The Athlete Development Show

Professor Holly Thorpe, a leading voice in the sociology of sport from the University of Waikato, is an action sports advocate and someone who's spent years studying the social dynamics of movement and play.In this episode, Holly shares her journey growing up in Gisborne's tight-knit windsurfing and skateboarding community, where the learning came from peers, not coaches, and where the natural environment played as big a role as the people did. We discuss the idea of “stoke” — that deep sense of joy and freedom that lives at the heart of action sports — and explore how we might protect and promote that same feeling in more traditional sporting spaces.We also dive into the challenges girls and women still face in these environments, the impact of family and community, and what happens when sports like snowboarding and skateboarding become Olympic disciplines.Enjoy! Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at http://www.drcraigharrison.com/ Get Craig to speak at your club or school here.   Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/ Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrison Twitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Josh Wall is the Director of Performance and Athletic Wellbeing at Wycombe Abbey in the UK, and lead S&C coach for England Women's Lacrosse. Josh brings a wealth of experience from across the school landscape — from boarding to day schools — and is currently completing a Doctorate in Professional Practice at Leeds Beckett University, where his research focuses on supporting student-athletes in independent girls' schools.In this episode, we explore Josh's journey from football-mad Manchester United fan to a dynamic coach shaping youth athletic development. We dive into the principles behind his coaching philosophy, including the use of movement skill frameworks, strength progression, and educational tools like SOLO taxonomy. Josh also shares insights into designing gym environments that educate and inspire, the power of cultural architects in sport, and the balance needed to support the dual lives of student-athletes.Enjoy!  Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at http://www.drcraigharrison.com/ Get Craig to speak at your club or school here.   Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/ Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrison Twitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

This is a rebroadcast of episode #2 of The Game Changer podcast, featuring Dr Craig Harrison.---"What does it really take for young athletes to succeed? In this episode of The Game Changer podcast, we sit down with Dr. Craig Harrison, expert in youth athlete development, founder of the Athlete Development Project, and host of The Athlete Development Show to challenge common beliefs about training, success, and the role of parents in sports. What You'll Learn in This Episode:Youth Athlete Development – The biggest misconceptions parents & coaches have.What Separates Elite Athletes – The key qualities needed for long-term success.The Parent's Role in Sports – How to support without adding pressure.The Power of Environment – How the right setting shapes an athlete's future.Goal Setting & Motivation – Habits that drive young athletes to achieve success.Whether you're a parent, coach, or young athlete, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice to help navigate the complex world of youth sports development."---For more on creating game changing environments that unlock meaningful progress, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.Connect with Craig on Social:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitterSupport the show

What if talent development wasn't just about creating better athletes but better people?In this conversation, I sit down with Barnaby Sargent Megicks, a researcher who spent weeks inside a cricket academy, not just watching but truly understanding what makes a talent system work. His focus isn't just on performance but on how young athletes grow as people, how they balance their sport with school and life, and how the environments they're in shape their future, both in and out of the game.We dig into the tension between chasing peak performance and developing life skills, the power of relationships in coaching, and what it really takes to create a system that prepares athletes for success - not just on the field, but in life.Barnaby's insights are built on real experiences, deep research, and countless hours spent with young cricketers navigating the demands of elite sport. Enjoy!---For more on creating game changing environments that unlock meaningful progress, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.Connect with Craig on Social:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitterSupport the show

On the show this week, Dave Wright rejoins me for another episode of The Curious Mind. Our conversation focuses on the skills you need to develop great young leaders.---For more on creating game changing environments that unlock meaningful progress, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.Connect with Craig on Social:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitterSupport the show

Suzie Muirhead is the creator of Raise My Game, a tool designed to help athletes and their coaches navigate performance planning, personal growth, and decision-making. Suzie's journey—from New Zealand hockey player to mentor and innovator—has shaped her belief that true development starts with ownership, trust, and the right conversations.Whether you're a coach, parent, or athlete, this episode is packed with insights to help you level up. Enjoy!---For more on creating EPIC learning environments that bring out the best in your athletes, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.Connect with Craig on Social:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitterSupport the show

There are two ways to affect learning and development. Direct contact with the individuals and teams in front of you, or by influencing the system of which they are part of. My guest on today's show has spent time doing both, first as a youth team coach at Sydney Football Club and then as Academy Manager. His name is Nick Susko and he played a pivotal role in shaping one of the most successful talent development programs in Australian sport, with over 60 graduates signing professional contracts and dozens representing Australia at every level of the game. In this conversation, we explore the evolving landscape of youth football, including how systems thinking revolutionised Nick's coaching philosophy and transformed the way he nurtured talent.Together, Nick and I dig deeper into:How collaboration with local schools reshaped player support networks at Sydney FCBuilding sustainable success through quality coaching practicesCreating psychological safety within the academy environmentThe complexities and challenges of player selectionBreaking away from traditional youth sport narrativesUnderstanding the key elements that help players reach their potentialThe growing role of technology and AI in football developmentFinding balance in youth developmentMaking the learning process both meaningful and enjoyable I love the way Nick thinks about development and I'm super excited to share it with you. Enjoy!For more on creating EPIC learning environments that bring out the best in your athletes and yourself, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.Connect with Craig on Social:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitterSupport the show

In the ‘Best of' collection for 2024, I've pulled together some of the most insightful moments from your favourite guests this year to help you revisit some powerful lessons.In part two of this 3-part series, we hear from Head of Physical Development at West Ham United Football Academy, Dr David Johnson, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Queen Ethelburga's School, Dr Ffion Thompson, and Lecturer in Strength and Conditioning at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Dr John Radnor. All 3 guests can be heard in full in their respective episodes linked below:ADS 163 Dr David JohnsonADS 170 Dr Ffion ThompsonADS 174 Dr John Radnor We kick off this anthology episode hearing from John about the holistic impact a great S&C coach can have on their athletes.  ---Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at http://www.drcraigharrison.com/Get Craig to speak at your club or school here.  Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

In the Best Of 2024 collection, I've pulled together some of the most insightful moments from your favourite guests to help you revisit some powerful lessons.In part one of this 3-part series, we hear from Founder of the Atua Matua, Dr Ihirangi Heke, People Developer, Rusty Earnshaw, and Performance Breakthrough Specialist, Dr Richard Young. All 3 guests can be heard in full in their respective episodes linked below:ADS 163 Dr Ihirangi HekeADS 170 Rusty EarnshawADS 174 Dr Richard YoungWe kick off this anthology episode hearing from Richard about the powerful idea he calls the ‘busy middle'.---Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at http://www.drcraigharrison.com/ Get Craig to speak at your club or school here.   Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/ Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrison Twitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

At the age of 17, my guest on today's show received advice from her ski coach that led to her drop out. Although well intended, is was advice lacking in awareness of female physiology. Dr Julia Casadio is a sport physiologist and applied researcher with over 15 years of experience in elite sport. She has spent most of her career in the Performance Physiology team at High Performance Sport New Zealand. Julia and I connected around her latest project, Her Strength, a science-based digital platform designed to educate on the unique needs of the young female athlete.In this conversation, we learn all about Her Strength, including who's it for, what it covers, and why Julia is so passionate about making an impact. We start off hearing about the lessons Julia is learning running her own business . ----   Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at http://www.drcraigharrison.com/ Get Craig to speak at your club or school here.   Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/ Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrison Twitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

I met Tara at the age of 14 when she first entered the sports hall at AUT Millennium to join our Athlete Development Program. Four years later she got a call from esteemed Canoe Racing New Zealand lead coach, Gordon Walker, inviting her to join the high performance world. Then, just two years after that, she teamed up with Dame Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin and Olivia Brett to win gold in the woman's K4 at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.This is Tara's story.For more on creating EPIC learning environments that bring out the best in your athletes and yourself, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.Connect with Craig on Social:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitterSupport the show

The evidence is clear. Stronger athletes move better, get injured less and stay engaged with sport for longer.  But what should strength training look like for children? My guest today is Dr Ben Pullen, PhD in paediatric strength and conditioning and the founder of Young Athlete Training.  Ben's work integrates the physical and psychological considerations of development to provide novel, engaging and individualised strength training to both child and teenage athletes. In this conversation, we learn all about Ben's approach, including the four pillars that underpin his work, his specific methodology and why it's so powerful for children, how he periodises his challenge-based training, new science that shows how children learn, and much more. I'm a huge fan of Ben's mission and I'm so stoked to share it with you.  Enjoy!For more on creating EPIC learning environments that bring out the best in your athletes and yourself, sign up for Craig's free newsletter Beyond the Game here.Connect with Craig on Social:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitterSupport the show

My guest today is Associate Professor Ian Renshaw, teacher, coach, researcher, and voracious learner. Over 35 years working in higher education, Ian has advised sporting organisations at the community and high performance level, published over 190 research articles, written several books, and collaborated on projects all over the world. In this conversation, we trace Ian's fascinating journey from schoolboy in the UK to working and raising children in New Zealand and Australia. Ian shares stories of engagement, motivation, optimism and development to help us create better learning environments for the young people we serve. Enjoy!  Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletter Get Craig to speak at your club or school here.   Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/ Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrison Twitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

My guest today is Dr Martin Buchheit, an esteemed author of over 250 scientific papers, 2 best-selling books, co-founder of the HIIT Science podcast, and over 20 years working in professional sports. Focusing on bridging the gap between sports science knowledge and its practical application, Martin has held roles at Paris Saint-Germain F.C., Olympique de Lyon, Lille OSC, Aspetar, Aspire Academy, and various other consultancies around the world.In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore Martin's educated perspective on development, including how he applies what he believes with his own kids. This is a conversation less about the science of development and more about philosophy. I loved it for how Martin distils a very complex world into what really matters for raising young people who know their worth and have the skills to go after what they want. Sit back and enjoy the wisdom of one of the best. Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at drcraigharrison.comGet Craig to speak at your club or school here.  Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

This conversation is with Dr David Johnson, a physical development specialist with a deep understanding of growth and development. His research in injury prevention has shown what's possible in football when the natural changes every young athlete experiences are accounted for. As the Head of Physical Development at West Ham United Football Academy and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Bath, David continues to be a leader in this field. Today, we explore David's research, including the questions he asked, what he found and how he integrated his findings into practice. We discuss how you can measure growth regardless of the resource you have available, the 4 key risk factors of injury, and how you can effectively intervene to protect your athletes. We also discuss David's current project where he's taking the scientific process he learnt studying for his PhD and applying it to nutrition. If you work with athletes navigating accreted growth and would like to know more about preventing physical injury, this conversation is a must-listen. Enjoy!  Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletter Get Craig to speak at your club or school here.   Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/ Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrison Twitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Are you looking for deeper, more impactful development? The answer is strategic simplicity.  My guest today is Dr Richard Young, keynote speaker, author, and adviser to sports leaders, teams, and professionals around the world. He has won international gold medals in cycling, coached world champions, created medal-winning programmes for three countries, and has been described as a ‘world-class performance creator'.Born in the UK, raised in Canada, and now living with his four children in Dunedin, New Zealand, Richard earned his PhD in engineering and medical science and has studied the key differences between what athletes and their teams do who win medals and those who don't.In this conversation, Richard shares his system for turning potential into performance, starting with an idea he calls the ‘busy middle'.---Join 1000's of subscribers and sign up for Craig's newsletter, Beyond the Game, now. Learn more about how Craig can help you better understand your developing athletes to unlock their potential HERE.  Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

On the show this week, Dave Wright rejoins me for another episode of The Curious Mind. Our conversation focuses on another successful season for Dave coaching the Westlake Boys 1st XI and how he managed huge playing loads, the need for individualising support, how to build trust, markers of fatigue, the rise of specialisation in the NZ sporting system and what this means for player development, how to coach for confidence over competence, and more.  If you enjoy today's chat, please do me a massive favour and support the show by sharing it with your mates.Enjoy! Join 1000's of subscribers and sign up for Craig's newsletter, Beyond the Game, now. Learn more about how Craig can help you better understand your developing athletes to unlock their potential HERE.   Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/ Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrison Twitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

This conversation is with Assistant Professor in Sport Psychology at the University of Bern in Switzerland, Dr Noora Ronkainen. Noora's work centres on meaningful experiences in sport, exercise and physical cultures.  In this episode, we dive into the concept of existential learning. Noora defines the idea for us and shares some research highlighting how reflecting on setbacks in sport can lead to personal growth. We also discuss: The current pressures on young athletes The role of identity in sport;How technology can shape future aspirations;Gender differences in role models;Why young athletes leave sports; andThe power of sport for learning about yourself, your values, and your relationships.Enjoy! Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletter Get Craig to speak at your club or school here.   Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/ Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrison Twitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Today's conversation is with Professor of Sport Coaching at the University of South Wales and Head of the Centre for Football Research in Wales, Brendan Cropley.  Brendan is an esteemed scholar and has made a significant contribution to the Sport and Exercise Science, particularly in the area of psychology and coach education. He is also recognised worldwide as an expert in Reflective Practice and consults with a range of organisations across several industry sectors.In this episode, we explore the power of aligning coaching values with the needs of developing children, focusing on more than just performance, including nurturing life skills. Brendan also shares his insights into effective coaching, reflective practices, and the integration of psychological development.Check out Brendan's reseacrh we refer to in our conversation here. If you enjoy the chat, please support the show by sharing it with your mates.Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Today's conversation is with seasoned coach developer at the Magic Academy, Russell ‘Rusty' Earnshaw. We explore all sorts on the show, from the subtle art of balancing authenticity with professionalism to the evolving role of psychology in sports. You'll hear about the importance of showing up, the magic of playfulness in coaching, and even a few secret experiments designed to push the boundaries of what it means to be a great coach. If you're curious about the intersection of personal growth, team dynamics, and the ever-changing landscape of sports, you're going to love this one. If you enjoy the chat, please support the show by sharing it with your mates.Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the Show.

Dr John Radnor works in Wales at Cardiff Metropolitan University where he is a Lecturer in Strength and Conditioning, the Programme Lead for their Masters in Youth Athletic Development, and the Research and Innovation Lead for their Youth Physical Development Centre. In 2023, John was awarded the Youth Strength and Conditioning Coach of the year award from the UKSCA. Over his 15 years as a coach, he has worked with many sports, including football, rugby, and rowing. John is currently using his research in talent identification and development to assist in the structures of academy pathways.In this chat, we dig into John's coaching philosophy, what he believes every youth strength and conditioning coach needs to know to deliver a developmentally appropriate experience, his current focus of research, and much more.   If you enjoy the chat, please support the show by sharing it with your mates. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the Show.

Dr Suzanne Brown is a Clinical Psychologist and Emotional Fitness Consultant. With over 15 years of experience, including time as Lead Psychologist for Sunderland Football Club in the UK, she has pioneered a new way of working that bridges clinical psychology with elite performance.Suzanne studied at the University of Birmingham, earning her undergrad and Master's degrees with top honours, and she completed her Doctorate at Coventry & Warwick University.This episode is full of gold, including an inside look at Suzanne's practice and how it has evolved over time, the complexities of developmental transitions, the need for attachment and autonomy in personal relationships, and the importance of free play and downtime for children to protect their natural curiosity.  Suzanne discusses the tension between individuality and conformity, particularly in the context of adolescence and sport. She also shares her experience of setting up a coach's resilience group at Sunderland AFC which provided a space for coaches to discuss their experiences and challenges. And we discuss the role of storytelling in development, including the importance of exploring your own inner experiences and emotions to help your athletes reach their full potential.Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the Show.

Dr John Alder (@JohnAlderWRU) is a development practitioner whose life mission is to help individuals, teams, and organisations flourish while promoting culture-driven leadership. He has worked with Professional, Olympic, and Paralympic sports on and across six continents, throughout the pathway, from regional development through to a World Cup and Olympic Games. John is currently the Head of Player Development at the Welsh Rugby Union, responsible for cultivating a development rich environment for Wales's most promising female and male rugby players on their journey from talented juniors to world class international performers. In this conversation, we discuss how to manage change, the human side of development and performance, how best we can support leaders and coaches to develop inspired and inspiring people and build great teams, and much more. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the Show.

Dr Ffion Thompson is a post-doctoral researcher in youth athletic development at Leeds Beckett University in the UK, where she is module lead on the science of sport performance course, as well as a leader within the Centre of Child and Adolescent Physical Literacy. Ffion also serves as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Queen Ethelburga's School, Pathway Strength and Conditioning Coach at Leeds Rhinos Netball, and Women's Head of Athletic and Physical Development at Wales Lacrosse. Ffion's focus lies in holistic and dual career development, aiming to enhance experiences and opportunities for children and adolescents. In this conversation, Ffion shares some of her latest research looking at the academic, athletic, psychosocial and psychological impacts of being a sport school student-athlete, and how she is implementing the findings in her own work as a school strength and conditioning coach.  Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the Show.

On the show today, I'm speaking with Regional Coach Development Manager at New Zealand Cricket, Christian Thurston.  In this conversation, Christian shares his story of successfully transitioning from a professional opera singer into coach development. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the Show.

On the show today, I'm speaking with Health and Physical Education Lecturer at Federation University in Victoria, Australia, Dr Riki Lindsay. Riki has a PhD in Human Movement Science from Victoria University, a Master's degree in Sport and Exercise Science from Auckland University of Technology and he is currently working towards a second Master's degree in Clinical Psychology.  In this conversation, Riki and I dig into his new paper all about skill learning, titled “The adaptable coach – a critical review of the practical implications for traditional and constraints-led approaches in sport coaching.”Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the Show.

On the show today, I'm speaking with researcher and founder of the Atua Matua framework, Dr Ihirangi Heke. Ihi builds health, wellness and performance practices based on traditional environmental knowledge. In this conversation, Ihi and I discuss the good ol' days of PE school in Dunedin and the changes that have taken place since. Ihi shares some of his early experiences growing up in the great outdoors and what led to his work studying environmental science. We talk about genetic ways of knowing developed over multiple generations and how learning takes place from a Māori perspective. And we discuss how you can use an environmentally centred approach to development to take you past what you ever imagined was possible. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the Show.

On the Show today I'm speaking with  Head of Performance Pathways Science at the National Youth Sports Institute in Singapore, Dr Matthew Wylde. Matthew has been within the Singapore high performance system for over 15 years, having held roles with the Singapore Sport Institute, Singapore Sports School and now with the National Youth Sports Institute. He holds a PhD from Bournemouth University, which explored the use of wearable technologies to reduce injury rates within a youth athlete population, and a MSc in Performance Analysis from Cardiff Metropolitan University.In this episode, Matthew shares a fantastic new initiative at the Singapore Sports School. If you're after an example that exemplifies alignment between what we know from the science and what we do in practice, you're going to love this. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the Show.

On the Show today I'm speaking with the man behind the Crusaders Rugby Academy, Aaron Webb. The programme operates in line with the New Zealand Rugby Union's six pillars of development - technical, tactical, physical, nutrition, mental skills and holistic life skills. Aaron shares how he goes about his work with a clear focus on developing young men with the skills to reach their goals in professional rugby and grow into excellent community citizens. This is a conversation about the artistry of people development. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Brian Shelley is Head of Football at Saint Kentigern College in Auckland where he coaches at the premier level and oversees the development pathways. He earned his UEFA A License with the English FA. Prior to his coaching career, Brain played professional football in the UK where he competed for clubs in both the UEFA Cup and Champions League.  In this conversation we discuss school versus club football, Brian's coaching approach and the experiences that have led to it, how he thinks about building resilience, growing the game in New Zealand, and much more.   Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Head of coaching at Birkenhead United FC in Auckland, New Zealand and Co-founder of Player Development Project, Dave Wright (@davewright07), rejoins me for another episode of The Curious Mind.We discuss our experiences in youth sport over the past couple of months, including using street football as a development tool and why Dave loves it as a format, accounting for skill variability in our athletes, planning for all-round development, designing cultures of learning,  and much more. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Tim Brazier (@coach_brazier) has been coaching in high performance sport for over 15 years. After earning a Master's degree from the University of Otago, Tim took up a lecturing role at Otago Polytechnic for two years.  He went on to coach at Triathlon New Zealand for 7 years and attended two Olympic Games. Tim now coaches at Fitter, a New Zealand based triathlon coaching business offering highly personalised, professional coaching to a wide range of athletes. He also works for Snow Sports New Zealand as a physiologist.  In this conversation we discuss the power of the supportive relationships, developing resilience, creating filters to makes sense of information, micro-dosing of reflection, dealing with increasing expectation in sport, how Tim thinks about balance, the problem with fun, and much more.    Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

This is a rebroadcast of episode 162 of Athletes Authority ON AIR podcast, featuring Dr Craig Harrison. "Craig gives us a breakdown of his coaching background, why he chose to work in the youth space over other areas of physical development, how his diverse background set him up for success, how he implements mental skills or the "unseen" side of training into his programming, how environment and parenting plays a massive role in the success of an athlete plus a whole lot more." Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Jordi Taylor (@coach_jorditaylor) is a Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach at Athletes Authority, a strength and conditioning gym for athletes in Sydney and Melbourne, in Australia. Jordi also heads up Media & Partnerships at Athlete Authority and hosts their ON AIR Podcast. In this conversation, Jordi takes us inside Athletes Authority's Emerging Athlete Programme, a service specifically designed for young athletes. I really enjoyed hearing from Jordi and his no filter approach to sharing what they do and how they do it. There's plenty of gold in this one so stay tuned to hear from one of the best. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the showSupport the show

Head of coaching at Birkenhead United FC in Auckland, New Zealand and Co-founder of Player Development Project, Dave Wright (@davewright07), rejoins me for another episode of The Curious Mind.We discuss our experiences in youth sport over the past couple of months, including how Dave goes about creating team culture, the pros and cons of tournament play, the essential ingredients in coach development, and much more.  Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the showSupport the show

Dr Sarah Chantler is a registered dietician and performance nutritionist. Originally from South Africa, Sarah is now based at Leeds Beckett University in the UK where she is a senior lecturer and applied practitioner. Sarah's fascinating work highlights why we should prioritise teaching food skills over food knowledge to the adolescent athlete. We dig into this idea during the episode and Sarah gives some great examples to use with your athletes. We also discuss the role of the coach in nutrition, how age should impact what we focus on and the value of snacking as a starting point for younger kids, how the sporting system can influence poor nutrition, appetite and the challenges that come with higher training loads, the power of role modelling in nutrition, social media, and why we should all be having more conversations about food. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the showSupport the show

"Grass was a luxury, if you saw grass, you'd go and roll in it."My conversation today is with Royston Dsouza. Hailing from India, where he spend much of his childhood playing football on the streets of Mumbai, Royston is now based in Auckland, Aotearoa, where he works as a movement skill coach and as a football coach.  Royston played top level club football in India for five years before quitting and making the move to New Zealand to study. In this conversation, I chat with Royston about his joyful childhood, including his wide range of movement experiences and playing sport based on the season. Roy describes the difference between football in New Zealand compared to India and what led to his decision to quit the game he loved. We also chat about Roy's approach to developing movement skill and how he aims to keep kids in sport. You can check out Roy and his awesome work @Roystondsouza on instagram. Enjoy! Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the showSupport the show

This conversation is with Austin Einhorn and Dr Jeff Moreno, recorded live in Santa Cruz, California.Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the showSupport the show

On the show this week, I'm speaking with Pathways Manager and A-League Women's Assistant Coach at Melbourne Victory Football Club, Gareth Turnbull.Gareth has been full time in football since 2008, beginning his career as a Football Development Manager for Coastal Spirit Football Club in Christchurch, and moving on to New Zealand Football where he served as the High Performance Athlete Development Manager, Head Coach of the National U17 and U20 Woman's programmes, and the Football Ferns Assistant Coach. I love Gareth's perspective not only on football development, but on life. And in this conversation, we dig into all of it. If you see sport as a way to develop joyful, intrinsically driven, all-round young people who just so happen to also be great at sport, you're going to love this conversation.Big thanks to Garth for taking some time out on his holiday back home in New Zealand to sit down with me for a yarn.Enjoy! Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

It's an absolute pleasure to bring Golf New Zealand's National Coach, Jay Carter, on the show. Jay and I met not long ago when he reached out to ask me on his fantastic podcast, Talking Performance. We had a great conversation and barely scratched the surface on some topics I wanted to talk more about. So, here we are. While Jay and I spend our days in different sports and with athletes at different stages of development, we share a lot in common. Most significantly, the common goal to help young athletes lead themselves. Jay and I cover a lot in this conversation, including solving problems over learning techniques, identifying potential rather than performance, creating talent systems, play versus practice, what happened when Jay literally froze on the tee back in his playing days, thinking out loud to build awareness, slowing down to speed up, and much more. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Head of coaching at Birkenhead United FC in Auckland, New Zealand and Co-founder of Player Development Project, Dave Wright (@davewright07), rejoins me for another episode of The Curious Mind.We discuss our experiences in youth sport over the past couple of months, including a recent trip Dave took to Tonga and what he learnt from it, the importance of joy and how to find it, and the continued rise in negative parent behaviour. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

"Fun is a fleeting moment. Joy is something that's enduring, something that brings you back."Mike Hester works for New Zealand Rugby and is responsible for leading their approach to the evolution of the game at participation level. Prior to this role, Mike spent 28 years at the New Zealand Defence Force where he worked as a Career and Talent Manager.Mike is also a former FIFA referee and has officiated at the highest level at pinnacles events across the world, including the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010. On the show today, Mike shares some of the skills required for a referee to be at their best in emotionally volatile sporting environments and why investing into early stage referees is so important for the game of rugby. We also talk about the shift NZ Rugby is making from a game-centred approach to one that is more participant-centred.The work Mike is doing is challenging not only the foundations of New Zealand's national game but also the fabric of the culture it sits within. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Dane Baker is a Performance Dietitian who has worked extensively with New Zealand's elite athletes and organisations over the past 15 years, including the Chiefs, Blues, Black Ferns 7s, NZ Hockey and NZ Swimming.  He was also the NZ team dietitian for the Rio Olympics and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.Dane is an active researcher in the field of RED-s, a lecturer at the University of Otago and has a leadership role as part of WHISPA, a specialist group dedicated to optimising female health and performance at High performance Sport New Zealand.  He also leads the nutrition provision for the HPSNZ core knowledge coach education program.In this wide ranging conversation, Dane and I discuss how to properly fuel a developing athlete's performance, fad diets and the influence they are having on our kids, Dane's love of fishing, and the dangers of low energy availability in sport. We start the show hearing about Dane's formative years growing up playing golf in West Auckland.Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

We all have times in our lives that change us. Watershed moments that force us into thinking differently. Kylie Cox had one of these very moments a few years ago while training for an Ironman World 70.3 Age Group Championship. Despite continuing to perform in training, a number a life stressors coincided with a heavy training load. She became concerned about how her health might impact her menstrual cycle and sought help. Now, after exercising her own curiosity and earning a Master's degree focusing on energetic injuries, Kylie is passionate about helping young athletes and their families understand what it really means to stay healthy. Kylie also works a the physiotherapist for Netball New Zealand's secondary school programme and recently developed the first national resource on female athletic health for NetballSmart. We start the show hearing more about Kylie's story. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

My conversation this week is with Mark Upton and Ken Willner.Mark is passionate about supporting people's WayFinding endeavours by facilitating the emergence of new connections, new capacities, and meaningful stories and refections as we journey together. He has a particular interest in helping people find their way in sport. You can find Mark's work @ myfastestmile.comKen Willner is a sports photographer passionate about keeping children in sport. Through collaboration with international and local professionals, Ken provides a fresh approach to helping young people flourish in sports. You can find Ken's work @ yellowforyelling.comOn the show today, Mark and Ken share their Game Hubs idea. Game Hubs are local community spaces that promote freedom, creativity, collaboration and competition through games. They embrace the voices and choices of young people, are low cost, and rather than coaching, call for adults to just facilitate play.  We start our conversation hearing from Ken and his thoughts on the intensity of emotion parents bring to sport.Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Today on the show , I'm winding the clock back to May 2020 when I sat down with my good friend Samuel McKenzie.  In 2019, Sam completed his Master's degree at AUT University focusing on 1st XV rugby players' perceptions of their coaching environment. Sam's research findings have had a huge impact on the way I think about environments for developing skilled, creative and resilient athletes and so, heading into the winter season, I thought I'd share our conversation again. Sam now works as a coach developer in the talent pathway for the AFL. We pick the conversation up hearing Sam talk about how experiencing some of the darker side of sport drives the work that he loves today. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterHost Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

This week's conversation is with Zane Winslade. Zane is the owner of Flow Sport Mental Performance Coaching, and works with athletes from youth to the elite level across multiple codes. Zane has a a Bachelor's degree in Sports and Leisure Studies, a Graduate Diploma in Teaching and a Master's degree in Sport Psychology from John F Kennedy University. On the show today , Zane shares how he works with young people to help them manage their mind and perform as their best self. We also discuss the 3 key principles Zane founded his Mental Toughness Journal for young athletes on.We start the episode talking about how Zane approaches his own mental game at Brazilian Jujitsu. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Head of coaching at Birkenhead United FC in Auckland, New Zealand and Co-founder of Player Development Project, Dave Wright (@davewright07), rejoins me for another episode of The Curious Mind. How much is too much? In this conversation, we dig into training load. We discuss what load is, where it comes from, how it changes across developmental stages, the danger of doing too much, and how to start thinking about managing it. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

Living a life in balance is about finding flow. It's about capitalising on all of the things that make you a better person without one of them taking over the flow.My guest on today's show is Reed Maltbie, and he's a master at helping athletes find flow. With a Master's degree in sports psychology and early childhood development and 30 years of professional coaching experience, Reed has dedicated his life to creating the very best environments for athletes of all ages to achieve peak performance, on and off the sports field. Reed has worked with a variety of sports organisations including the Gaelic Games Association, England Sevens, Soccer Shots, Sport New Zealand, Player Development Project, US Sailing, Soccer Canada, and PGA of Canada. His latest book, The Spartan Mindset, due out in April 2023, Reed focuses on the impact of language on performance. It is a must-read for anyone who strives to be a more effective and supportive communicator in the classroom, on the sports field, at the office, and beyond.We begin this conversation talking about the power of emotional fitness and how Reed goes about developing it. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

When we value how movement helps us grow, we see invitations to move everywhere we look. In this conversation, I'm bringing two very special people together to share their efforts to change the movement culture inside primary schools in New Zealand. The first is Celia Fleck. For the past 3 and a half years, Celia has been working on a joint government initiative between Te Whatu Ora, the Ministry of Education, and Sport NZ called Healthy Active Learning. The goal of the initiative is to improve wellbeing outcomes for tamariki with a strong focus on using physical activity, and healthy food and drink as the vehicles to achieve it. Celia leads the recruitment and professional development of a workforce of over 100 people who are carrying out this mahi. Prior to working in the Sport Sector, Celia was a Secondary Health and PE teacher for 19 years, and a Health and PE Curriculum facilitator for 4 years. She has a Bachelor of Physical Education from Otago University.Joining Celia on the show today is Daniel Cooke. Dan and I have become very good friends over the past 5 years and he found he way through his PhD in movement skill learning inside a primary school in Auckland. Dan is an A-Licence football coach and has worked with players and coaches across three continents in grassroots and professional settings. He is now working with FIFA as a Talent Coach with a mission to give every talent a chance.We start the conversation discussing why Celia and Dan are so passionate about movement and children. Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show

There are two types of people in the world - managers, and leaders. Managers work hard to maintain the status quo that their jobs and reputations were built on. They seek comfort in the certainty of the way things have always been done. Leaders, on the other hand, seek change. They imagine a better world, and are driven to create it.My guest on today's show is, without doubt, a leader. His name is Dr James Vaughan and he is an UEFA A licensed football coach and coach developer. James' work, which challenges old ways of skill development, calls for cultural change on and off the football pitch. Practically speaking, Jame views football as an emergent feature of the sociocultural ecology, with sociocultural constraints influencing playing style and creative development.In this wide-ranging conversation, Jame shares his journey from getting cut at age 16 from a football centre of excellence in the UK, to moving with his family to the other side of the world, to earning a PhD in Sports Coaching from the University of Queensland, to now, living and coaching in Sweden. We pick the story up talking about how James thinks about  making important change.Enjoy!Sign up for Craig's newsletter (Beyond the Game) at athletedevelopmentproject.com/newsletterGet Craig to speak at your club or school here. Connect with Craig:Instagram: instagram.com/drcraigharrison/Facebook: facebook.com/drcraigharrisonTwitter: twitter.com/drcraigharrisonSupport the show