The Coach Doctor Podcast

In this episode of the coach doctor podcast, I talk with Dr Andrew Higham. Andrew has recently been appointed as an Assistant Professor at Heriot Watt University in Scotland working in the areas of psychology and sport psychology. At the time of recording, he was a lecturer in sport psychology at Shefield Hallam University in England. He has published work in multiple academic journals including Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health; Psychology of Sport and Exercise and the International Sports Coaching Journal. He has also presented internationally at the International Council for Coaching Excellence Global Coach Conference, where I was fortunate to listen to Andrew speak. I was completely blown away, not just by the originality of his research, but also his passion and devotion to his subject matter. In today’s conversation I wanted to discuss Andrew’s research around coach well-being and unpack some of the challenges that coaches face both in the spotlight and behind the scenes in what can be a very fickle and pressure filled world. This conversation made me think a lot about my own well-being as a coach and made me consider how often I recharge my own battery. Coaching is a demanding job that requires immense dedication, time, and energy at all levels from amateur to professional. It's easy for coaches to prioritize their athletes' needs over their own, but neglecting self-care can lead to burnout, stress, and decreased effectiveness. Maintaining well-being allows coaches to be at their best, both mentally and physically. When coaches take care of themselves, they can bring more energy, positivity, and focus to their teams. This not only enhances their coaching performance but also sets a positive example for their athletes. It's important for coaches to find a balance between their professional responsibilities and personal lives. This might involve setting boundaries, seeking support from colleagues, and making time for activities that bring joy and relaxation. Coaches should feel empowered to seek help if they're struggling and to create an environment where mental health is openly discussed and supported, and organisations should also support their coaches in providing this support.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-coach-doctor-podcast--5032805/support.

In this episode of The Coach Doctor podcast, I talk with Sam Miller, the CEO and founder of Proteus Motion. Proteus is a groundbreaking training system that has transformed the world of fitness and human performance. It has expanded the scope of quantifiable human movement from a limited 5%—primarily focused on vertical pushes and pulls like squats and deadlifts—to an astonishing 98%, encompassing nearly every conceivable angle and type of movement.If you have watched the Netflix series Quarterback, you can see Superbowl Champion Patrick Mahomes using the technology as part of his preparation in becoming the most dominant quarterback in the NFL. Proteus is now used by sporting franchises in the NFL, Major League Baseball, the NBA, the National Hockey League, Golfing institutions such as the PGA, University sporting Programs and also in medical institutions for recovery purposes.Whist the technology itself is revolutionary, Sam’s story is also a remarkable blend of innovation, grit and self-belief that stemmed from injuries as a youth athlete, to completing a project started by his father back in the 90’s. If you would like to know more about Proteus Motion they have an extremely informative website with a lot of videos and demonstrations using the technology. The web address is proteusmotion.com . Alternative you can check Proteus Motion out on Instagram, Tik Tok, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter / X using the handle @proteusmotion for all platforms. For LinkedIn you can follow Sam via @Sam Miller.Thank you for listening to another episode of The Coach Doctor Podcast.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-coach-doctor-podcast--5032805/support.

Dr Marcus Hannon is the current lead performance Nutritionist at the Qatar Football Association. He has previously worked as a sports nutritionist in the English Premier League with Everton and Aston Villa, with professional boxers and in Professional Rugby Union Clubs. Marcus has a strong research record and his knowledge around the needs of youth athletes is extremely important because they are the stars of the future and with increased training demands of youth athletes nutrition become vital in keeping them fit and healthy and on the pathway. Marcus discusses safe ways to meet weight in weight class sports such as boxing and compares the rigours of a Premier League season to the campaign of an International tournament such as the Asian Cup or World Cup. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-coach-doctor-podcast--5032805/support.

In this episode, I talk with Amy Shepherd. Amy is the current head coach and football development officer at the Sydney University Soccer Football Club. She is originally from Cambridgeshire England and has experience coaching with Norwich City in their regional development program, Watford FC women’s as well as coaching in New Jersey in the USA. She is now making her mark in Australia working across youth and senior women’s football. We discuss the use of games and constraints based coaching and discuss the importance of individual development plans along with team training. Amy's leadership and experience at the Sydney University Soccer Football Club is highly valued with the club claiming four straight premierships in the senior Womens NPL1 competition between 2018 and 2022 and their youth program being one of the best football programs in Australia feeding into the senior program. They also have qualified for the finals in every youth team in 2023 which speaks volumes for their youth development program.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-coach-doctor-podcast--5032805/support.

In this episode I speak with Dr Dianne Huxley who is the national performance pathways lead at Athletics Australia. She has a career in coaching and coach development spanning for over 30 years and has experience coaching from the grassroots to the Olympic level in Track and Field. Like many of my guests Di has taken on additional learning despite the experience she already held. We met at the University of Sydney where she completed her Masters in Coaching and subsequently went on to compete a PhD. Her research has focused on elite junior and senior development pathways. For more information or access to her research you can contact Di through LinkedIn under the name Dianne Huxley.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-coach-doctor-podcast--5032805/support.

In this episode I speak with Dr Balin Cupples. Balin is the current Head of Performance at the One New Zealand Warriors National Rugby League team. Balin talks about his career moving from a youth development coach into the National Rugby League and the learnings he took along the way. We discuss his background from his Masters of Sports Coaching education to his PhD research at the University of Sydney. We also discuss balancing a career in professional sport with family commitments. Balin gives us his thoughts on what qualities stand out in the head coaches he has worked with over a 9-year career in the NRL.This episode was recorded late 2022 in the preseason to the 2023 season and since recording the Warriors have gone on to record their best start in the NRL for a long time.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-coach-doctor-podcast--5032805/support.

On this episode I talk with England Rugby Union fullback Mike Brown. Mike has 72 appearances for England and 351 appearances for his former premiership club Harlequins as well as a handful of games for the Newcastle Falcons. Most recently Mike represented and Captained the Barbarians in a series of games coached by Crusaders coach Scott Razor Robertson. We talk about Mike's transition into reitrement and his career development after rugby. We discuss some of the coaches that left a mark on his career and why communication and connection can be so important in high performance sport.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-coach-doctor-podcast--5032805/support.

In this episode I talk to Ben Darwin from Gain Line Analytics. Ben is a former Wallabies and ACT Brumbies Prop who played during a very successful era for Australian Rugby. Since retiring due to injury Ben has gone on to coach in the Shute Shield, Super Rugby and the Japanese Top League before forging a career for himself in cohesion analytics. Ben breaks down what cohesion in the team setting is and provides a detailed explanation into how and why cohesion may be the next "Money Ball" of team sports. For more information on what Gain Line Analytics do you can use the following links:Website: http://www.gainline.biz/Twitter: @GLAnalyticsLinkedIn: Gain Line Analytics or @Ben DarwinGold Digger: The Search for Australian Rugby (official trailer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dttG_dSi6uEThe rise and decline of Australian Rugby Union - EXPLAINED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWLbaYHlI9wBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-coach-doctor-podcast--5032805/support.

In this episode I speak with Grant Doorey. Grant is a career coach who has spent over 25 years in professional coaching and coached at 4 rugby world cups, the French top 14, the English premiership and Super Rugby to name a few. Grant discusses his journey and some of the learnings along the way. We discuss coaching across three different continents and cultures, language barriers and the sacrifices that elite coaching involves. There is a lot for aspiring coaches to learn from this conversation. If you would like to get in contact with Grant he is easily contacted on LinkedIn under his name: Grant DooreyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-coach-doctor-podcast--5032805/support.

In this episode I talk to Dr Mitch Hewitt, who is the National Youth Programs Manager at Tennis Australia. Mitch completed his PhD at the University of Southern Queensland and studied the teaching styles of tennis coaches in Australia using the Spectrum of Teaching Styles as the theoretical framework for his research. He has published multiple papers and presented at many Coaching and Physical Education conferences and more recently been a co-author on the book The Spectrum of Coaching Styles. In this episode we discuss how to implement some of the coaching styles on the spectrum and discuss their roles in coaching at all levels from foundation to elite. To view the full video of Koko's Arendelle Home Court Tennis go to the link: https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/2113881/uiconf_id/45477432/entry_id/0_hvkfcb7j/embed/dynamicIf you would like more information or to connect with Mitch you can find him via his LinkedIn page under the name: Dr Mitch Hewitt (A/Prof. University of Canberra) PhD MEd BAppSci HumanMovement(Hons)GradDipEd(PE)BABecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-coach-doctor-podcast--5032805/support.

On this episode I talk to Associate Professor Kate Pumpa. Kate is a lecturer and researcher in the fields of exercise physiology and sports nutrition at the University of Canberra. She is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Advanced Accredited Sports Dietitian. Kate completed her PhD at the Australian Institute of Sport in 2008 and has been working as a sports dietician practitioner for almost 15 years. Like many of us in the sports industry, she began by volunteering as a sports dietician for local AFL club. Following this, she was given a role with Leinster Rugby Club in Dublin, Ireland before returning home to work with the Australia’s most successful Super Rugby Franchise the ACT Brumbies. Kate is now the performance dietitian for the Australian Rugby Union working across all teams from Junior Wallabies, Wallaroos and Rugby Sevens. Kate's primary research interests include utilising technology to monitor energy expenditure during exercise, nutrition interventions to enhance performance, and physiological performance preparation and recovery. She is a Fellow of Exercise & Sports Science Australia, an Associate Editor for the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, and on the editorial board for the journal Nutrients.If you would like to find more out about Kate you can find her on LinkedIn under her name Kate PumpaBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-coach-doctor-podcast--5032805/support.

Professor Chris Cushion is currently the head of coaching at England Netball and a professor of coaching and pedagogy at the famous Loughborough university in England. When it comes to the coaching environment, practice and coach behaviours Chris is one of the most prominent researchers in this space with over 100 publications and over 8000 citations from other authors and researchers. One of the things that sets Chris apart from a lot of his peers is that he has also had an exceptional coaching practitioner career in football as well as his distinguished career in academia and this ability to have what is effectively a foot in both camps helps with bringing research to life in practical settings. In this episode I want to talk to Chris about both his practical experiences and his research and how he and other coaches can effectively combine research in their practice. I felt like there was some really valuable coaching advice from Professor Chris Cushion in this episode. For me the use of questioning and how to apply it was gold for me. I know as coaches we often discuss the importance of questioning, however applying it and following it up with further practice to initiate a change in behaviour is vital. As coaches its also really important to schedule questions and into your coaching program – you can prepare these before the session to pre-empt learning situations rather than make things up as you go. Secondly I really learnt a lot around Chris’s discussion on feedback – knowing the best times to use feedback, how to apply it effectively and what you are trying to achieve. Finally thinking outside the square and using other teaching and learning strategies from educational research can enhance your coaching. As learning theories can certainly be applied to coaching to enhance athlete learning. Rosenshine’s principles of instruction could be a great place to start if this is of any interest and can be accessed by a google search. I hope you enjoyed the discussion with Professor Chris Cushion, he is an absolute legend of coaching research. If you would like to follow Chris he is active on: Twitter: @Coachc1 LinkedIn: Chris CushionBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-coach-doctor-podcast--5032805/support.