The Get Down - Youth Athletic Development

Welcome back to The Get Down Podcast. In episode 11 of Series 2, I focus on youth sports specialisation, catering specifically to parents. Delving into the definition, risks, and strategies to overcome them, I’ll share valuable insights into the various forms of specialisation and their impact on young athletes. I’ll offer guidance on setting up for success and advice for parents navigating the co...

The Get Down podcast's second series begins! I’m so glad to have you back in the show, and for those of you who are new to the podcast, welcome! This is my promise to continue providing valuable content for the youth sporting community.  Episode 10 is aimed at coaches, focusing on the top five programming or coaching mistakes in the youth setting, covering issues such as misapplication of training...

Welcome to a bonus episode of The Get Down Podcast. In this episode I’ll share the incredible insights of one family's journey in the world of football. Both Jeremy and Ellie Carpenter (Matildas) have achieved heights in Football many aspiring athletes only dream of. These insights will share the extent it takes to turn professional whilst navigating the youth sports landscape, sharing many ch...

This guest episode is proudly brought to you by Gymaware. In this episode I welcome Trevor Morgan, a renowned figure in football coaching. Trevor's extensive experience, from Westfield Sports High School to coaching roles with the Western Sydney Wanderers and Football Australia, shines through as he emphasizes the importance of nurturing both talent and character in players. He discusses initiativ...

Welcome to episode seven of the Get Down podcast. This time, we’re going to talk about athletic development in schools specifically. We'll expose misconceptions surrounding this topic and enlighten on the challenges faced across various educational institutions. We’ll discuss three key points: the contrast between teaching hours and coaching schedules, the debate between hiring for marketing purpo...

Welcome back to episode six of the Get Down podcast. Where today's focus is squarely on parents navigating the complexities of youth sports in the wake of the pandemic. As we rewind three years to those turbulent times, it's evident that the landscape of family life shifts, with confined living and disrupted routines becoming the norm. Despite these challenges, there were moments of profound conne...

Welcome to episode five of the Get Down podcast, made specifically for coaches in the youth sports arena. In this episode, we will talk about the art of coaching beyond what you learn at university, focusing on programming prescription and utilising your coaching eye. Following the positive response from our LTAD (Long-Term Athlete Development) model discussion in episode one, we’re dedicating thi...

This guest episode is proudly brought to you by Gymaware. Our guest is unparalleled in his accomplishments in elite sport. Having worked with the best athletes around the globe and for some of the biggest franchises to go with it Darren Burgess knows what it takes to make it in professional sport.  Having held head roles in major clubs such as Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, Melbourne Football Club, and...

Welcome to episode three of The Get Down podcast. If you're a school diving into athletic development or specifically gearing up to create a top-notch facility, this episode is essential. I'm here to share my experience on how every school can avoid a common pitfall: investing heavily in an athletic development facility before having a clear model or understanding of what youth athletic developmen...

Welcome to Episode 2, and whether you're already a listener or joining us for the first time, thank you for being here. This episode is specifically for parents, eager to learn more about athletic development and why it's evolved from a luxury to an absolute necessity for the emerging generation. As a parent, you might be grappling with questions about athletic development, wondering if it's appro...

Hey there, welcome to our very first podcast episode! I'm beyond excited to share this journey with you, and before we dive into the nitty-gritty, I want to give you a bit of background on why I decided to jump into the podcasting world. The success of the "Sporting Parent" book had me receiving a tonne of questions about youth athletic development, from creating programs to navigating the parenti...