Podcast appearances and mentions of gordon maclelland

In this episode Sports nutritionists Kate Shilland and Fran Taylor and the founders of 'Performance Canteen' join Gordon MacLelland to discuss supporting young athletes through proper nutrition.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Challenges like misinformation and the need for clear communicationProgress and not perfection in building small, sustainable changes that fit around real family lifeThe dangers of fad diets such as bulking and cutting, advocating for simple, consistent nutrition practicesNutrition being vital for growth, health, and performanceThe importance of teaching children cooking skills to empower them and improve their dietary habitsThe emotional side of feeding young athletes and the pressure and challenges parents face'How to Feed a Young Athlete' - why Kate and Fran wrote their new bookIf you would like to buy a copy of their new book in collaboration with us here at Working with Parents in Sport then click here.'How to Feed a Young Athlete' isn't just another nutrition book it's the resource we wish our parents had had.It is built from thousands of conversations with parents of young athletes. We've listened to all their questions, challenges, frustrations and wins and created a toolkit. You'll find practical answers and actionable solutions to the nutrition challenges every parent faces, complete with interviews with parents of elite level young athletes and exercises to try.Talent and training absolutely matter, but what children eat directly impacts their energy, recovery, mood, development and performance, whether they're on the field, in the classroom, or at home. Nutrition really is sport's unsung hero, and this toolkit is part of our mission to change that.Featuring unique insights and nutritional tips from parents of high performing athletes.Kate Shilland is a leading Sports Nutritionist with over 16 years' experience, working with youth athletes of all levels from recreational to world champions. She has been head of nutrition at Crystal Palace Football Club for the past nine seasons.Fran Taylor is a highly regarded Public Health Nutritionist with over 17 years' experience working in nutrition communication with parents, schools and sports clubs.

In this episode best selling author and coach Brad Stulberg joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss his new book 'The Way of Excellence' which explores what sustainable excellence really looks like and what it potentially means for us all in supporting young athletes.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Building excellence through rhythm and balanceThe dangers of outcome obsessionSupporting our young people to build and maintain a 'stable sense of self'Helping our young people build confidence through effective preparationThe importance of discomfort for growth but not chaosHelping young people interpret failure as information, not a final verdictCreating support systems and environments full of clarity and consistency that help develop resilience and self-awarenessBrad Stulberg researches, writes, and coaches on performance, well-being, and sustainable excellence. He is the bestselling author of The Practice of Groundedness and Master of Change, and is the co-author of PeakPerformance with former guest Steve Magness.  Brad regularly contributes to the New York Times and his work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic, among many other outlets. He serves as the co-host of the podcast “excellence, actually” and is on the faculty at the University of Michigan. 

In this episode sporting parents Danny and Kate Cowley join Gordon MacLelland to discuss the value of working together as a parent team to support a young high performing athlete.Together, Danny and Kate offer a dual perspective as coaches, educators, parents, and lifelong learners. Their daughter, a youth international footballer, and their son an ex gymnast have given them valuable insight into the experiences of young people navigating elite sport.They bring a wealth of lived experience to the show with Danny a highly respected professional football manager and Kate a former international athlete, both with backgrounds in education.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The importance of context with no one-size-fits-all approach to sports parentingHaving distinct parent roles matter based on relationships with the child and individual strengths and weaknessesThe importance of proactive and clear communication between clubs, coaches, teachers, parents and childrenUnderstanding the nuances of feedbackRecognising mistakes, setbacks, and disappointment are normal and vital for developmentHelping to build confidence by reinforcing hard work and repetition and highlighting evidence of progressThe continuous balancing act of tough love vs unhealthy pressureFocussing more on role modelling over lecturingBoth Danny and Kate share a passion for sport, education, and supporting young people to reach their potential both on and off the field.Having been together since childhood, their shared love of sport has shaped both their personal and professional journeys. They began their careers working together at The FitzWimarc School, one of the UK's top-performing secondary schools, where they combined their experience in teaching, coaching, and athlete development to help students grow and succeed.Danny has since built a respected career in professional football management, recognised for his people-focused approach and commitment to developing players and teams. His time at clubs including Lincoln City, Huddersfield Town, and Portsmouth has been defined by an emphasis on teamwork, learning, and creating positive environments.Kate's career has also been in high-performance sport and education. A former senior international athlete supported by the National Lottery's Podium Potential programme, she has worked across elite sport and athlete development.

In this episode Founding Director 'Red Star Education' Kristen Cunliffe joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss Financial Fitness and how we can help our young athletes thrive with their finances. The recent BBC documentary 'Footballs Financial Shame'  has brought the importance of this topic back into the limelight. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Many athletes facing financial struggles due to poor advice, exploitation, and lack of early financial awareness.Documentaries 'Football's Financial Shame' and earlier 'Football's Suicide Secret' raised concerns about the long-term effects of poor financial decisions and predatory advisersThe importance of education being independent, without commercial agendas or selling products, to maintain trust and integrityChallenges for young athletes with the pressure from expectations of peers, families, and sporting organisations, the fear of making financial mistakes and a lack of basic knowledge about taxes, budgeting and savingThe importance of parents having open, honest, and sometimes uncomfortable conversations about money, learning together with their kids rather than pretending to know it all and modelling balanced spending and saving habitsWhen speaking with advisors parents trusting their instincts whilst checking qualifications, experience, and fees and avoiding any snap decisionsAllowing our young athletes to enjoy some of their earnings, but encourage habits of setting money aside for the futureKristen Cunliffe is the Founder Director of Red Star Education, a company dedicated to giving young athletes the knowledge and confidence to make sound financial choices. With over 22 years' experience as a multi-award-winning financial planner, independent financial educator and certified financial coach, Kristen combines expertise with a genuine passion for education. She is a strong advocate for keeping commercial partnerships out of player care, ensuring Red Star's sessions are always focused on support, not sales.

In this episode British Gymnastics National Head Coach and sports parent Barry Collie joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss 'Developing confidence, self-esteem and self-worth in young athletes' along with how we can create the best environments possible for young people to thrive both in and out of their sport.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Applying lessons from his own sporting journey to his own parentingEncouraging young people to find joy and bring energy to their passions and pursuitsNurturing passion, purpose and persistenceEncouraging children to laugh, learn, and try again after mistakesParents adapting their approach to suit each child's personalityThe importance of positive reinforcement particularly in sports with high demands and a focus on mistakesWhy optimism and hope is so important for all of usEncouraging conversations about life beyond sport for both coaches and parentsExpressing love and pride in our children as people, not just when they achieve successBarry Collie is a visionary leader and passionate advocate for British gymnastics, currently serving as the Head National Coach for Men's Artistic Gymnastics. With over 20 years of elite coaching experience, Barry has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to athlete development, team success, and the long-term growth of the sport.Known for his optimistic and driven approach, Barry brings an innate ability to inspire those around him. His leadership style is collaborative and empowering—he listens, learns, and leads with purpose, fostering environments where gymnasts and coaches alike can thrive. Barry's coaching philosophy centres on co-production, ensuring that individual Gymnast Performance Plans are developed in partnership with athletes and clubs to create a unified and high-performance culture.Barry's track record includes leading the British junior men's team to historic success at the European Championships, where his strategic planning and emotional resilience helped secure multiple medals and build future Olympians. His coaching is grounded in strong values, meticulous preparation, and a belief in the power of confidence, routine, and reflection.A devoted family man, Barry balances his professional intensity with personal warmth, bringing humanity and heart to every aspect of his role. His vision for British gymnastics is bold and inclusive—one that celebrates excellence, nurtures talent, and builds a legacy of pride and performance.

In the second part of a dialog with Parents in Sport founder, Gordon MacLelland, the conversation goes onto discuss the importance of resilience and normalising failure in sports when communicating with children.   Such discussions between parents, coaches and children can help kids develop positive coping mechanisms.  David and Gordon also touched on the potential risks of early specialisation in sports at a young age, such as burnout, overuse injuries and the potential to drop out from the sport altogether.  The benefits of diversifying sports participation and the importance of developing multifaceted kids were also talked about. Key Learning Points: ·        Seek to focus on long-term development, such as aspects of mental toughness and resilience, rather than just results and outcomes. ·       Get to know yourself as a parent  as well as your child, seeking to improve your self-awareness. ·        Understand what burnout in sport symptoms are for your children. ·        Encourage regular check-ins between coaches/organisations and parents to manage expectations. ·        Explore ways to better support and train coaches and volunteers in sports clubs to have more effective conversations with parents. Connect with Gordon MacLelland Parents In Sport Website Connect with David Charlton Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN Useful Youth Sport Psychology Resource  Youth Sport Motivation Checklist Parental Sport Motivation Checklist Podcast Episodes To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience For Children Ep289: Gordon MacLelland – How To Support Children To Enjoy A Positive Relationship With Sport Ep288: Duncan O'Brien - How To Overcome Intense Emotions From Football Ep285: Adam Batstone - Football Coaches: How To Help Neurodiverse Players Thrive Ep280: Colm O'Donoghue - How To Help A Young Golfer Who Struggles Playing Strokeplay Ep279: Ger Fitzgerald - How To Help A Young Cricketer Overcome Selection Difficulties Relevant Resources To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience For Children Blog – 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment Blog - 9 Tips for Children from Olympians Blog - 5 Tips for Parents to Help their Children Perform with Confidence Blog – How to Help Young Footballers Find the Zone Blog – How do You Give a Young Golfer Self Confidence Youth Sports Psychology Library – For Parents Stuart Brown PHD – Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination and invigorates the soul Susan Jackson, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – Flow In Sports

In this episode sports psychologist Elliott Newell joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss how as sporting parents we can help support the development of mental skills for our young athletes to thrive.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Personality flaws or just skill deficits?The importance of modelling emotional regulation during those tougher momentsImagery, breath work, mindfulness and journallingHelping our children meet the demands of their sportThe importance of vulnerability and honesty in building trust and openness in parent-child relationshipsUsing daily life and sport experiences as teachable moments for emotional and mental developmentOur goal in raising self-aware, emotionally skilled, and self-regulating individuals, not just successful athletesElliott is a sport psychologist and director of The Thrive Academy. He has worked in a wide range of Olympic and Paralympic sports as well as in Rugby and Football. Elliott specialises in environments and the way people interact. If you get the environment right, then you can have profound impact on the performance, development and well-being of people within it and this is the primary focus of Elliott's work.

In episode 289 of Demystifying Mental Toughness, the founder of Parents in Sport, Gordon MacLelland, shared his journey from having a promising sports career, to coaching and teaching to supporting parenting in sports.   He emphasized the importance of understanding individual children's motivations when considering their sporting experience.   Also highlighted were the challenges of balancing fun and competitive pressures.  The conversation underscored the importance of self-awareness as a parent and being an intentional in the love and support that you offer your children, as a parent in sports, whilst accepting that you and your child are human. Additionally, David and Gordon stress the benefits of participating in sports on child's character and mental toughness development, over winning, and the need for realistic expectations. Key Learning Points: ·        Understand your child's motivations for playing sports and why they do it. ·        Have regular check-ins with your child to understand how their motivations may change over time. ·        Avoid asking questions like "Did you win?" or "Were you the best?" and instead focus on character traits with questions such as “When were you brave?” or statements “I noticed how you bounced back positively after your team lost the first goal by the way you were calling for the ball. ·        Be mindful of the timing and approach when having difficult conversations with your child about their sports performance. ·        Recognize that success in sports should not be solely defined by performance outcomes, and focus on the wider benefits of participation. Connect with Gordon MacLelland Parents In Sport Website Connect with David Charlton Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN Useful Youth Sport Psychology Resource  Youth Sport Motivation Checklist Parental Sport Motivation Checklist Podcast Episodes To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience For Children Ep288: Duncan O'Brien - How To Overcome Intense Emotions From Football Ep285: Adam Batstone - Football Coaches: How To Help Neurodiverse Players Thrive Ep280: Colm O'Donoghue - How To Help A Young Golfer Who Struggles Playing Strokeplay Ep279: Ger Fitzgerald - How To Help A Young Cricketer Overcome Selection Difficulties Ep233: David Charlton - How To Help A Young Footballer Overcome Fear Relevant Resources To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience For Children Blog – 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment Blog - 9 Tips for Children from Olympians Blog - 5 Tips for Parents to Help their Children Perform with Confidence Blog – How to Help Young Footballers Find the Zone Blog – How do You Give a Young Golfer Self Confidence Youth Sports Psychology Library – For Parents

In this episode sports parent and life coach Stephanie Burge joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss 'Deselection, Release and Transition' and how we can help support young people through this incredibly challenging time.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:Intense parental emotions: shock, grief, helplessnessThe emotional fallout of deselection and the importance of parental supportThe importance of being present as a parent rather than trying to “fix” the situationHelping young athletes to develop interests and skills outside of sport throughout the journeySupporting dreams but also working through some 'What if?' scenarios alongside thisCreating emotionally safe environments and validating young people beyond their performanceRecognising that grief is not linear and that ending a sporting chapter can often lead to new freedom and opportunitiesStephanie Burge is a businesswoman, entrepreneur and ICF qualified Life coach with a powerful story of resilience, reinvention and mindset mastery. As the sole survivor of a serious car accident, she has turned trauma into a driving force for personal growth, purpose and helping others navigate life's toughest transitions.A mother to two daughters, one a successful entrepreneur with ADHD, and the other an ex-GB and England hockey player now thriving in her career, Stephanie understands the highs and lows of the neurodiverse brain and the player journey after elite sport. She is passionate about ensuring athletes, parents and professionals develop the right mindset, and get the right support, to thrive beyond competition.Alongside supporting parents to show up in the best way to enhance their child's sporting journey, Stephanie also coaches injured, de-selected and often psychologically broken athletes. Her objective is to facilitate them to process their loss, rediscover their identity and build fulfilling new careers. Often much time has elapsed before athletes finally realise they need to make peace with their past and reconnect with the joy of sport.

In this episode British Sailing Squad member Molly Sacker joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss her own sporting journey, the lessons she has learned, how we can best support young high performers and life gearing up for Los Angeles 2028.During the conversation they discuss amongst other things:The importance of consistent messaging to young athletes from parents and coachesSacrifices or individual choices?Motivation and commitment and the importance of disciplineThe dangers of early success if it leads to complacencyThe logistical and emotional strain on parents who support young high performersMollys mantra of 'It's not that deep—it's meant to be fun.'Female athletes perhaps needing specific support environments, especially in male-dominated sportsPromoting balance, independence and emotional well-being alongside performanceMolly Sacker is a member of the British Sailing Squad campaigning for the LA2028 Olympic Games and is a Masters Graduate in Conflict, Security and Development.

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.

Ever read a book that has changed the way you think, the way you behave? Today's interview is with the co-author and a stakeholder in the publication of a brilliant book that has had such an impact on me! The book is called Sports Performance Parenting and the co-author in question is Gordon MacLelland from Working With Parents in Sport. This edition of the book is a collaboration with British Gymnastics and joining Gordon and I to talk all things sports performance parenting is Alex McGregor, the Head of Performance Pathway at British Gymnastics. The subtitle to the book is Child First - Gymnast Second - A Holisitic Approach To Sports Parenting. To be honest you can easily replace the word Gymnast with Tennis Player as it is a book that is relevant to all sports parents. Its suitability as a read for tennis parents is highlighted by the fact that the introduction is written by Judy Murray. As a tennis parent to three players, I know the joy that the tennis journey can bring. I also am very aware of the challenges, the emotional rollercoaster and the tough times. I hope you will find today's episode as useful as I have for taking on these challenges and making the most of the adventures you have with your players.The Sports Performance Parenting. book is co-authored by Gordon and Sarah Murray. The edition I read has been published by British Gymnastics. I really do strongly recommend it. Do please click the link to buy a copy of the Sports Performance Parenting book.Gordon is the CEO and founder of Working with Parents in Sport (WWPIS). Gordon has a background in education and coaching and after a successful career coaching all age groups from U7's through to adults and running sports programmes in schools, he is now a leading figure in the ‘parental engagement' space. He is also a sports parent himself of two children who are involved in performance sport and aware of the many challenges that parents face.MUSIC CREDITSEarth by MusicbyAden https://soundcloud.com/musicbyadenCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

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.

Gordon is CEO and founder of Working With Parents in Sport. He has a background in coaching and education and is a parent of two sporty children himself.

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.  

We're off to ENGLAND where we sit down with Gordon MacLelland, CEO of Working With Parents in Sports. Gordon shares his story of being an elite athlete and successful coach to creating a full service program to help Coaches, ADs, and Parents navigate their kids sports experience! THIS is The Educational AD Podcast! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/educational-ad-podcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/educational-ad-podcast/support

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.

Join myself and Mark for another dose of news, guest banter and Warchest recommendations in the latest episode of the Coaching Badges Podcast. Gordon Maclelland from Working With Parents In Sport offers some brilliant insights into how we can all be better as both parents and coaches in helping our players on their development journeys. We hope you enjoy the interview.Support the showWhen it comes to Coaching, there's no right or wrong way, but there's always a better way

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) 

Gordon MacLelland is the CEO and founder of Working with Parents in Sport. They support organizations, parents and coaches to work together and provide children with the best sporting experiences. Drawing on over 20 years of experience as a teacher, coach, director of sports and currently as a sporting parent, Gordon is able to gain a unique insight into the different stakeholders involved in the sporting experiences of young people.   In today's episode, Lewis and Gordon discuss ways parents can support their athletic children, mistakes to avoid, and the impact video games have on a child's development. They also cover why parents should see sport and physical activity as lifetime investments for their children, not short-term gain.   [00:00] Introduction [04:46] Supporting Athletic Kids [05:55] Working with Parents in Sports [08:06] The Type of Kids Gordon Works with [09:29] Difference Between Expectations and Entitlement [17:23] Remember That Everything is in Your Control [19:11] Benefits of Having a Good Parent in Sports [21:19] How Devices Impact Your Child's Development  [27:47] High-Level Athletes Playing Video Games [30:46] Practical Guidelines Around Your Child's Video Game Use  [32:10] Mistakes Parents Make Raising Athletic Kids [35:27] Toxic Positivity and Over-Confident Kids [39:02] How to Develop Your Child's Excellence [41:16] Perfectionism in Children [47:42] Are You Helping or Hindering Your Child's Development? [51:35] Challenging Parents to Do Better [54:02] You Need to Have More Open Conversations with Your Kids [57:04] Parting Thoughts    Find Out More About Gordon: Gordon's LinkedIn Parentsinsport.co.uk Follow Parents in Sports on Twitter and Facebook  Get my Free Friday email 'The Game Plan': ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lewishatchett.com/the-game-plan⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the MindStrong Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lewishatchett.com/community⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Start the MindStrong Course: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lewishatchett.com/mindstrong⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Lewis at: TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@lewis_hatchett⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@lewishatchett⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more on the podcast visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.lewishatchett.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@lewishatchett.com⁠

Welcome to the coaching knife when we cut to the root of the matter. In this episode, we speak to Gordon MacClelland, CEO of Working with Parents in Sport.Focusing on how you coach your own child, we are going to cut to the root on how you can effectively wear two hats.Gordon spent 25 years in sport and education, coaching at all levels, and a sports parent with two children involved in performance sport. He has published some great books on this area, including Two Hats, talking to sports stars about coaching your own child, and Sports Performance Parenting.His philosophy is: To empower people to work together, build strong relationships in amazing environments so that young people can thrive both in and out of their sport. To lead, share failings and give people confidence to fulfil their roles.You can contact him by email: gordon@wwpis.co.uk or visit the website www.parentsinsport.co.uk.

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.

#TOLLE #POWEROFNOW #SOCCER Power of Now & Youth Sports MUST be incorporated. I have recently been working on trying to incorporate The Power of Now into my coaching. For the ones that don't know The Power of Now is a book written by Eckhart Tolle Tolle states that to be identified with your mind is to be trapped in time: to be enslaved to the past (memory) and the future (anticipation). He challenges us to shift our consciousness from time to presence. It is what the Zen master means when he asks, "If not now, when?" It is what the Sufis mean when they speak of themselves as "sons of time present." Presence, according to Tolle, is the key to freedom. ALSO ON THE PODCAST Delusional Parent Disorder(DPD) in Youth Sports written by Gordon MacLelland and he says… With many parents struggling to understand that the game is for their child and not for them, many have struggled to keep a sense of perspective. The most difficult thing as a parent as well is remaining objective and as a result we often think our children are better than they are. From Forbes -The Concussion Gender Gap: Why Girls Suffer More Head Injuries Who is more likely to suffer a concussion playing high school sports, a female soccer player or a male football player? A new study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that girls who play high school soccer are at nearly the same risk for traumatic brain injuries as boys who play high school football. In fact, concussion rates were higher among girls than boys in every high school sport. Despite the indisputable statistics, controversy still surrounds the exact reasons that girls suffer more concussions than boys. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coachcameron/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coachcameron/support

#TOLLE #POWEROFNOW #SOCCER Power of Now & Youth Sports MUST be incorporated. I have recently been working on trying to incorporate The Power of Now into my coaching. For the ones that don't know The Power of Now is a book written by Eckhart Tolle Tolle states that to be identified with your mind is to be trapped in time: to be enslaved to the past (memory) and the future (anticipation). He challenges us to shift our consciousness from time to presence. It is what the Zen master means when he asks, "If not now, when?" It is what the Sufis mean when they speak of themselves as "sons of time present." Presence, according to Tolle, is the key to freedom. ALSO ON THE PODCAST Delusional Parent Disorder(DPD) in Youth Sports written by Gordon MacLelland and he says… With many parents struggling to understand that the game is for their child and not for them, many have struggled to keep a sense of perspective. The most difficult thing as a parent as well is remaining objective and as a result we often think our children are better than they are. From Forbes -The Concussion Gender Gap: Why Girls Suffer More Head Injuries Who is more likely to suffer a concussion playing high school sports, a female soccer player or a male football player? A new study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that girls who play high school soccer are at nearly the same risk for traumatic brain injuries as boys who play high school football. In fact, concussion rates were higher among girls than boys in every high school sport. Despite the indisputable statistics, controversy still surrounds the exact reasons that girls suffer more concussions than boys. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coachcameron/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coachcameron/support

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. 

This week we chat with Gordon MacLelland, Founder of Working with Parents in Sport based out of the UK. With Gordon we chat about what makes good sports parents and how we as coaches can help support parents and engage them positively in their child's experience in sport. We also talk about how to take the pressure off of young athletes and how we can create parent engagement workshops. You can check our Gordon's organization Working with Parents in Sport (WWPIS) on their website https://www.parentsinsport.co.uk and on twitter @_WWPIS. Don't forget to check out all the resources on our drive here: https://bit.ly/t-c-r-drive Don't forget to register now for our upcoming conference in December! It will be a three day event on Dec 2nd, 9th and 16th covering Athlete, Team and Coach Development! Stay tuned to our social media @thecoachsroad for more details! https://bit.ly/tcrpconf Thanks for Listening!

Learn more about how we serve coaches: CuttingEdgeCoach.com Get the Podcast Notes: CuttingEdgeCoach.com/podcast Learn more or Sign Up for the next cohort: cuttingedgecoach.com/cohorts Sign Up or Join the Waitlist for a book club: CGTBookClubs.com Connect with Gordon: @_WWPIS parentsinsport.co.uk Connect with us: @CECoaching_ @LukeGromer luke@cuttingedgecoach.com

Gordon MacLelland set up ‘Working with Parents in Sport' after 20 years as a teacher and as a coach to all age levels from 7 year olds to adults. He has a BA/Hons degree in Sports Science from University College Chester and a PGCE from Lancaster University. He is a qualified teacher and has been Director of Sport at an independent prep school in the UK for the last 13 years. He has worked in schools in both the UK and New Zealand for the last 16 years. He is the author of three books, ‘Two Hats' – a book for parent coaches who are coaching or thinking of coaching their own children, ‘Great Sports Parenting' – A pocket guide for parents of children in sport and ‘Engage' – A coaches guide to building positive relationships with parents. In recent times he has become a parent to two children and the early sporting experiences of his own children prompted him to set up the company as well as write the three books above. As a speaker he brings a wealth of experience to working with organisations, coaches and parents gathered through 20 years as a teacher and coach as well as a parent currently involved in children's sport. In this episode Gordon discusses: His own conflicting emotions as a sport parent early in his son's life. Making information accessible and applicable for sport parents. No one trains coaches to engage with parents. Why parents should inform themselves on child development. Parental doubts and the fear of missing out (FOMO). The dual roles of a Parent who is also Coaching. Managing the Coach/Parent relationship. You can learn more about the Gordon's work by visiting www.parentsinsport.co.uk or by following Working with Parents in Sport on Facebook and Twitter via @wwpis . As always you can keep up to date with Athletic Evolution via our website, Instagram and Twitter.