"You can take a pick and mix approach to theory - but not if you want to be evidence based" - A conversation with the Constraints Collective
In this fascinating conversation, I joined Keith Davids and Ian Renshaw, two of the 'founding fathers' of Ecological Dynamics and the Constraints Led Approach in sport to explore the critical challenges facing coach education and athlete development. We dive deep into why the traditional cognitive-information processing approach still dominates coaching practice, despite decades of research suggesting more effective alternatives. 3 Key Takeaways:The Educational Paradigm Problem – Coach education has been built on the same linear, knowledge-transfer models used in formal schooling, creating a massive "knowing-doing gap" that leaves coaches unprepared for real-world practice.The Dualism Dilemma – You can't truly pick and mix between ecological and information-processing theories if you claim to follow a scientific approach – they're built on fundamentally different assumptions about how humans learn.The Moral Imperative – Coach educators and curriculum designers have a duty to expose practitioners to alternative learning paradigms, not just the dominant cognitive approach, so coaches can make genuinely informed choices about their practice.This conversation challenges us to think critically about how we develop coaches and whether we're truly serving the practitioners and participants who depend on quality coaching experiences. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation
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1:33:36
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1:33:36
"Menschenfenger" - exploring the way that Germany approaches coach development - a conversation with Jonathan Harding
Jonathan Harding joins me to discuss his amazing book 'Mensch' which goes into a deep dive around the way that the German nation views coaches and their approch to coach development. This book is really powerful and I really enjoyed this insightful conversation. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation
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1:37:51
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1:37:51
"Confidence Doesn't Exist" (And How to Coach It Anyway) - a conversation with Mike Porteous
In this conversation, I sit down with Mike Porteous, triathlon coach and author of the brillliant book 'Beyond Belief' - the art of confidence-centred coaching. Mike's journey from academic to civil servant to failed mountain bike business owner to successful triathlon coach reveals fascinating insights about what really matters in developing both athletes and coaches. We explore Mike's approach to confidence-centred coaching, which places how people feel at the very heart of the coaching process. Rather than focusing purely on performance metrics or development outcomes, Mike argues for a third way that prioritises the subjective experience of both coach and athlete. Three Key Takeaways:Confidence isn't a thing you acquire - it's actually a combination of three feelings: excitement (thrilled anticipation), composure (control over what you can influence whilst being calm about what you can't), and fluency (losing yourself in the moment and finding flow).The best coaches often aren't the best athletes - Mike's own journey from being a mediocre mountain biker to helping athletes achieve extraordinary feats shows that empathy, presence, and the ability to be alongside someone on their journey matters more than technical prowess.Drawing out beats putting in - Rather than instructing athletes what to do, confidence-centred coaching focuses on helping people discover their own solutions through feeling and awareness, creating more resilient and self-reliant performers.This conversation will change how you think about coaching, confidence, and what it really means to help someone reach their potential. Ready to transform your coaching approach? Join 'The Guild of Ecological Explorers' learning group by heading to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and clicking the 'join a learning group' button. Let's explore these ideas together and revolutionise how we develop talent.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation
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1:12:24
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1:12:24
"Talent development is like a flock of hungry seagulls" - a conversation with Andy Kirkland
In this episode of The Talent Equation, I reconnect with Andy Kirkland from the University of Stirling to explore how our sporting systems both help and hinder talent development. Andy shares insights from his chapter in "Reimagining Talent Development in Sport" and introduces the concept of 'salutogenesis' - focusing on what creates health and well being rather than what causes harm. Three key takeaways:Our current talent development systems often prioritise preventing harm rather than creating healthy environments where people can thrive and grow.Coaches bear huge responsibility for guiding young people through developmental journeys but are frequently under-resourced and lack essential knowledge about human development.We need to shift from resource-heavy "barrier" approaches to more ecological systems that empower individuals to navigate challenges while providing appropriate support.Join our learning community of forward-thinking coaches and talent developers by heading to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and clicking the 'join a learning group' button to become part of The Guild of Ecological Explorers.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation
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1:57:07
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1:57:07
"Transfer is in the overlap between the human and the information" - a conversation with Dr Andrew Wilson
In this episode I reconnect with Dr. Andrew Wilson, Reader in Psychology at Leeds Beckett University and a leading voice in ecological psychology in sport. We delve into the fascinating world of affordances, skill development, and the complex challenge of transfer of learning in sport. Andrew brilliantly explains how our traditional understanding of skill acquisition often misses the mark, and why an ecological approach offers a more complete picture of how humans actually learn and develop skill.Three Key Takeaways:The overlap between training and performance contexts that enables transfer of learning is primarily in the information about affordances. When designing practice, focus on ensuring the right information is present rather than prescribed movement patterns.Variability in movement and practice isn't noise to be eliminated but rather a crucial signal that helps develop adaptable, creative performers. The best athletes aren't those who repeat identical movements but those who can respond to dynamic, ever-changing affordances.The ecological approach to coaching might benefit from being framed as an "affordance-led approach" rather than "constraints-led," highlighting how affordances define what counts as functional movement and serve as the primary constraint on motor abundance.Join my learning group 'The Guild of Ecological Explorers' by heading to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and clicking the 'join a learning group' button.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.Ready to explore these ideas further? Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers – a community of practitioners committed to deepening their understanding of ecological dynamics and constraints-led approaches. Head to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and click the 'Join a Learning Group' button to become part of this transformative conversation
The Talent Equation podcast is an 'exploration in human advancement'... mostly (but not exclusively) through the lens of sport and physical activity. Each episode is an 'emergent conversation' with practitioners, parents, researchers, authors (or some combination of all three) taking a deep dive into the ways that people can help others to enhance their developmental journey in whatever field they are committed to. These conversations are not mainstream - you will not hear ideas that are provided on standard education courses - they often fly in the face of convention - they will sometimes be controversial and provocative - the show is about doing things differently and doing different things. The people who come on the show are innovators - they are trying to break new ground or swim against the tide of what they see as a broken culture or an ineffective system - what they say will prompt new thinking or new ideas. All that is asked of the listener is to embrace the conversation with an open mind.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.
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