Today we’re flipping the script on traditional childhood education and fitness. Andy Hicks sits down with Amanda Frolich, affectionately known as Action Amanda, the spirited advocate championing active play for kids. With over three decades of experience under her belt, Amanda has built a movement through Amanda’s Action Club, where infectious music, creative props (think maracas and bunny ears!), and Amanda’s energy get kids to move, laugh, and learn the joy of fitness. She’s on a mission to tackle childhood obesity and was recently named a Children’s Champion in the UK Parliament.

Amanda’s impact extends beyond her classes. She’s a Children’s Champion with the UK’s Children’s Alliance, advocating for healthier policies for young kids. She is also the creative mastermind behind the upcoming animated series, Coach Amanda and the Actimates, set to make waves globally in 2025. Whether it is energizing workplaces with her lively sessions or creating chart-topping children’s music, Amanda’s mission is clear: inspire a lifetime love for movement and tackle childhood obesity from the earliest years.

In a nutshell, Andy and Amanda talk about:

- Amanda’s journey and her unique, kid-approved teaching style

-Why early childhood is the critical time to instill healthy habits

- Her high-energy, fun-first approach using pom-poms, maracas, parachutes, and music to engage preschoolers

- The science and passion fueling her mission to reduce childhood obesity

- A sneak peek into Coach Amanda and the Actimates, her upcoming animated series that’ll get kids moving worldwide

- How Amanda transforms every setback into a stepping stone for her vision

- Stories of her success in bringing fun physical activity into workplaces and its benefits for adults, too!

- Her plans to take the programs to global platforms and her call for brand partnerships with giants like Nike and Adidas to amplify her impact

…and so much more!

Connect with Amanda:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-frolich-592834b

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealactionamanda/ 

X: https://x.com/amandafrolich 

Check Out Amanda’s Action Club:

Website:   https://amandasactionclub.co.uk/about/ 

                   https://www.amandafrolichthrive.co.uk/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Actionamanda/   

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amandas-action-club/ 

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk 

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/ 

Today’s episode sees Andrew Hicks stepping in for James to welcome back a special guest, Gary Laybourne, the CEO of Coach Core. Known for his signature mix of humor, insight, and a true passion for social change, Gary shares his journey and his vision for transforming communities through sport. His dedication goes beyond building careers; he’s redefining what it means to make a difference and reshaping communities across the UK.

Founded in 2012, Coach Core isn’t an average apprenticeship program. It’s a groundbreaking charity focused on providing young people from challenging backgrounds with a pathway to employment through sports, mentorship, and community leadership. Unlike traditional apprenticeships, Coach Core emphasizes personal development, pairing skill-building with mentorship and connecting apprentices with their communities as role models. What began with 20 young Londoners has grown to a national movement with over a thousand apprentices, changing lives and inspiring communities alongside local partners who believe in the power of sports to drive positive change.

In this episode, Gary discusses Coach Core’s ambitious vision for growth and invites listeners to explore how they can help shape the future with him. Don’t miss this must-listen episode if you’re passionate about social impact, sports, and youth development!

Tune in to learn more about:

- The art of building socially impactful ventures that balance purpose with financial sustainability.

- Coach Core’s inspiring journey and evolution from a local initiative to a national movement, impacted thousands of apprentices and millions in communities.

- How Coach Core marries business insight with a deep commitment to social change, offering young people vital tools for resilience and community connection.

- Why apprenticeships are crucial pathways for youth from marginalized backgrounds, and how Coach Core’s unique model of support, training, and mentorship sets them up for success.

- Gary’s challenge to conventional views of “a good job,” advocating for careers rooted in purpose and fulfillment.

 - Key insights on leveraging sports as a powerful vehicle for social transformation.

…and so much more!

Connect with Gary:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-laybourne

Gary Laybourne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-laybourne- 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gazlaybourne?igsh 

Check Out  Coach Core:

Website: https://www.coachcore.org.uk 

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/wearecoachcoreuk?igsh 

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/coach-core-foundation/ 

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk 

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/ 

In this episode, James Moore is joined by Anne-Marie Martin, the founder and franchisor of diddi dance, a revolutionary preschool dance franchise that’s captured the imaginations of babies and toddlers across the UK. Drawing from her experience as a professional dancer, Anne-Marie transformed her passion for movement into a thriving business. Through her innovative and fun approach, diddi dance has introduced toddlers to the joys of dance, inspiring a love of movement that lasts a lifetime.

As a board member of the CAA, she is a focal member of an organisation, offering activity providers the opportunity to raise standards and support them with business operations and accreditation. She has a wealth of experience in the activities sector, starting off as a single funky preschool dance class that has blossomed into a movement, with over 40 franchises nationwide.

In a nutshell James and Anne-Marie talk about:

- Her transition from professional dancer to entrepreneur, and how diddi dance was born from a gap in the toddler activity market. -How a gap in the market for non-traditional toddler dance classes sparked the creation of a national franchise that has now introduced thousands of children to the joys of movement. -The rise of diddi dance, from local classes to a national franchise while staying true to its joyful, inclusive ethos. -The importance of fostering early childhood movement in a supportive, non-competitive environment. -Insight into the Children’s Activities Association and how Anne-Marie’s leadership is shaping the children’s activities sector. -Tips for business owners on trusting the process and focusing on strengths. -The highs and lows of her journey and how she danced through the challenges in the children’s activities sector.…and so much more!

Connect with Anne-Marie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-marie-martin- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originaldiddidancer?

Check out diddi dance: Website: https://www.diddidance.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diddidancecrew

Connect with James: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/

In this episode, James invites Joe Lowther, the CEO of KICK, a man whose faith and passion have driven him to transform the lives of countless children, regardless of their background or faith. A decade ago, Joe made a life-changing decision to quit his job and join a team of seven at Kick London. Since then, he has steered the organization into a thriving national non-profit dedicated to offering hope and a future to young people.

KICK, originally founded by a small church in Richmond, is no ordinary organization. It’s a movement that blends sports with support, fuelled by God’s love, to uplift and empower children and young people. They achieve this through values-driven physical education, street dance, mentoring, chaplaincy in schools, and community KICK Academies.

Tune in to learn more about:

- The unwavering support of his family during his formative years

- The intersection of faith, career trajectory, and calling that led him to Kick London

- The initial struggles of running Kick, including a £50K deficit and lack of resources, and the pivotal moments that defined their mission, vision, and values

- Kick’s incredible growth from a regional to a national powerhouse, serving thousands of children across the UK

- A sneak peek into the various impactful programs Kick offers, from sports coaching and mentoring to chaplaincy services

- Joe’s unique leadership philosophy that emphasizes the power of authenticity, core values, and self-care

… and so much more!

Connect with Joe:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-lowther-

X: https://x.com/JoeLowther5

Check Out:

Website: www.kick.org.uk

X: https://x.com/KICK_GB

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/

In today's episode, James speaks to Mike Matera, a former professional footballer for the Western Mass Professional Soccer team, a coach, and co-founder of Beestera Soccer Training. With a passion for soccer and teaching, Mike boasts of a coaching career and a Masters in Physical Education.

From the mutual passion with his partner regarding development of an individual in a group setting, a club-neutral, supplemental training experience was established: Beestera. A soccer training company with the vision to change player development Beestera Soccer Training recognizes the limitations of impacting every individual player’s growth within a team setting, this provides a more personalized and targeted approach. 

In a nutshell, James and Mike speak about:

- The number of kids he has been working with on an annual basis

- Mike's earliest soccer moments and his journey to becoming a pro

- The origin of his business and his vision when it was a startup vs now

- Filling in the void players seeking for individual attention in a group training sessions

- The criteria they use to find coaches that align with their standards 

- Hoops they had to jump through for them to operate at their best in the geographical lomit they operate 

- A look into the behavioral trends in kinds and how they help them reshape the negative ones

- Routines Mike leans on to remain at his peak as he leads a business 

- Origin of the name Beestera 

…and so much more!

Connect with Mike:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-matera- 

Check out Beestera:

Website: https://www.beesterasoccertraining.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beesterasoccertraining 

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk 

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/ 

In today's episode, James speaks with Grace McNamara, Chief Executive Officer at EXI, and Louise O’Mahony, Head of Consumer Success at the innovative care delivery company. Both Grace and Louise have extensive experience in health, fitness, and care delivery, and they recognized a gap in healthcare where professionals often provide recommendations without personalized programs. To address this, they co-founded Exercise Intelligence (EXI), a MedTech company that empowers certified professionals to prescribe tailored exercise programs efficiently and effectively for individuals with multiple long-term conditions, helping to mitigate the risk of additional health issues.

Tune in as James and the duo speak about:

• Factors behind the massive drop-off in sports and fitness activities for teenage girls

• Their career backgrounds before founding EXI

• Dynamics in the healthcare and fitness space that led to the founding of EXI

• A sneak peek into existing solutions for fit individuals versus those available for people with long-term conditions

• Common pitfalls in GP referral programs

• How EXI aims to bridge the gap between the healthcare and fitness industries

• Their business model, including accreditations and validations

• Digital transformation in the healthcare industry and the major challenges in driving efficient end-user adoption

 …and so much more!

Check out EXI:

Website: https://www.exi.life/us/about/ 

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/exitherapeutics/ 

Connect with Grace and Louise:

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/louiseomahony

https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-mcnamara-irelandlondonboston 

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk  

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/ 

In today's episode, James features an amazing trio with bursting expertise in Wraparound childcare within the sports corporate sphere. Meet Craig Jones, who has over 2 decades of experience working with children and young people within education as well as the sports, and fitness industries and is now serving as the Chief Child Experience Officer at Junior Adventures Group UK, UK's largest provider of Wraparound childcare.

Joining him is Rob Brown, who is on a mission to improve the employability of sports students and fast-track them into their ideal careers as the Managing Director of First Step Sports Group and Director at the Institute of Sporting Futures (ISF).

Last but not least, Andrew Hicks, known for his impressive track record in leading teams to achieve substantial growth and operational excellence, is now UK’s Managing Director at Coordinate Sport, a pioneer in providing comprehensive software solutions for sports program management.

Listen in as the quad offers a rare glimpse of insights into Wraparound childcare, its past dynamics, current landscape, and future trajectory, helping you gain valuable invaluable insights to align your strategy and readiness for entry or advancement within the wraparound childcare space.

Looking for support with updating or creating a new wraparound programme in your school? Check out our free guide to planning a comprehensive wraparound programme today.

Connect with our guests:

Craig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-j

Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-hicks-

Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-brown-

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/

Get Your Free Guide: https://coordinate.cloud/guide/what-you-need-to-know-about-primary-school-wraparound-care/

In today's episode, James speaks to Graeme Eaglesham, the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Future Kids. Graeme is a former professional soccer player, coach, and youth trainer who has held positions such as Sports Education Manager at Liverpool International Academy and assistant coach at Bellevue University. Additionally, he is an athlete for Gymshark, one of the world's largest fitness apparel companies.

Through Future Kids, a non-profit organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, they transform generosity from affluent neighborhoods into providing a variety of sports programs (soccer, tennis, and fitness after-school programs) and camps. Each program is tailored with a unique blend of skills, fitness, and character-building activities for underserved youths.

Tune in as James and Graeme speak about: 

- Graeme’s journey from street sports to the heights of professional football and now visionary business leadership

- His thought process upon realizing the conclusion of his football career

- The impact of the pay-to-play model on game adoption

- Insights into running a business on the flip side of the pay-to-play narrative

- How they are leveling the playing field for kids in underserved communities and the remarkable programs they offer

- What he's anticipating at the ongoing soccer coaches’ convention

… and so much more!

Check out Future Kids:

Website: https://futurekids.leagueapps.com/ 

X: https://x.com/Future_Kids1?s

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/future.kidz/ 

Connect with Graeme:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graeme-eaglesham- 

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk 

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/   

In today's episode, James speaks to Paul Lawrence, the CEO at Challenger Sports and Teamwear. Paul is also a sports instructor and women's head coach, having made significant contributions to teams like Indiana State, Florida Southern College, and Knox College.

With the goal of increasing the number of soccer campers while positively impacting children's lives through soccer, Challenger Sports was established in 1985. Over the years, they have become the most sought-after soccer camp in the United States, having served hundreds of thousands of soccer players. In addition to soccer camps, tournaments, holiday camps, clinics, and tours, they also produce and provide sports apparel through their offspring company, Challenger Teamwear.

In summary, James and Lawrence discuss:

- A nostalgic journey into the culture and functionality of British soccer camps in the 1980s

- The history and aspirations behind the founding of Challenger Sports

- Lawrence's journey from sports coach to founding the most popular soccer camp in the USA

- Insights into the growth of Challenger Sports over the years

- Current initiatives and innovations within the camp

- Strategies for rebuilding and rebounding from the impacts of COVID-19 on their activities

- The research model used to equip young athletes

- Perspectives on leveling the playing field for less advantaged athletes to reach the pinnacle of their sporting careers

… and much more!

Check out Challenger Sports:

Website: http://www.challengersports.com http://www.challengerteamwear.com  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/challenger-sports 

Connect with Lawrence: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/profile/in/paul-lawrence- 

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk  

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/   

In today's episode, James speaks with Niall Quinn, an Irish former professional footballer who played top-flight football for Arsenal, Manchester City, and Sunderland. With 92 caps, Niall stands as Ireland's second-highest goalscorer of all time. He has also served as a football manager, sports television pundit at Sky Sports for over a decade, and as an interim Deputy CEO of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).

With many accomplishments to his name, he is also the founder and president of Team Taca, a private podcast that collaborates with youth soccer clubs to produce world-class private and localized club podcasts, offering content that educates, inspires, and empowers the next generation of youth athletes. Niall and James dissect the pay-to-play model dominating U.S. soccer landscapes, scrutinizing its impact on the sport's evolution while emphasizing how mindful communication through podcasting can greatly influence the mental health and overall well-being of young athletes.

In a nutshell, they speak about:

- The dynamics of the modern business side of sports

- The challenging pattern he observed in clubs and his strategy to alleviate tension with fee-paying parents

- How they implement their model to serve both children and their parents

- Insights on how to handle situations where your child's performance may not have shined brightly

- Notable professional footballers who emerged from their youth teams

- The importance of instilling work ethics in young players

- How they aim to inspire, empower, educate, and cultivate good habits in youth athletes for only 50 cents per podcast per kid

…and so much more! 

Check out Team Taca:

Website: https://www.teamtaca.com/ 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-taca/ 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/teamtacapod/ 

Connect with Niall:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niall-quinn-team-taca/

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk 

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/