husband as the coach.They also chat about sports parenting, philosophy and creating the right environments for young people today.Both Laura and Daniel share their experiences from their sporting and professional journeys and we go into lots of detail discussing Daniels book 'The Winning Parent.'With a new arrival on the horizon in the Massaro household we also discuss with plenty of humour what their own approach to sports parenting is going to be.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Bridging the gap from academia to practical applicationEnsuring that we learn from other's sporting journeys but are able to put it into our own contextThe danger of over analysing our children's sport and being sucked into the world of media and punditryThe pressure on succeeding in the game because of all the sacrifices made by all involved in the processEvolving as a coach, maturing and changing perspective with age The importance of being able to 'laugh at yourself, admit mistakes and not take things too seriously'Playing without a fear of failure and hating to lose'My rules are for me and your rules are for you' and the importance of understanding yourselfSetting healthy boundaries whilst also setting the time for playfulness Understanding hierarchy and respecting your elders Preparing for a new arrival to the household and some initial thoughts on their own sports parentingIf you have enjoyed the conversation  and are fascinated by Laura and Daniel's journey then don't forget to check out their books including Laura's latest release 'All In' and Daniel's book for sports parents 'The Winning Parent.'

In this episode Martha Lourey-Bird and Gordon MacLelland discuss sports parenting and specifically supporting our daughters and young females in sport.Martha shares her experiences of being a sports parent to two high performing children and the different approaches they take in supporting their son and daughter.She also shares all of her experience from working across a range of amazing projects around women and girls in sport allowing us all to take something away to help support our sports programmes and our daughters at home.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Drop out of sport in young femalesThe major mental, physical and social benefits of involving our young children in sportThe importance of fun, friendship and socialisation for girlsBeing innovative with the sporting programmes that we offerGiving girls a voice in the process to shape their programmesMaking sure girls feel welcome and facilities are appropriateThe huge challenges of gender inequality in sportIf you can see it, you can be itManaging the car journey homeSupporting our children to take ownership of their sporting experience as they get olderThe huge support network required to raise high performing athletesMartha is a Sports and Exercise Scientist, a 15-year lecturer at the University of New South Wales' Faculty of Medicine and has an international corporate career in women's health. Currently, she manages the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup women and girls legacy programs.Martha contributes her expertise globally to both the sports industry and corporate sector, always working to improve sports participation and/or physical activity levels. To find out more about Martha's work click here.

In this episode Mark Maguire and Gordon MacLelland discuss sports parenting, blogging, writing books and Mark shares his experience of being a sports parent to a son who has just recently signed for the Pittsburgh Pirates MLB franchise.In a fascinating and unique episode Mark charts his journey as a parent from his early days as a sports parent, his time being a parent coach, acknowledging his mistakes and how he had to change leading to the amazing relationship that he has with his son today.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Becoming an author and a bloggerThe excitement of having a son being chased by a number of MLB franchisesGetting his son into baseball and his early coaching experiences in Tee-BallThe importance of your children finding a sport that they are truly passionate aboutThe challenges of being a parent coach and reflecting honestly about learning on the job and the mistakes madeRecognising when to get away from being a parent coach and passing the baton over to someone elseThe importance of intrinsic motivationBeing able to say sorry and losing the egoThe art of observation and the skill of asking non-judgemental questions, listening to your child and planning the next stage of the journey togetherIf you have enjoyed the conversation  and are fascinated by Mark and Solo's journey then don't forget to check out the 'Dad - it doesn't help'  series in the WWPIS Members platform.Mark's book is also available for purchase here.'Fairly much I can say is this is true: there are no bad kids. You might be expecting me to next write, just bad parents. But this is also not true.We are just misguided.We are passionate. We want the best for our young athletes. But most of the time we just don't know how to keep our loose lips still.What you're about to read is not a secret formula. It will make you think; it will challenge you. It will teach you that your child is looking for you to be their biggest support and role model.'And one day they'll say to you, "Mum, Dad, you were a great help."

In this episode Jacqui Agyepong and Gordon MacLelland discuss Jacqui's athletic career, her coaching journey and her experiences of coaching her own daughter.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The importance of role models including older siblingsTreating every child as an individualEvolving as a coach, learning on the go and recognising that coaching goes way beyond just the athletic performanceSeparating the hat of parent and coachGiving ownership of the sporting journey to your child and allowing them to make their choicesThe pride at watching our children develop as an athlete and a personThe challenges of continually motivating our own children within a groupRecognising when to give our children space and the importance of managing confrontation effectivelyAvoiding the school sports dayWorking with our children to develop the mental side as well as the physical side of sportFocussing on the processes and continual self improvementYou can hear more from Jacqui in our book ‘Two Hats' featuring advice, support and encouragement for all parent coaches including 23 interviews across 14 sports from leading figures in the sporting world.“It is a great privilege to be part of this project alongside so many leading figures from across the sporting world covering such a wide range of sports. It is certainly enlightening seeing so many similarities across sports in terms of coaching your own child as well as some of the uniqueness that each sporting environment can provide.” Harry RedknappOrder your copy today by clicking here.

In this episode Jo Davies and Jurgen van Leeuwen join Gordon MacLelland to discuss sports parenting and coaching your own children. Drawing on their vast experience in the world of badminton as Olympians, coaches and now parents to England Badminton internationals Ethan and Estelle, they share many pearls of wisdom, portraying a very honest and humorous reflection of their very unique situation.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Their transition from playing to coachingUsing their playing experience to help shape their coaching journeysThe importance of evolving as coaches and parentsManaging the expectation of parentsWorking positively with parents and the importance of coach educationTheir experiences of coaching their own childrenThe challenges of managing the ups and downs of their child's journey Fighting for your own childrenThe importance of coaches understanding the family dynamic of the athletes they coachCreating the space for positive conversations between organisations, coaches, parents and playersDoing your best to try and separate home from sport

In this episode author, educator and mindset coach Steve Sallis and CEO WWPIS Gordon MacLelland discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of life in football academies exploring the process based on their own experiences through a range of different lenses.They share their thoughts around their life in football and education, what they have learnt, what they have reflected on and what some of the priorities should be moving forward to achieve the best possible outcomes for young people and their parents.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The inspiration behind the writing of the book 'Educating Football'The importance of involving external influences into the world of academy footballThe importance of education and holistic development alongside the footballing journey for young playersSupporting parents through high quality programmes to help them best support their childrenAcademies being more realistic about the footballing journey and the release process with their parentsThe benefits of paying for high quality staffThe importance of academies having a high quality strategy that brings together club, coach, parent and child to achieve the best possible outcomes for young peoplePlayer identityPerspective and the need for it by all stakeholdersIf you have enjoyed this conversation and would like to buy a copy of Steve's book 'Educating Football' please click here.Also, if you would like to know more about the academy football programme that we are running  here at WWPIS with a number of academies  and football programmes then please click here.  

In this episode Tim Wigmore and Gordon MacLelland discuss Tim's latest book 'The Best - how elite athletes are made.'Tim shares a fascinating insight into his research for the book, sharing stories from the amazing environments he  encountered and the interviews that he carried out.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The success of younger siblingsThe importance of play and the amazing environments that facilitate thisThe negative impact of certain parental behavioursWhat the research means for us as sports parentsThe importance of support from family and friendsThe 'Relative Age Effect' and the challenges of 'Talent ID'The book is a brilliant read for all sporting parents examining so many different sports, individuals and environments. It really gets to grips with so many key topics and is underpinned by all the latest science.To buy a copy of the book please click here.Tim Wigmore is the author of Cricket 2.0: Inside the T20 Revolution, the winner of the Wisden Book of the Year award for 2020. He is a sports writer for The Daily Telegraph, and has also written regularly for The New York Times, The Economist, the New Statesman and ESPNCricinfo. He is a former winner of the Young Cricket Journalist of the Year award and has been shortlisted for the Cricket Writer of the Year award.

In this episode Cath Bishop(Olympian, Author, Diplomat and Leadership Coach) and Gordon MacLelland discuss Cath's latest book 'The Long Win.'Cath shares a fascinating insight into her early childhood in sport, her Olympic journey, life as a diplomat and her current work as a leadership coach.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Winning and what it means to societyValuing winning and competition but framing it in a positive and healthy wayTaking a wider outlook on sport and competition and the amazing lessons that it can teach us allThe significance of the 3C's of clarifying, constant learning and connectionHelping support sports parents to use sport as the vehicle to develop life and character skillsThe importance of not 'labelling' our children The importance of collaborationWe hope that you enjoy this episode. To find out more about Cath Bishop and the work that she is currently involved in then please click here.

In this episode Zak Jones (GB and England Hockey Men's Assistant Coach) and Gordon MacLelland discuss coaching your own children.  Zak shares many of his personal experiences from his own career, his life in coaching and education and his early experiences of coaching his own young children.He shares a fascinating insight into the world of being a parent and as a high performance coach himself offers some really sound advice for those involved in the role or thinking of coaching their own children.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The challenge of being a parent coach and the fear of some volunteersHow amazing it is to see up close our children develop both on and off the fieldBeing prepared to learn from our own mistakesThe difficulty of managing the emotion of the experience despite knowing what we should be trying to doHaving a different approach for son's and daughter'sAllowing frustration to pass over us and take a step back (not an easy thing to do!)The importance of being consistent in our messaging to parents and the behaviours we displayThe value of role models and experiencing different learning environmentsYou can hear more from Zak in our book ‘Two Hats' featuring advice, support and encouragement for all parent coaches including 23 interviews across 14 sports from leading figures in the sporting world.“It is a great privilege to be part of this project alongside so many leading figures from across the sporting world covering such a wide range of sports. It is certainly enlightening seeing so many similarities across sports in terms of coaching your own child as well as some of the uniqueness that each sporting environment can provide.” Harry Redknapp

In this episode Gavin Grenville-Wood and Gordon MacLelland discuss sports parenting, the unique challenges that it provides as well as some elements around coaching and the importance of building positive relationships between coaches and parents.Being the father of a professional golfer Gavin shares amazing insight into his journey with real life stories delivered with a good dose of realism and humour.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Acknowledging that there is no such thing as being a perfect sports parentLife in lockdownChallenges of parental peer pressureGiving feedback in conversations inspired by our childrenGetting the timing right for crucial conversationsThe importance of parents and coaches being on the same pageParents recognising they have the privilege of having the most influential roleEnsuring our children are intrinsically motivated and they truly want to play the sportThe challenges of parenting sporting teenagersLearning and evolving throughout the journey together, finding out what works best for you and your childrenBeing aware that our children will not be immune from failure and how we can handle those moments as parents

In this episode Gail Emms and Gordon MacLelland discuss sports parenting and the unique challenges that it provides.  Gail provides plenty of humour as well as being very honest about her her own incredible sporting journey.They both share what they have learnt so far, acknowledging how difficult the role is and provide some golden advice for all sports parents.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Hosting a lockdown sports quizKeeping our children motivated during the lockdown periodsSuccessful transitioning out of sport and pathway programmesEnsuring your child is happy and enjoying the sporting experienceHow parenting must always come first, not being a second coach or sports agentProviding parents with the support and opportunity for reflection, recognising we can not always be 'perfect'The importance of puberty on sporting developmentRecognising that the youth sport experience is not the same as the 'adult game'The enjoyment of being relaxed and chilled whilst watching our children playHelping our children take ownership of the sporting experience

In this episode Len Busch and Gordon MacLelland discuss coaching your own children.  Len shares many of his personal experiences from his basketball career, his transition into coaching and ultimately his own experiences of coaching all of his daughters.He shares a fascinating insight into the world of being a parent and coach to a high performance athlete and his personal experiences of coaching his own daughter Renee who currently plays for the Sevenoaks Suns (Women's British Basketball League) where Len is Head Coach.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The challenges of managing and motivating three daughters playing basketballSibling support and rivalrySpecialisation - what worked in the Busch householdSeparating the 'Coach' and 'Dad' roleThe importance of being able to apologise and discuss the issueThe vital role of 'mum' in managing the unique family dynamicThe importance of evolving as a coachManaging the change in parent/daughter relationship from childhood to senior playerManaging expectations and the importance of proactive communicationYou can hear more from Len in our brand new product ‘Two Hats' featuring advice, support and encouragement for all parent coaches including 23 interviews across 14 sports from leading figures in the sporting world.“It is a great privilege to be part of this project alongside so many leading figures from across the sporting world covering such a wide range of sports. It is certainly enlightening seeing so many similarities across sports in terms of coaching your own child as well as some of the uniqueness that each sporting environment can provide.” Harry RedknappOrder your copy today by clicking here.

In this episode Kevin Mannion and Gordon MacLelland discuss sports parents and the role of clubs and coaches in helping to support parents through their sporting journey. They discuss the importance of running an effective parental engagement programme and provide some support and advice for organisations, coaches and parents.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The importance of hard workHelping parents understand the mental approach to professional sportAppreciating the small successes as part of any sporting journeyEquipping players with key life skills to take ownership of their own development in a structured worldMaximising time spent with the children whilst supporting others to live and breathe those messages for the rest of the weekThe importance of understanding everyones different contexts and backgrounds when implementing any programmeRegularly revisiting different topics and not expecting success off one off discussionsCreating environments for parents to have a voice and share ideas with each otherEnsuring that all conversations are well crafted to ensure maximum engagementFinding creative ways of delivering impactful messagesMaking parents feel welcome and part of the whole process  

In this episode Andrew Guy and Gordon MacLelland discuss sports parenting, the ups and downs of the journey and Andrews shares his own experiences as a parent to his two sons including GB and Olympic swimmer James.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The importance of protecting family timeLife in lockdown and the cancellation of the OlympicsEnsuring our children try a variety of sports at a younger agePreparing yourself for your role and the amount of support you will need to giveUsing the sporting journey to equip your children with a wide range of life skillsA difficult three years (including plenty of tears) and how they got through itBeing prepared to adjust your parental support at different stages of the journeyThe importance of support from the wider family network