Welcome to the final bonus episode of The Get Down podcast, where I guide you through building the ultimate athletic development framework for schools. Over the years, I’ve received countless questions from coaches, parents, and school staff about solving challenges in athletic development settings. This episode is your cheat sheet, breaking down every detail into three stages: the preseason, competition phase, and finals. Together, we’ll create a comprehensive, student-centred program that deve...
Nov 28, 2024•22 min•Season 4Ep. 36
In this episode of The Get Down Podcast, we wrap up the season with an absolute game-changer in the world of long-term athlete development. James Baker, the Head of Talent Identification and Athlete Development at Elite Sport UAE and Co-Founder/Director of The LTAD Network, joins us for a live podcast recording. James shares his deep insights into the evolving landscape of youth athletes, the challenges facing traditional sports, and the nuances of talent identification in modern sports science....
Nov 21, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 35
In episode 34 of the Get Down Podcast, I delve into the strategies needed to optimize athletic development within the school environment. This final instalment for schools starts with a common scenario where schools hire athletic coaches focusing primarily on top-tier sports, which can lead to challenges when responsibilities grow. I discuss three key strategies: expanding the scope of events beyond coaching, bringing supplementary services like physiotherapy and dietetics in-house, and fosterin...
Nov 14, 2024•12 min
Welcome to episode number 33 of the Get Down Podcast, tailored for parents aiming to set their children up for success in sports. I discuss three main points: selecting sports intentionally during different stages of maturation, emphasizing early and appropriate athletic development, and strategically managing your child's weekly schedule to prevent burnout and maintain passion. I highlight the importance of coordination-based sports in early childhood, team vs. individual sports in adolescence,...
Nov 07, 2024•15 min•Season 4Ep. 33
Welcome to episode 32 of The Get Down Podcast! In this episode, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges in modern coaching: bridging the generational gap with our athletes. I’ll walk through why many traditional coaching frameworks just don’t resonate with today’s athletes and offer up some alternative approaches that have proven effective. We’ll dig into three major points: long-term athlete development (LTAD) models and why they’re only effective if they keep athletes coming back, the imp...
Oct 31, 2024•13 min•Season 4Ep. 32
We welcome Ben Pullen, PhD paediatric strength and conditioning and Founder of Youth Exercise Centre, to discuss the intricacies of coaching young athletes and the role parents play in this journey. Dr. Ben shares his wealth of experience from working with youth athletes and provides valuable insights for parents and coaches alike. Key Topics: Dr. Ben discusses how well-meaning parental involvement can sometimes hinder a child's development. Younger children may benefit from their parents being ...
Oct 24, 2024•48 min•Season 4Ep. 31
This time, the focus is on analysing the pros and cons of various coaching structures within school environments. The discussion centres on three primary models: the homegrown coach, outsourced onsite coaches, and external facility providers. Each model offers unique advantages and challenges. The episode encourages schools to weigh these factors based on their unique needs and invites listeners from different coaching domains to share their experiences. The upcoming episode promises a special g...
Oct 17, 2024•11 min•Season 4Ep. 30
The episode focuses on the generational differences in children's engagement with sports, emphasising play and physical activity changes. I explore how a lack of unstructured play impacts movement competency and the technical development of youth athletes. It highlights issues such as a diminished interest in watching sports and the consequences of early specialisation vs. inactivity. Parents are encouraged to foster a love for sports through outdoor play, structured training, and by creating po...
Oct 10, 2024•12 min•Season 4Ep. 29
Welcome to Season 4 of The Get Down Podcast series! In this episode, we will debunk the overtraining fallacy among youth athletes. I will explain how my viewpoint has evolved over two decades of coaching, emphasising the importance of year-round athletic engagement and unstructured play to build resilient, well-rounded athletes. Key points include: Dangers of seasonal specialisation Benefits of multi-sport participation Practical strategies for coaches to support ongoing athletic development ...
Oct 03, 2024•13 min•Season 4Ep. 28
I sat down with Shane Gooneratne from PLAE to discuss the intricacies of constructing high-quality athletic facilities around the globe. From working with sports clubs and tech companies to government agencies and schools, Shane shares his experiences and milestones, highlighting standout projects like Loughborough University and the SHORE School in Sydney. We dive deep into the cultural differences in athletic development between Australia, the USA, and the UK. We also discuss the importance of...
Sep 05, 2024•32 min•Season 3Ep. 27
I sat down with James Godfrey, an influential figure who transitioned from representing schools and rugby teams in Australia to revolutionising the business of sport and financial services. Delving deep into his career highlights, the conversation covers his leadership philosophy, the importance of values, and innovative strategies for enhancing school sports programs. James shares insights on building effective teams, maximising resources, and leveraging sports for character-building and career...
Aug 29, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 26
We explore the real success behind school athletic development programs. Through a personal story emphasising the powerful impact of inclusive gym access, we discuss effective timetabling, distinguishing between student-athletes and regular students, and the critical role of well-being and pastoral care. Discover how to create a supportive and inclusive environment that benefits all students, not just athletes. Tune in for insights on fostering positive schooling experiences and encouraging life...
Aug 22, 2024•15 min
In this episode, we focus on helping parents set their children up for success in sports. We discuss the critical concept of general preparation, why it's essential, and how it has been lost recently. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls in youth sports, understand the importance of varied physical activity, and why early specialisation may not be beneficial. This episode is a must-listen for any sporting parent aiming to keep their child active, healthy, and on the path to long-term success. Sign...
Aug 15, 2024•14 min•Season 3Ep. 24
This episode is oriented to coaches in the athletic development space. We’ll address why 'fun' is often overrated in youth sports development. We explore the complex layers of fun and the critical need for structured training time. Key points include the importance of training, the various forms and implementation of fun, and how these evolve through different stages of athlete maturation. Stay tuned as we break down these essential topics to enhance your coaching strategies. Takeaways from this...
Aug 08, 2024•16 min•Season 3Ep. 23
In this special guest episode, Matthew Jay from the Newcastle Knights delves into the essentials of youth sports development and discusses the importance of nurturing talent through practical and theoretical approaches. Matthew shares his insights on what makes an elite athlete, the significance of intrinsic motivation, and the shift in mental health awareness in sports. He also highlights the rise of specialised academies and the role of technology and gamification in modern sports training. Jo...
Aug 01, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 22
Welcome back to The Get Down podcast! This episode focuses on how schools can effectively retain casual coaching staff. Tune in as we discuss three key strategies: fostering ownership among staff, providing professional development opportunities, and nurturing individual career aspirations. Learn how to build a formidable coaching team and advance your program. Also, stay tuned for our next episode featuring a special guest with extensive international coaching experience. Takeaways from this ep...
Jul 25, 2024•10 min•Season 3Ep. 21
Welcome back to the third season of The Get Down podcast, where today I’ll share expert advice for parents struggling with their children’s busy sports schedules. I’ll outline five essential tips: ensuring one full day off per week, limiting sports to two per season, engaging with children early by participating in their activities, being selective with specialist coaching, and being cautious of back-to-back training days. These strategies aim to balance athletic commitments with the joys of chi...
Jul 19, 2024•12 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Welcome to the third season of The Get Down Podcast. This episode focuses on the critical concept of Session Flow for coaches, emphasising its impact on the quality of coaching. In the episode, I’ll break down strategies for different age cohorts in the high school development setting, specifically for years 7-8 (12-14 years), years 9-10 (14-16 years), and years 11-12 (16-18 years). Key points include maintaining high engagement with minimal distractions for younger students, fostering greater i...
Jul 19, 2024•14 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this special bonus episode of the Get Down Podcast, I interview Evan Lawton, the founder of GymAware, about the origins and development of velocity-based training technology. We dive into the history of GymAware, the advancements in sports tech since its inception, and how the company has evolved over the years to become a gold standard in the strength and conditioning industry. Evan shares insights into the creation of their Flex device, its applications in high school settings, and the impo...
Jun 13, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Join me on the Get Down podcast as I dive into an inspiring conversation with Bobby Jovanovich, the renowned head coach of Brisbane Grammar School's swimming club. Reflecting on his journey from swimmer to an influential coach, Bobby shares invaluable insights on athletic development, technical training, and the importance of strength and conditioning (S&C) from a young age. We’ll discuss how he balances developing young athletes in a digital age and the role of multi-sport engagement in cre...
Jun 06, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Welcome to episode 16 of The Get Down Podcast! Today, I emphasise the critical need for schools to implement an athletic development syllabus based on the long-term athlete development model. I outline how a syllabus forms the foundation of all athletic programming, ensuring coaches have a structured guide for student training and progress. The episode argues for the syllabus’s role in allowing individual progression rates and highlights the consequences of not having a structured athletic progr...
May 30, 2024•10 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Welcome to episode 15 of the Get Down Podcast, directed towards parents involved in youth sports. Today, I explore the concept of 'opportunity seeking' and its potential misconceptions and financial implications. I discuss how the unconditional love of sporting parents, is often misconstrued in the competitive sports environment, and how this can drive a pursuit for better opportunities for their children, sometimes to their detriment. It outlines how this mentality can lead to misinformation, u...
May 23, 2024•14 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Welcome once again to the Get Down podcast, season 2. In this episode, I’m going to address the common mistake of misapplying tapering in youth sports training. I’ll begin with one of my own experiences in optimizing training schedules in school sports, focusing on the need for continuous development rather than peaking too early. The main points I’ll be talking about include the critical evaluation of training time allocation, the negative impact of tapering on long-term athlete development (LT...
May 16, 2024•12 min
Welcome back to another episode of The Get Down podcast! This is our fourth episode in series 2 and today we have an insightful interview with Nicole Kriz, the newly appointed director of Tennis Australia's National Academy, who sheds light on her journey in tennis, from player to coach to administration. She discusses the challenges and achievements of her role, especially post pandemic, the philosophy behind athlete development from the ages of 16 to 23, and the importance of adapting tennis t...
May 09, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Welcome back to another exciting episode of Season 2 of The Get Down podcast! Today, the focus is on year 10 children within school settings, a particularly critical stage for athletic development. I’ll discuss autonomy and independence training, and the challenges and opportunities associated with this phase. Also, key points include the need for customised programming and the potential risks of external training facilities. I’ll conclude with insights on empowering students for long-term succe...
May 02, 2024•12 min•Season 2Ep. 12
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 complex landscape of youth sports. Takeaways from this episode: Year-round participation in a single s...
Apr 25, 2024•11 min•Season 2Ep. 11
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 methods, reliance on quick fixes, inappropriate assumptions about youth training, misuse of tapering...
Apr 18, 2024•13 min•Season 2Ep. 10
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 challenges and road bumps along the way. All the while highlighting many valuable lessons parents and fami...
Mar 28, 2024•20 min
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 initiatives like the targeted athlete program, which rewards commitment and dedication while ensuring equal o...
Mar 21, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 8
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 purposes vs. prioritising experience, and the dilemma of casual and full-time coaching appointments. Let'...
Mar 14, 2024•10 min
