If you're getting value from our podcast check out our membership options and coaching community at www.theconstraintscollective.com where you can access podcast summaries, narrated presentations, early release podcasts and monthly online meet ups with experts from the Constraints Collective.

Support the running of the podcast at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective

Link to Ian's book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dynamic-Coaching-Playbook-Cricket-Coaches/dp/B0FMNYQFBV

In this episode we introduce our new website and Ian's new book. We discuss the ideas behind the website, a hub designed to support coaches and practitioners apply skill acquisition principles in practice. And focus on Ian's book, a resource to support coaches in facilitating more effective learning environments.

Enjoy!!

If you're getting value from our podcast check out our membership options and coaching community at theconstraintscollective.com where you can access podcast summaries, narrated presentations, early release podcasts and monthly online meet ups with experts from the Constraints Collective.

Support the running of the podcast at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective

In this episode we explore Eric’s views on fear, risk, and why people actively seek out challenging or uncertain environments, not for adrenaline, but for meaning, connection, and personal growth. 

The conversation highlights how adventure-sport insights surprisingly overlap with team sports and coaching, especially around how athletes relate to their environment and how emotions shape learning. We discuss the value of helping people engage with uncertainty rather than protecting them from it, and how coaches can design environments that support exploration, authenticity, and self-discovery.

Enjoy!!

In this episode, we dive into one of coaching’s most persistent debates: Should athletes learn through unopposed drills or through messy, opponent-driven, game-like action?

A new paper entitled "The value of opposed and unopposed practice: An ecological dynamics rationale for skill development" argues that if we want athletes to develop skills that actually transfer to competition, we need to rethink traditional ideas about “technique first, game later.” 

We discuss how movement isn’t something athletes store and then retrieve, rather it emerges from the problems they’re solving in the moment. And because real sport is alive, unpredictable, and constantly changing, training needs to reflect that.

However, the paper argues that unopposed practice isn’t useless. But instead of perfecting a single “correct” technique, it is suggested that using isolated work is useful to let athletes explore possibilities, experiment, and build confidence. The magic happens when we add aliveness: opponents, information, timing, space, pressure. That’s where athletes learn to become more skilful. 

Enjoy!

Link to paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/00336297.2024.2420759?needAccess=true

Stuart Armstrong is a workforce development system builder, learning innovation architect, skill acquisition specialist, and ecological dynamicist, and host of the Talent Equation Podcast. 

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In this episode we discuss an article from The Athletic entitled “What is the CLA? Inside the revolutionary coaching method quietly fuelling the world’s best athletes.”

We reflect on the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) in coaching challenging the notion that it’s a “revolution,” since the foundational work by Carl Newell is nearly 40 years old. 

The discussion explores:

• How CLA is rooted in motor learning and ecological dynamics.
• The contrast between individualistic coaching cultures (like in the U.S.) and collective, environment-centered approaches advocated by CLA.
• How traditional practices (e.g., rigid playbooks) can hinder athlete development by limiting adaptability and creativity.
• The importance of coaches framing learning intentions skilfully, shaping environments that invite effective exploration and self-organisation rather than prescribing fixed solutions.

Enjoy!

Link to the article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6665943/2025/09/29/sports-training-cla-coaching-wembanyana-ohtani/?source=user_shared_article

Dr Jonathon Headrick is a lecturer and researcher in the field of exercise and sports science. He is also an accredited Exercise (AES) and Sports (ASpS) Scientist recognised by ESSA.  Dr Headrick's expertise lies in skill-acqusition and learning design in sport, with applications spanning junior development through to elite level performance contexts. Jonathon's research is founded on theoretical frameworks including Ecological Dynamics and the Constraints-Led Approach to provide principled recommendations and implications for various sport stakeholders. Dr Headrick continues to engage and collaborate with a range of sporting organistaions and partners including the AIS, QAS, Paralympics Australia, Cricket Australia, Swimming Australia, Surfing Australia, and Basketball Queensland to support his impacful research.

If you're getting value from our podcast check out our Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective where you can access member only podcasts and monthly meet ups, a range of resources and an online coaching community.

In this episode we ask the question 'Do sport organisations need skill acquisition specialists?'. 

We explore how a skill acquisition specialist (SAS) could help coaches create learning environments that balance structure with adaptability, foster athlete autonomy, improving session design, and managing complexity within team dynamics. 

We also discuss how constraints shape behaviour, the role of communication in developing decision-making, and the importance of reflection for both coach and player growth. Practical examples are shared that illustrate how small adjustments in task design can lead to big improvements in performance. We conclude with advice for coaches seeking to align their philosophy with daily practice and long-term athlete development. 

Enjoy!!

If you're getting value from our podcast check out our Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective where you can access member only podcasts and monthly meet ups, a range of resources and an online coaching community.

Matt Miller-Dicks is an Associate Professor in Skill Acquisition in the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. Matt has published over 50 peer-reviewed publications in outlets that primarily span the disciplines of sport and exercise science and experimental psychology. He has a wide-range of applied experience, having worked collaboratively with national and international teams in sports including rugby and football, as well as government agency.

Matt's research interests are focused on the visual control of movement in natural environments and he has expertise in the use of mobile eye tracking technology. He is particularly interested in examining how perception and action are skilfully adapted to changing environmental demands across the lifespan. Matt's research has been applied to different domains, including health and safety settings, anticipation and decision-making in sport, and training that aims to improve these facets of sport performance.

Enjoy!

If you're getting value from our podcast check out our Patreon site at patreon.com/TheConstraintsCollective where you can access member only podcasts and monthly meet ups, a range of resources and an online coaching community.

In this episode we reflect on a busy September, with a spotlight on Ian’s recent work in Bangladesh cricket. Invited by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, he and colleagues ran a three-day workshop focused on player development through constraint-led coaching, emphasising problem-solving, game-based practice, and cultural relevance. 

The discussion highlights how local traditions, religion, and upbringing influence coaching and performance. Broader themes include co-designing practice, fostering adaptability, focusing on strengths, and creating representative learning environments that mirror competition. 

Enjoy!

In this episode, we summarise our conversation with football coach and thinker, Jamie Hamilton. Jamie’s unique blend of practical coaching experience and deep theoretical exploration has shaped his insights into positional and relational approaches in football. We explore how culture, adaptability, and authenticity influence coaching, and why football must be seen as a human game beyond just data and analytics. From South American influences to the modern evolution of tactics, Jamie’s perspective challenges traditional views and inspires coaches to think differently about practice design and player development. A must-listen for coaches and performance practitioners. 

Link to Jamie's article https://medium.com/@stirlingj1982/what-is-relationism-c98d6233d9c2