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In this episode I'm joined by Professor of Sport Coaching, Don Vinson, from the University of Worcester to discuss the perspective of Christian sport coaches. This rarely encountered conversation offers a case study of how sport coaches can align their values, and Christian faith, with a model of leadership known as servant leadership, in order to meaningfully support the many needs of athletes. A conversation which celebrates spirituality and religion within leadership in sport, for the value it brings to everyone, of Christian faith or otherwise.

Paper discussed:

Vinson, D., & Parker, A. (2021). Christian sports coaches and servant leadership. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16(2), 304-316.

Key Takeaways

• Servant leadership in sports coaching prioritises athletes’ holistic development, focusing on their needs beyond just performance.
• Christian faith as a case study illustrates how spirituality can enhance coaching by fostering athletes’ sense of identity and purpose.
• There is an overemphasis on winning and potential abuse in talent development systems.
• Holistic development is often limited to physical, psychological, and social aspects, neglecting spiritual well-being.
• Servant leadership characteristics include humility, authenticity, and stewardship, guiding coaches to support athletes’ growth.
• Competition can be reframed as collaborative striving for excellence, not just a path to victory.
• Universality of servant leadership makes it applicable to coaches of all backgrounds, not exclusive to Christianity.
• Strength in servant leadership requires tough decisions and discipline, rooted in care for athletes.
• Call to action for coaches to reflect on their values and consider servant leadership to enhance their practice.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring the Intersection of Faith and Coaching

05:51 The Role of Servant Leadership in Coaching

08:31 Challenges in Youth Sports and Mental Health

11:15 The Importance of Spiritual Health

14:09 Values and Leadership in Coaching

16:48 The Problems Within Sports Culture

19:45 Understanding Servant and Christian Leadership

22:27 Holistic Development in Coaching

32:28 Exploring Holistic Development in Coaching

35:02 Understanding Purpose and Identity in Sports

37:11 Insights from Coaches on Faith and Purpose

40:16 The Balance of Discipline and Nurturing in Coaching

43:14 Navigating Humility and Confidence in Leadership

47:37 The Broader Implications of Servant and Christian Leadership

51:58 Competition: Striving Together for Excellence

56:03 Bridging Values and Performance in Sports

01:01:18 The Future of Servant and Christian Leadership in Coaching

Learn more about your host and access my services:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Support the show by becoming a patron:

https://labours-of-sport.captivate.fm/support

Connect with me on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

WORK WITH ME:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

In this solo episode I go through some of the basic assumptions of motivation within sport and a sport coach's role, through a self-determination theory lens. Questions explored include who's responsible for motivating athletes, why amounts of motivation are just part of the equation, and what the relationship is between an athlete's motivational orientation and the environmental supports they receive (or not) for their basic psychological needs.

Keywords:

self-determination theory, coaching, athlete motivation, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, psychological needs, coaching strategies, sports psychology, motivation types, athlete development

Takeaways:

• The primary role of a coach is to create an environment for self-motivation.
• Motivation is not a one-dimensional concept; it exists on a spectrum.
• Intrinsic motivation is the highest form of self-determined motivation.
• Athletes are motivated by various types of motivation, not just intrinsic.
• Understanding psychological needs is crucial for fostering motivation.
• Coaches should focus on long-term motivation rather than short-term results.
• The environment plays a significant role in athlete motivation.
• Autonomy, competence, and relatedness supports affect motivation orientation.
• Self-determination theory provides a framework for understanding motivation.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Self-Determination Theory in Coaching

02:22 The Role of the Coach in Motivation

04:46 Understanding Types of Motivation

07:10 Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

09:28 The Spectrum of Motivation Types

12:00 The Importance of Psychological Needs

14:45 The Interplay of Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness

17:07 Long-Term vs. Short-Term Motivation

19:52 Conclusion and Reflection on Coaching Practices

If you enjoy this episode, I recommend checking out these previous ones too:

Autonomy supportive coaching 101

Myths of motivating athletes - Guest appearance on Rugby Coach Weekly

The hidden dimension of motivational coach behaviour

Learn more about your host and access my consultancy services:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Support the show by becoming a patron:

https://labours-of-sport.captivate.fm/support

Connect with me on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

WORK WITH ME:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

In this episode I sit down with Chris Duncan, Head Coach of Scotland's National Women's Hockey team and Programme Lead for Women's Pathway. We discuss leadership, strategic coordination, managing coaching dynamics, fostering and nurturing relationships, and coach development.

Lessons to be learned for those coaching within international set ups and club level set ups alike!

Takeaways

• Coaching is about guiding athletes to long-term improvement while balancing short-term results.
• Clear role definition within coaching teams improves efficiency and performance.
• Athlete development should be supported across club, school, and national programmes, not fragmented.
• A shared coaching vocabulary enhances communication and decision-making.
• High-performance teams thrive on autonomy within a structured philosophy.
• Transparent selection processes build trust and accountability.
• Authenticity in leadership fosters stronger coach-athlete relationships.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Coaching Responsibilities

04:57 Distinctions Between International and Club Coaching

07:34 Development Pathways in Women's Hockey

11:00 Bio-Banding and Player Development Philosophy

15:15 The Importance of Shared Language in Coaching

18:45 Building Relationships and Commitment to Player Development

22:55 Navigating Performance Feedback and Player Growth

26:31 Managing Individual and Team Development

32:40 Coaching Team Dynamics and Role Clarity

36:28 The Art of Letting Go in Coaching

39:21 Establishing Structure and Autonomy

41:44 Role Reversal: Learning Through Experience

45:29 Consistency in Coaching Dynamics

50:48 The Importance of Trust and Authenticity

01:02:41 Navigating Coaching Challenges and Feedback

01:13:09 Key Takeaways for Effective Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, I suggest checking out these previous episodes too:

Lessons from the best coaches, with John OSullivan

Kevin Nicol - Providing structure within tactics

Managing people, with Michael Tuohy

Learn more about your host and access my consultancy services:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Support the show by becoming a patron:

https://labours-of-sport.captivate.fm/support

Connect with me on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

WORK WITH ME:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

In this solo episode, I break down and offer practical tips for implementing the 7 core autonomy supportive coaching behaviours for adaptive motivation in athletes, as outlined in Mageau and Vallerand's 2003 conceptual paper of the coach-athlete motivational model.

Keywords

coaching, autonomy, athlete development, self-determination theory, motivation, coaching behaviors, athlete feedback, independence, sports psychology

Takeaways

• Autonomy is a fundamental need for athletes.
• Providing meaningful choices enhances athlete ownership.
• Explaining tasks increases athlete buy-in and understanding.
• Acknowledging feelings fosters respect and autonomy.
• Independent work helps athletes develop self-sufficiency.
• Feedback should empower athletes rather than control them.
• Controlling behaviors can frustrate athlete autonomy.
• Ego involvement can negatively impact motivation.
• Autonomy support is a skill that requires practice.
• Coaching must consider various motivational factors.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Autonomy Support in Coaching

05:32 Providing Meaningful Choices

11:16 Acknowledging Feelings and Perspectives

16:40 Feedback and Competence Support

22:01 Preventing Ego Involvement

If you enjoyed this episode, I suggest checking out these previous episodes too:

Myths of motivating athletes - Guest appearance on Rugby Coach Weekly

The hidden dimension of motivational coach behaviour

Learn more about your host and access my consultancy services:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Support the show by becoming a patron:

https://labours-of-sport.captivate.fm/support

Connect with me on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

SIGN UP TO THE SELF-DETERMINED COACH NEWSLETTER: https://laboursofsportcoaching.beehiiv.com/subscribe

In this episode I'm joined by Professor Dave Collins of the University of Edinburgh to discuss the good, bad, and ugly of the widely promoted - but rarely critiqued - ecological dynamics model as an explanation of, and framework for, skill learning in athletes.

Paper discussed:

Collins, D., Carson, H. J., Rylander, P., & Bobrownicki, R. (2024). Ecological Dynamics as an Accurate and Parsimonious Contributor to Applied Practice: A Critical Appraisal. Sports Medicine, 1-12.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ecological Dynamics

04:44 Critical Perspectives on Ecological Dynamics

07:27 Pedagogy vs. Mechanism in Coaching

10:21 Understanding Learning Mechanisms

13:08 The Role of Context in Coaching

15:50 Complexity in Coaching Approaches

18:46 The Importance of Conditional Knowledge

21:49 Navigating Language and Complexity in Coaching

24:33 Integrating Different Theoretical Models

27:21 The Role of Neuroscience in Coaching

30:12 Metacognition and Expertise in Performance

35:28 Cognitive Approaches in Decision Making

37:36 Mechanisms of Performance and Coaching

39:50 Traditional vs. Contemporary Coaching Methods

43:55 The Role of Drills in Coaching

45:44 Biopsychosocial Model in Coaching

48:18 Ecological Dynamics and Skill Acquisition

52:01 The Importance of Questioning in Coaching

56:14 Skill Refinement and Cognitive Approaches

59:47 Practical Takeaways for Coaches

Sign up to Labours of Sport Coaching - The Self-Determined Coach Newsletter:

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Support the show by becoming a patron:

https://labours-of-sport.captivate.fm/support

Learn more about your host and access my consultancy services:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Connect with me on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

WORK WITH ME:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

For this episode I sat with John OSullivan, who is an author, coach, and host of the Way of Champions podcast. We reflect on the key lessons John has learned from over 400 interviews with top coaches including all time great Chicago Bulls basketball coach Phil Jackson, as well as John's own wisdom gained through an extensive career within coaching.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

05:38 The Impact of John's TED Talk

08:10 Current State of Youth Sports

11:04 Improving Parent-Coach Relationships

13:49 Building Trust Between Coaches and Parents

16:33 The Role of Communication in Coaching

19:34 Challenges of Parent Coaches

22:21 Understanding Gen Z Athletes

25:13 Coaching Philosophy and Character Development

37:54 The Importance of Relationships in Coaching

39:28 The Search for the Magic Practice

41:47 Balancing Assessment and Development in Coaching

43:18 The Psychological Aspects of Coaching

46:01 Winning the Day: Short-Term Focus for Long-Term Success

49:16 The Role of Self-Awareness in Coaching

51:53 Vulnerability and Competence in Coaching

53:30 The Art of Balancing Assertiveness and Vulnerability

56:46 Understanding Individual Needs in Team Dynamics

01:00:29 The Value of Individual Strengths in Team Sports

01:05:41 Coaching Beyond the Game: Life Lessons for Athletes

01:09:53 Future Trends in Coaching: Intentionality and Curiosity

Learn more about your host and access my consultancy services:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Support the show by becoming a patron:

https://labours-of-sport.captivate.fm/support

Connect with me on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

WORK WITH ME:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

In this episode I sit down with leading and longstanding coach researcher Professor John Lyle of Leeds Beckett University. For over 40 years John has established and pushed forward coaching as a science, and we reflect on where we've got to as a discipline in that time, the research issues we need to fix, and the avenues we should explore next within the academic world of coaching, to best serve coaches.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Coaching Science and Its Evolution

11:20 Defining Coaching: The Role and Responsibilities

17:12 The Distinction Between Coaching and Teaching

22:35 The Importance of Context in Coaching

28:05 Models of Coaching: Frameworks and Their Applications

34:07 The Multidisciplinary Nature of Coaching

41:40 The Evolution of Coaching Knowledge

42:33 Bridging the Gap: Science and Practice in Coaching

43:56 Perspectives on Coaching: A Multifaceted Approach

45:22 The Shift from Behavioural to Relational Coaching

48:09 Cognitive Decision-Making in Coaching

49:42 Understanding Intuition in Coaching Decisions

51:33 The Human Element: Athlete-Centered Coaching

53:40 Ethics and Efforts in Coaching Practices

55:03 Researching Coaching: The Need for In-Situ Studies

56:53 The Caring Nature of Coaches

58:39 Pragmatism in Coaching Research

01:01:06 The Complexity of Coaching: Acknowledging Difficulties

01:04:04 Coping Mechanisms for Coaches

01:06:34 Exploring Success Criteria in Coaching

01:08:44 Critiquing Higher Education in Coaching Research

01:11:28 The Role of Academic Publishing in Coaching Knowledge

01:13:33 The Challenge of Representative Tasks in Coaching

01:17:11 The Importance of Diverse Learning Sources

01:19:06 Accessing Knowledge: The Coach's Perspective

01:21:40 Rethinking Coach Education Systems

If you enjoyed this episode, I recommend this one too:

Andrew Abraham - Ethics in coaching beyond legality

Learn more about your host and access my consultancy services:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Support the show by becoming a patron:

https://labours-of-sport.captivate.fm/support

Connect with me on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/

WORK WITH ME:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

In this episode I'm joined by long time coach and coach developer Ray Power, who is Technical Academy Director at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan, the biggest academy in South Asia. We talk about practical coaching habits in preparation, delivery, and reflection that can improve coaching practice while importantly making life a little easier for coaches.

Takeaways

• Planning helps in aligning goals with daily actions.
• Without reflection, one may feel lost in their pursuits.
• It's important to stack new habits with existing ones, to manage bandwidth and your own personality.
• Life and performance management is a continuous process of adjustment.
• Setting aside time for reflection can enhance decision-making.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Coaching Habits

07:06 Cultural Influences on Coaching

10:02 Motivation and Preparation in Coaching

12:29 The Importance of Relationships in Coaching

15:29 Effective Session Planning Strategies

18:33 Recycling Coaching Sessions

21:06 The Role of Curriculum in Coaching

24:02 Dynamic Coaching Practices

26:53 Game-Based Coaching Techniques

43:54 Planning Effective Coaching Sessions

46:39 The Importance of Session Structure

49:59 Creating Engaging Training Environments

50:54 Optimising Session Layout for Clarity

54:29 Finding the Right Balance in Session Setup

58:43 Reflection and Continuous Improvement in Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, I suggest checking out the following too:

Effective children's coaching, with Peter Sturgess

Learn more about your host and access my consultancy services:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Support the show by becoming a patron:

https://labours-of-sport.captivate.fm/support

Connect with me on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjcarrollresearcher/