Parents in Sport Podcast

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 sport How we all need to learn to connect, compete...

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 t...

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 world Working on creating a healthy routine around devic...

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 NFL...

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 response The true meaning of High Performance - excellence in craft,...

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 impact The role of language and s...

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 world Lydia's book 'Women and Girls' Cricket' which aims to...

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 progress Understanding the importance of self-efficacy and helping to dev...

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...

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 g...

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 Lionesses Creating a bubble around athletes at high profile events to help them foc...

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...

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 recorded A coaching career that encompassed so many different roles acr...

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 ga...

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 athletes The importance of regular activi...

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 philosophy What it was like for Laurence growing up in a house of...

In this episode former Great Britain and England hockey coach Danny Kerry MBE joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss high performance sport, creating amazing cultures and sports parenting. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Danny's fondest memories of professional sport Creating a values based culture based on behaviours and actions The importance of 'Psychologically...

In this episode speaker, author and award winning educator Dr Jennifer Fraser joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss neuroscience,  what we know now,  what the research shows us and discuss what this means for sporting organisations, coaches and parents. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: The ability to evolve, train and rewire our brain Tom Brady and his use of brain training...

In this episode Clinical Psychologist, Emotional Fitness Consultant, speaker and author Dr Suzanne Brown joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss managing injury and recovery and how can we best support as parents at what can be a really challenging time for everyone. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: The challenge of injuries for parents and children Managing our own emotions a...

In this episode sports psychologist, author, podcaster and former professional golfer Dan Abrahams and Gordon MacLelland discuss match-day and competition, what that means for our children and how we can best support the process as parents. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Learning to sit back, watch and enjoy the experience of seeing our children compete Learning simple...

In this episode former professional cricketer Patrick Foster and Gordon MacLelland discuss the world of gambling and gaming and the addiction that almost brought an end to Patrick's life. Gambling and gaming is very much a topic that parents need to be aware of in an ever changing world so that they can monitor and help support their own children to ensure things do not spiral out of control....

Season 3 of the 'Parents in Sport Podcast' gets underway as former professional footballer Paul Stewart and Gordon MacLelland discuss a life in football, living through child abuse and helping support parents in protecting their own children. Paul suffered horrific abuse as a child by a youth football coach, which led him to an adult life of drink, drugs and suicidal thoughts. Paul’s sto...

In the final episode of Season 2, sports psychologist and author Dr Josephine Perry and Gordon MacLelland discuss sports psychology, the importance of mental skills and dig deeper into ‘I Can – The Teenage Athlete’s Guide to Mental Fitness.’ During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: The importance of mental health support for teenagers Creating a safe place for teenagers to share...

In this episode gymnastics parent James Porter and Gordon MacLelland discuss the world of gymnastics and James' experience of parenting three sons all involved in performance level gymnastics. Here at WWPIS we recognise the importance of having these conversations with parents on the ground, who often share similar thoughts and feelings. This can often help us all reflect, manage and shape th...

In this episode Laura and Daniel Massaro and Gordon MacLelland discuss the world of squash and Laura's rise to becoming world champion with her husband as the coach. They also chat about sports parenting, philosophy and creating the right environments for young people today. Both Laura and Daniel share their experiences from their sporting and professional journeys and we go into lots of deta...