The Sports Initiative Podcast

Childhood Sporting Memories -1:39Michael Wright and Martyn Rothwell share their childhood experiences of watching and playing sports, expressing fond memories of sitting on the terraces of Widness Rugby League Club, watching football games at the old baseball ground, and being inspired by sports idols like Ellery Hanley and Paul Gascoigne. They reflect on the joy and carefree nature of playing sports as kids and the impact it had on their lives.Discussion on Ideal Style of Play in Sports - 4:37Martyn Rothwell and Michael Wright engage in a conversation about the ideal style of play in sports, using examples from cycling, football, and rugby. Rothwell highlights the dynamic and thrilling tactics of the UAE cycling team, contrasting it with the more systematic approach of Team Sky. They also touch upon the debate around the entertainment value of constant possession in football.Discussion on Coaching and Sport Performance- 7:52Michael Wright and Martyn Rothwell talk about the potential impact of Pep Guardiola leaving English football and the need for financial investment. Martyn provides a brief overview of his background as an academic and rugby league coach, as well as his current consultancy work. He also mentions his coaching experience with the England Wheelchair Rugby League team, including their World Cup win in 2022.Integrating Interdisciplinary Practice in Coaching Research-10:40Martyn Rothwell highlights the challenges of conducting research in coaching due to the complexity of real-world coaching environments and the lack of collaboration between practitioners and academics. He emphasizes the need for better integration and collaboration between different disciplines to design more effective practice environments, and introduces the concept of the Department of Methodology as a framework for co-designing practice environments in team sports.Alignment of Performance and Training Methodology-26:42Martyn Rothwell stresses the significance of aligning performance and training methodology with the team's playing style, advocating for a shared language and principles within the team. Michael Wright acknowledges the disconnect between the desired playing style and the actual approach to training and analysis, attributing it to a siloed approach and emphasizing the confusion it creates for players.Continuous Knowledge Sharing and Learning-31:01Martyn Rothwell emphasizes the need for a continuous knowledge-sharing environment where empirical and experiential knowledge are equally valued, and interdisciplinary collaboration is encouraged. He acknowledges the challenges that come with this approach, including managing personal skills and potential biases. Michael Wright adds that constant retraining and education of staff are necessary to maintain alignment with the team's principles and goals, and suggests the idea of an outside perspective to challenge and promote continuous improvement.Role of Performance Director and Interdisciplinary Teams-38:42Martyn Rothwell and Michael Wright delve into the changing responsibilities of a performance director, highlighting the transition towards a more facilitative role. They also examine the potential underutilization of certain aspects within interdisciplinary teams and the importance of day-to-day oversight for team efficiency. The conversation touches on the historical evolution of multidisciplinary teams in the context of football management.

Jacob King is a basketball coach based out of Kentucky, US. After a number different coaching ventures, he decided to embark on the journey of the Constraints Led Approach to aid his player in decision making and situational awareness.

Introduction to Dr. Alice Hunter's Role and Responsibilities- 1:16Dr. Alice Hunter, a Senior Lecturer in Sport Coaching at Bournemouth University, shares insights into her responsibilities, including teaching, research, administrative tasks as the Programme Leader, and providing one-to-one support for students. She emphasizes the fusion of teaching, research, and professional practice in her role, linking her academic work to her professional practice hours and her position as the National Teams Officer for British Softball.Challenges in Understanding Research and Academic Concepts- 13:13Michael Wright discusses the challenges of comprehending academic concepts, citing an example of struggling to grasp the research-based content of a podcast on ecological dynamics. He seeks insights on effectively fusing research, teaching, and practical implementation. Alice shares her experience of pursuing a doctorate in sport coaching, emphasizing the practical application of complex theories in coaching practice.Integrating Research into Teaching and Coaching - 16:52Alice emphasizes the need to make research more accessible to coaches and students, drawing from her experience in teaching and coaching. She discusses the value of teaching topics she actively researches and using real-life examples to engage students in discussions and debates, making the content more relevant and relatable.Challenges in Academic Writing- 20:34Alice shares her personal experience as an academic, expressing the difficulties in transitioning from unpaid writing to being paid for research. She emphasizes the tendency to overcomplicate writing in an effort to sound important and be taken seriously by journals. Alice also points out the lack of understanding by readers due to the complexity of academic writing.Coaching Courses and Soft Skills- 22:55Alice shares her efforts in redesigning coaching courses for the British Softball Federation, emphasizing the incorporation of theory without overt labeling. She also highlights the potential for utilizing social media platforms for outreach. Michael Wright expresses curiosity about the shift towards soft skills in coaching courses and discusses the cultural influences on coaching approaches.Phenomenology and Explicitation Methods in Decision Making - 27:57Alice delves into the concept of phenomenology and explicitation methods, emphasizing the need to understand subconscious knowledge in decision making. She discusses the application of these methods in professional rugby and the challenges of implementing them in coaching, highlighting the importance of feedback and the difficulty of avoiding judgmental language during the questioning process.Teaching Through Game Dynamics-40:33Alice explains how the game dynamics of the sport teach the teams important skills like scanning, awareness of teammates, and communication. She highlights the value of learning through fun and chaotic situations, and how it helps in developing dynamic thinking and movement. Alice also discusses the use of call and response techniques to teach the importance of recognizing cues and being dynamic in their approach.Individual vs Team Decision Making-42:06Alice emphasizes the importance of individual questioning and the lived experience of individuals in decision making. Michael explores the idea of bringing individual decision making into a team aspect and discusses the challenges of blending individual and team aspects together.Encouraging and Rewarding Behavior-49:55Alice highlights the significance of encouraging and rewarding desired behavior in coaching sessions, using examples from sports to illustrate her points. She emphasizes the importance of reinforcing learning and understanding, and discusses the use of conditioning in a realistic manner to improve performance and decision-making.

Chris McCosker's Career Journey - 1:07Chris McCosker shares his career progression, from completing a PhD in skill acquisition to landing an academic position at the Australian Catholic University, where he now focuses on teaching exercise and sports science, particularly in the field of physical education and skill acquisition.Skill Acquisition and Performance Environment- 2:47Chris McCosker explains skill acquisition as the need for adaptability across different performance environments, emphasizing the importance of understanding how athletes interact with their environment to identify areas for improvement. Michael Wright inquires about assessing an individual's ability to implement a skill with adaptability, leading to a discussion on the impact of opponents in performance environments.Enhancing Training Scenarios for Athletes -7:40Chris McCosker and Michael Wright delve into the challenges athletes face in long jump and how to replicate competition pressure in training. They discuss breaking down the struggles athletes face and manipulating training competitions to make them adaptable, emphasizing the importance of knowing athletes and designing effective constraints.Discussion on Practice Design and Repetition-15:29Michael Wright seeks to understand the role of repetition in practice design within the context of the constraint-led approach and ecological dynamics. Chris McCosker explains the concept of "repetition without repetition" and emphasizes the importance of movement variability in training. He also highlights the need to balance repetition and variability in practice design to optimize learning.Creating Functional Movement Scenarios-18:56Chris McCosker and Michael Wright delve into the intricacies of designing training scenarios that promote functional movement. They caution against overloading the scenarios with constraints and stress the importance of allowing players to make their own decisions. The conversation also highlights the concept of providing secret tasks to players to foster independent problem-solving and decision-making during training sessions.Skill Acquisition and its Role in High Performance Environments-26:06Chris McCosker discusses the role of skill acquisition in high performance environments, highlighting that it should be viewed as a discipline of sports science that coaches can access. He explains the importance of following the scientific process, collecting data, and working with other disciplines to improve performance. Michael Wright expresses interest in the challenges of tracking and measuring data points in skill acquisition compared to physical data points in biomechanics or strength and conditioning coaching.Skill Acquisition and Long-Term Development- 31:51Michael Wright and Chris McCosker delve into the complexities of skill acquisition in sports, focusing on the example of teaching a cricketer a specific shot like the reverse sweep. They stress the need for a long-term approach, emphasizing the challenges of improving technique and creating an environment for athletes to explore and develop different movement solutions. The discussion also touches on the importance of data points, detailed intervention plans, and the transfer of skills into the performance environment.Skill Development and Variability in Training- 36:49Michael Wright and Chris McCosker delve into the differences in skill development and training approaches for athletes of different ages and abilities. They stress the importance of tailoring training methods to suit individual skill levels and the need to gradually introduce variability in training based on the athlete's confidence and proficiency.

Mike Avery is the Sporting Director and Head coach at Fort Wayne FC.Mike Avery's Role and Perspective- 02:09Mike Avery, the sporting director and head coach for Fort Wayne FC, provided an overview of the club's history, future aspirations, and his responsibilities in coaching and managing the team. Additionally, he discussed his side business, Center Circle Influencers, and shared his perspective on the professionalization of sports, emphasizing the importance of relationships and the impact on athletes and teams.Impact of Individualization in Professional Sports - 10:54Mike Avery and Michael Wright delve into the repercussions of individualization in professional sports, citing the influence of star players like LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo. They express concern about the unrealistic expectations it creates, especially for young athletes, and highlight the shift from team loyalty to individual idolization in sports fandom.Importance of Relationships in Sports- 13:51Mike Avery and Michael Wright discuss the value of relationships in sports, emphasizing the impact of connections and friendships on confidence and success. Avery highlights the importance of recognizing the contribution of every team member, while Wright explores the reasons behind Avery's involvement in a particular project, linking it to the significance of connections within the organization.Mike Avery's Journey in College Sports and Fort Wayne FC- 26:40Mike Avery shares his experience coaching college sports and the impact of budget cuts on his job at Valparaiso University. He then describes his transition to coaching Fort Wayne FC, emphasizing the challenges and rewards of building a new team, and the importance of creating an identity for the club.Building Trust and Connection through Vulnerability- 30:36Mike Avery emphasizes the difficulties of forming a cohesive team in a short, intense season and the need to create a supportive environment. He explains the hot seat exercise, where players share personal experiences, fostering empathy and understanding among teammates from diverse backgrounds. Michael Wright raises concerns about vulnerability in a competitive environment and its impact on team dynamics.Building Team Chemistry and Character Assessment - 44:57Michael Wright and Mike Avery delve into the process of building team chemistry and assessing the character of potential players. Avery emphasizes the importance of finding players with the right attitude and willingness to share experiences, even if they have had multiple chances. Wright raises the challenge of discerning the truthfulness of players during recruiting trips and how their behavior may vary in different environments.

Introduction and Background 0:30Michael Wright sets the stage for the podcast interview with Ben Chase, emphasizing the focus on NIL and its implications for college athletics. Ben Chase shares insights into the upcoming football season in Florida and details his role as the director of NIL strategy for the Florida Gators, highlighting his background in law and previous experience with NIL at a national company.Celebrating Success at the Olympics 4:50Ben Chase and Michael Wright share their excitement about the university's athletes' achievements at the Olympics, emphasizing the significant number of medals won and the presence of renowned athletes on campus. They also discuss the positive impact of having athletes from different sports training together, creating a collaborative and inspiring environment for all. NIL and College Athletics - 7 :31Ben Chase provides a comprehensive explanation of NIL, its evolution, and its impact on college athletes, emphasizing the newfound ability for athletes to monetize their image and the shift towards influencer marketing. Michael Wright highlights the significant revenue generated by universities and the NCAA, shedding light on the disparity in compensation for athletes compared to the substantial revenue generated by college sports.Impact of NIL on Athletes - 14:45Ben Chase and Michael Wright delve into the implications of the monetization and legalization of athletes' ability to make money, highlighting the challenges and opportunities it presents. They discuss the changes in athletes' capacity to earn side income and the transformation of their ability to monetize their personal brands, using examples such as gymnast Lian Wong and the Cavendish twins as influencers who can now monetize their names.Implications of NIL for Athletes and Brand Building - 21:31Ben Chase delves into the implications of NIL legalization, emphasizing the potential for athletes to monetize their TikTok accounts and build their personal brands. He shares a story of a former kicker who left the team to focus on his YouTube channel, highlighting the business opportunities for athletes in the digital space. Additionally, he discusses the market potential for gymnasts to monetize and sell to their fans, citing examples of athletes creating their own product lines.Recruiting and Financial Considerations in College Athletics - 25:44Ben Chase explains his recruiting process for potential soccer commits, emphasizing the tools and access he provides to athletes and the use of a collective to leverage their following in the community. Michael Wright acknowledges the challenges of the transfer portal and discusses the European model of compensating clubs for player development in the UK, highlighting the tiered system and compensation fees attached to players.Financial Implications of College Athletics - 36:29Michael Wright and Ben Chase delve into the financial complexities of college athletics, touching on donor fatigue, the challenges of raising funds, and the potential impact on coaching salaries. They also discuss the legal settlement House v. NCAA, which mandates a percentage of revenue to be allocated to athletes, and the resulting need for universities to find additional revenue sources or cut spending.Future of College Athletics and NIL Impact 45:38Ben Chase shares his predictions for the future of college football, envisioning regional realignment and a more professionalized approach. He emphasizes the need to protect athletes and discusses potential changes in the landscape of college sports. Michael Wright delves into the complexities of NIL policies, highlighting the challenges and opportunities they bring to college athletics and the NCAA.

Daniel Sellitti is Sporting Director at the Puerto Rico Football Association. Roles and Challenges in Soccer- 0:12Daniel Sellitti explains his dual roles in the soccer world, emphasizing the interplay between his positions at North Carolina FC and the Puerto Rico Football Federation. He delves into the complexities of the American soccer scene, discussing the cultural influences and the challenges faced by clubs in different states. Sellitti also highlights the importance of creating opportunities for players and the unique characteristics of the soccer landscape in North Carolina.Discussion on Multi-Sport Background and Specialization - 8:34Daniel and Michael delve into the complexities of managing multi-sport backgrounds in youth athletes, addressing the balance between high performance potential and participation for enjoyment. They explore the impact of family background and the benefits of early exposure to different sports on athletic development.Discussion on the Development of Soccer in Puerto Rico - 12:43Daniel Sellitti explains the growing popularity of soccer in Puerto Rico and its historical context compared to other sports in the region. Michael Wright shares his observations on the cultural influence of sports in different countries and the impact on their respective cultures, highlighting the unique integration of sports and culture in different regions.National Teams' Activities and Progress - 20:10Michael Wright and Daniel Sellitti provide an overview of the national teams' activities, highlighting the senior team's performance in CONCACAF, the men's team's potential qualification for the Gold Cup, and the women's team's recent achievements. They also discuss the upcoming tournaments and preparations for various age groups, including the U20s, U17s, U15s, and U14s.Approach to National Team Playing Styles and Staff Structure - 26:57Daniel Sellitti and Michael Wright delve into the playing styles and staff structure for the Puerto Rico national soccer teams. They highlight the possession-oriented and numerical overload approach for the men's team, while also discussing the women's team's defensive sophistication and counterattacking style. The conversation also touches on the staff's dedication and the common language used across different age groups.Contrasting Soccer Mentalities - 28:41Daniel Sellitti and Michael Wright delve into the cultural and philosophical differences in soccer mentalities between Puerto Rico and the UK, exploring the early emphasis on competition and winning in Puerto Rico, contrasting it with the non-competitive approach in the UK until the age of 18. They also touch on the influence of socioeconomic factors and the pay-to-play model in American soccer.Building Scouting Networks and Grassroots Football in Puerto Rico - 35:39Daniel Sellitti shares the process of building scouting networks and grassroots football in Puerto Rico, highlighting the recruitment of U.S.-based players with Puerto Rican heritage. He emphasizes the significance of fostering a sense of pride and unity among players representing Puerto Rico, regardless of their geographical location, and discusses the impact on the success of the initiative.Scouting and Player Identification Process -40:29Daniel Sellitti explains the scouting and identification process for players, involving volunteers and a vetting process to select the best players for the national teams. He also discusses the goal of establishing a US-based camp and federation hotels and fields for players during camps in Puerto Rico.

Eric Fawcett is a coach for Edminton Stingers and a scouting consultant Introduction to Eric Fawcett- 0:14Michael Wright invites Eric Fawcett to introduce himself and his work as a basketball coach. Eric provides details about his role as a coach for the Edmonton Stingers in the Canadian Elite Basketball League and his remote consulting for Division 1 basketball teams in the NCAA. He emphasizes his focus on using team strategy, analytics, and global basketball strategies to gain an edge.Integrating Analytics into Coaching - 8:28Eric Fawcett explains that while some may label him as an "analytics guy," he sees analytics as a part of a bigger picture in coaching. He draws parallels with how analytics have become integral in other North American sports and emphasizes the need for coaches to be familiar with relevant numbers to make strategic decisions.Scouting Process and Data Analysis- 14:29Eric Fawcett discusses his scouting process, emphasizing the importance of using data and film analysis to understand how teams play. He outlines his approach of starting with a quick look at data, followed by a deep dive into film to study play types and strategies. Fawcett also addresses the challenge of identifying anomalies in the data and explains how he filters out irrelevant or misleading information to ensure accurate scouting.Defensive Strategies in Basketball- 25:33Michael Wright seeks guidance on training basketball teams to adapt to different defensive styles, drawing parallels to football tactics. Eric Fawcett emphasizes the need to view offensive strategies through the lens of different defensive approaches, such as man-to-man, switching, and zone defense. Strategic Scouting and Game Preparation-29:30Eric Fawcett and Michael Wright delve into the intricacies of opponent scouting and game preparation, emphasizing the need to prioritize key elements of opponent strategies and trends. Fawcett discusses the challenges of balancing time for on-court training and game preparation, while also exploring innovative methods, such as using film and social media platforms, to enhance player learning and preparation efficiency.Elite Players' Pattern Recognition- 41:25Eric Fawcett and Michael Wright delve into the pattern recognition abilities of high-level basketball players, highlighting how players like LeBron James and Rajon Rondo rely on their extensive basketball vocabulary and pattern recognition skills to make real-time adjustments during games. They also discuss the value of playing in games to develop pattern recognition skills and how to assess the transferability of plays and principles from lower-level leagues to higher levels.Contextualizing Basketball Strategies 45:36Eric Fawcett highlights the significance of analyzing defensive styles and levels of play in different basketball leagues to assess the effectiveness of offensive strategies. He explains how understanding the way teams guard pick and roll actions and approach offensive plays is crucial for determining the translation of strategies across leagues. Fawcett also emphasizes the value of watching basketball from various levels and styles to gain a comprehensive understanding of contextualizing strategies.Contrasting American and European Basketball Styles 48:59Michael Wright reminisces about the San Antonio Spurs' basketball style, attributing its success to the fluid ball movement and the contribution of non-North American players. Eric Fawcett delves into the differences between American and European basketball styles, emphasizing the stationary positioning in American basketball and the emphasis on movement to create space in European basketball. He also mentions Luka Doncic's perspective on the contrasting spacing in the NBA and EuroLeague.