Labours of Sport Coaching: The Science and Art of Coaching, Motivation, and Self-Determination

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When we talk about coach development, most roads lead to the same familiar places: NGB awards, scientific theory, and on the job learning. These are of course valuable, but they're also predictable (or 'samey-samey' as I like to put it), and keep coaches learning within the same narrow corridors of knowledge.

Enter fiction and novel reading as a creative, fun and enriching alternative for unlocking new learning for coaching.

In this episode I break down how novels can: 1) sharpen emotional intelligence (both for understanding and managing ourselves as well as others) through complex characters and nuanced relationship told with rich vocabulary; 2) widen our perspective by transporting us to different culture, contexts, and ways of thinking; and 3) offer escapism from the 24/7 mental load of coaching.

I also offer practical tried-and-tested tips for how to pick your first novel and create a habit of benefiting from this overlooked resource.

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Consultancy – Mark J Carroll

WATCH ME PRESENT AT UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING & SPORTSCOTLANDCOACHING SYMPOSIUM 18TH NOVEMBER 2025.

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| University of Stirling & sportscotland Coaching Symposium

In the small corner of motivational psychology for coaching, self-determination theory reigns supreme for its modern and empirically backed view of athlete behaviour and environmental supports. So much so that alternative view points have been largely cast aside and rarely discussed. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is one such model. While not without its faults and increasing datedness, Maslow's worldview still holds relevant and useful insights that - when combined synergistically with a more modern outlook - can aid coaches in problem solving athlete motivation and supporting long term athlete development. Tune into this episode to learn how balancing hierarchy and universality can help coaches meet athletes' needs across ages and stages - from - in Maslow's words - building safety and belonging to inspiring purpose and self-actualisation. Sound familiar?

Learn more about your host and access services and added resources:

Consultancy – Mark J Carroll

WATCH ME PRESENT AT UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING & SPORTSCOTLANDCOACHING SYMPOSIUM 18TH NOVEMBER 2025.

REGISTER FOR FREE BELOW.

| Universityof Stirling & sportscotland Coaching Symposium

In this episode I’m joined by Professor Alan Chu to discusshis recent paper looking at the intersectionality of race, gender, and skill level as potential determinants for the way individuals experience the coach-created motivation environment. It turns out that athletes’ identity characteristics can have unique effects not only on how they see coaches’ motivational behaviours, but also how they feel about the level of psychological needs support we offer. This conversation offers a nuanced insight into the collectiveeffects of identity characteristics on athletes’ perceived empowerment vs disempowerment in sport, and led to interesting speculation on potential causes to ponder,including the influence of culture on coach behaviour and athlete motivation.

Paper discussed in this episode:

Chu, T. L. A., Treacy, A., Moore, E. W. G., Petrie, T. A.,Albert, E., & Zhang, T. (2024). Intersectionality matters: Gender, race/ethnicity, and sport level differentiate perceived coach-created motivational climates and psychological needs. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 13(1), 59-75.

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https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

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When you plan, deliver, and reflect on your coaching practice, you may not recognise that your beliefs and behaviours can be traced back to higher order paradigms of thought, playing out at the various metaphysical levels. In this episode I seek to increase your awareness by offering examples of some (not all) coaching paradigms, breaking each one down according to their ontological, epistemological, methodological, and axiological positionings for cohesive understanding. The paradigms discussed - and in some cases combined - include behaviourism, constructivism, embodiment, pragmatism, and ecological dynamics, to spark your curiosity. Listen in to unlock deeper and more focused thinking and subsequent practice as a coach.

If you like this episode, I recommend these other episodes too:

Rethinking coaching philosophy

Coaching as a science, with John Lyle

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https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

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In this episode I play with the notion of free will being an illusion in a fully deterministic world, and what this would mean for how coaches treat athletes and themselves.

My thoughts are based on neurobiological and cultural arguments presented in Robert Sapolsky's fascinating book 'Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will', which I recently read. I take the book's central themes and consider the overlap with my own research on influences on coach behaviour, to help it make sense for sport coaches. The jury is still out on the arguments for and against free will, but playing along in this episode can help unlock new learning about luck, empathy, and patience in sport. While still providing a pathway for changing your own or others' behaviour through leaning into our 'machine-ness'!

If you like this episode, I recommend these other episodes too:

Don't change coach behaviour, control it.

A salutogenic approach to talent development, with Andrew Kirkland.

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https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

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In this episode I offer strategies for supporting players’ three basic psychological needs during each part of a matchday, from when they first arrive to pregame preparations to half time talks to side line behaviour in itself. Opportunities for heightened autonomy, competence, and relatedness are everywhere during competitions, as are restrictions if we’re not thinking proactively as coaches. So tune in to find out more.

If you like this episode, I recommend these other episodes too:

Managing athletes’ ego involvement in youth sport coaching

Ancelotti's half-time team talk coach, Eamon Devlin

Kevin Nicol - Providing structure within tactics

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https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

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Welcome to the third installment of episodes zooming in on practical challenges associated with delivering coaching that asks questions of our capacity and desire to support athletes' sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In this episode I discuss the trick topic of managing group size. Tune in to learn why we may act differently depending on how many athletes we're leading, coupled with our experience, confidence, man power, and underlying beliefs about priorities within our practice. You'll also receive potential solutions to mitigate these concerns.

My PhD thesis influenced this work:

STORRE: A qualitative multiple case study exploration of the antecedents of the interpersonal behaviours of youth football coaches in Scotland based on a self-determination theory framework

If you like this episode I recommend checking out these previous episodes too:

The time and place for athlete need support, and control

Managing athletes' ego involvement in youth sport coaching

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https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Read my new THE Campus article!:

Why academics should adopt a podcaster’s mindset | THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect

Traditional coach education can often feel stale and predictable in its delivery, which limits its effectiveness. Research evidence from myself and others is making a case for coach educator to diversify their methods. In this episode I provide some creative devices to cultivate fresh intrigue and engagement, deepen reflection, and bring about individualised learning with coaches. Novel style short stories, poems, films, podcasts, and even stage plays are all discussed for their unique potential as learning tools for coaches.

Papers and materials discussed in this episode:

Roberts, S. J., Baker, M., Reeves, M. J., Jones, G., & Cronin, C. (2019). Lifting the veil of depression and alcoholism in sport coaching: how do we care for carers?. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 510-526.

Douglas, K., & Carless, D. (2008). Using stories in coach education. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 3(1), 33-49.

'Where is the Line?' Film Exploring Duty to Care in Coaching - UK Coaching

If you like this episode I recommend checking out this one too:

The contemporary coach developer, with Timothy Jones

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https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

Read my new article on podcasting for academics!:

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/why-academics-should-adopt-podcasters-mindset

Ever feel like right now isn't the time for athlete input when coaching, or you don't have enough time to give it, or other outside conditions are just not right? Prefer to give autonomy during particular times in a practice session, or even blocks in a season? Are you conscious of the impact of weather on your coaching behaviour? In this episode I talk through the logistical and situational challenges of coaching delivery that combines with emotions and values to create behaviour. This conversation represents part 2 of the practical challenges theme kicked off last week, and offers both justification for more controlling - or at least less autonomy supportive - coaching behaviours, as well as challenges to supposed barriers to building a more motivationally adaptive environment for players.

My PhD thesis influenced this work:

STORRE: A qualitative multiple case study exploration of the antecedents of the interpersonal behaviours of youth football coaches in Scotland based on a self-determination theory framework

If you like this episode I recommend checking out these previous episodes too:Managing athletes' ego involvement in youth sport coaching

Coach-athlete relationship masterclass, with Sofia Jowett

The problem with coach observations

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https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/

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In the first of three episodes looking at practical dilemmas coaches face when 'doing the job of coaching', I discuss the place, role, and management of competition across training and matchday environments, specifically within youth sport from a self determination theory perspective. Beyond binary recommendations, however, the real world of coaching requires skill in managing the dosage of competition and all its interpersonal requirements to fully support athletes' psychological needs and longer-term quality of motivation.

My PhD thesis influenced this work:STORRE: A qualitative multiple case study exploration of the antecedents of the interpersonal behaviours of youth football coaches in Scotland based on a self-determination theory framework

If you like this episode I recommend checking out these previous episodes too:

Autonomy supportive coaching 101

Competence supportive coaching 101

Relatedness supportive coaching 101

Cesar Torres - A defence of competition in youth sports

Learn more about your host and access services and addedresources:

https://markjcarrollcoaching.wordpress.com/consultancy/