Chris Harwood is the guest of the RU Sport Psych Podcas this time. He is a leading scholar in sports psychology and works as the director of the Research Centre for Sport, Health and Performance Sciences at Nottingham Trent University in the UK, where he is also a professor. Chris developed the 5C framework, the most widespread method for teaching psychological skills training for children, adolescents and parents. 

Daði Rafnsson is the host of this show. He is a doctoral student at the Department of Psychology at RU and a part-time lecturer in the Department of Sports Science.

Chris has published over 160 academic articles, book chapters, and books. He is on the editorial board of many prestigious academic publications and has actively participated in international collaborations, including an Erasmus project that he has recently worked on with RU, ÍSÍ, and UMFÍ on psychological skills training for adolescents.

Chris' research focuses on psychosocial factors that affect athletes' development, well-being, and performance. Including a positive approach from coaches, the supportive role of parents, and environmental factors that affect well-being and performance. Based on his experience and work with English football teams, he created the 5C methodology, which will be the focus of this section.

The 5C framework is probably the most widely used method for teaching psychological skills training to children, adolescents, and parents. It is based on theories of positive and holistic skill development. The essential C is commitment, then comes communication, concentration, control and confidence, resulting from taking responsibility for thinking about and working purposefully on the skill. The 5Cs are based on a theoretical basis, are easy to understand and flexible. Thus, they have been used as a teaching method, an intervention method, and parent education, to name a few examples.

RU Sport Psych Podcast is a series within RU Sports Chat (Íþróttarabb HR), hosted by the Department of Sports Science at Reykjavík University. This series explores sports psychology from various perspectives, delving into theoretical and practical aspects.

 Guests are experts in sports psychology, and most collaborate with the Department of Sports Science at RU, whether in teaching or research. The podcast aims to deepen the understanding of sports psychology and share scientific and applied knowledge that benefits the sports environment.

Whether you are an athlete, coach, researcher, or simply an enthusiast of sports psychology, the RU Sport Psych Podcast is the platform for you.