We discuss competing as a Paralympic athlete in the London 2012 Paralympic games, working professionally and volunteering in the disability sports sector, and find out how disabled sport has developed in recent years in sports such as Goalball, Table Tennis and Football.

This episode is guest hosted by Steve McFadyen, who’s worked in disability sport development roles for Table Tennis England and the FA, and is the Special Olympics Table Tennis Coach. We’re also joined by Alex Bunney, who works as London Development Officer and Men’s Assistant Coach for Goalball UK.

We then discuss the highlights and challenges of competing as a Paralympic Athlete at London 2012 with Adam Knott, who competed for Great Britain in Goalball and now coaches at Winchester Goalball club.

Show Notes:

* Steve & Alex’s backgrounds working professionally in disability sport [0:39]

* Alex talks about developing and coaching Goalball [9:46]

* Steve’s exciting role as Special Olympics Table Tennis Coach for the Abu Dhabi World Games in 2019 [22:44]

* Adam discusses his experiences competing at the London 2012 Paralympics and coaching Winchester Goalball club [28:56]

Key quotes:

“For me the best thing is that you see the impact of [working in disability sport], whereas in mainstream sport you often get negatives around it. It’s not easy to get things right but when you get a group of people together that might struggle to access sport but you find something that works and they go every week and love it – sport can be really powerful in that way and change people’s lives” [3:33]

“We’ve got a mantra at the minute; if we make someone aware of Goalball and give them an accessible opportunity, we can make them engage in regular physical activity… forget GB squads, if we make it accessible they will have a good time in the same way that non-disabled participants will, meeting new people, creating social interaction, that all sports can achieve.” (19:45)

“Goalball is still a small sport, it’s growing rapidly but usually you’d play in front of family and friends. At the Paralympics we played in front of 7500 people cheering the GB team, which was a surreal experience. On top of that we had the parade through the streets of London in front of millions of people, with many holding up signs that we couldn’t see!” [30:40]

Links Mentioned:

Goalball UK – http://www.goalballuk.com/

Winchester Goalball Club – https://winchestergoalball.com/

Special Olympics – https://www.specialolympics.org/

Steve’s Special Olympics Table Tennis Blog – https://sogbtabletennis890725420.wordpress.com/

We discuss competing as a Paralympic athlete in the London 2012 Paralympic games, working professionally and volunteering in the disability sports sector, and find out how disabled sport has developed in recent years in sports such as Goalball, Table Tennis and Football.

This episode is guest hosted by Steve McFadyen, who’s worked in disability sport development roles for Table Tennis England and the FA, and is the Special Olympics Table Tennis Coach. We’re also joined by Alex Bunney, who works as London Development Officer and Men’s Assistant Coach for Goalball UK.

We then discuss the highlights and challenges of competing as a Paralympic Athlete at London 2012 with Adam Knott, who competed for Great Britain in Goalball and now coaches at Winchester Goalball club.

Show Notes:

* Steve & Alex’s backgrounds working professionally in disability sport [0:39]

* Alex talks about developing and coaching Goalball [9:46]

* Steve’s exciting role as Special Olympics Table Tennis Coach for the Abu Dhabi World Games in 2019 [22:44]

* Adam discusses his experiences competing at the London 2012 Paralympics and coaching Winchester Goalball club [28:56]

Key quotes:

“For me the best thing is that you see the impact of [working in disability sport], whereas in mainstream sport you often get negatives around it. It’s not easy to get things right but when you get a group of people together that might struggle to access sport but you find something that works and they go every week and love it – sport can be really powerful in that way and change people’s lives” [3:33]

“We’ve got a mantra at the minute; if we make someone aware of Goalball and give them an accessible opportunity, we can make them engage in regular physical activity… forget GB squads, if we make it accessible they will have a good time in the same way that non-disabled participants will, meeting new people, creating social interaction, that all sports can achieve.” (19:45)

“Goalball is still a small sport, it’s growing rapidly but usually you’d play in front of family and friends. At the Paralympics we played in front of 7500 people cheering the GB team, which was a surreal experience. On top of that we had the parade through the streets of London in front of millions of people, with many holding up signs that we couldn’t see!” [30:40]

Links Mentioned:

Goalball UK – http://www.goalballuk.com/

Winchester Goalball Club – https://winchestergoalball.com/

Special Olympics – https://www.specialolympics.org/

Steve’s Special Olympics Table Tennis Blog – https://sogbtabletennis890725420.wordpress.com/

In this episode, guest hosted by Steve McFadyen, we talk to his father Duncan about the highlights of his career as a semi-pro footballer in the 1980s, which featured an FA Vase win at Wembley in 1988.

We discuss how the sport has changed since his days competing, including how the game is played, development of stadia, and how the sport has become an enormous global business in recent decades – and debate whether these changes have improved football, or been to its detriment.

Show Notes:

* Playing and watching football in the 80s [2:03]

* How stadia have changed [6:26]

* Football as a business [13:11]

Significant quotes:

“Part of the joy of winning a trophy at Wembley was going up those famous steps, collecting the trophy from Geoff Hurst… whereas on the tour [in the new Wembley] the steps go around the back and back out, and take away that moment” [12:28]

“I got my energy through putting carbs in my body… just eating pie and chips. There was no nutrition whatsoever. We’d won the league by 25 points and our striker who scored 35 goals that season’s pre-match meal was fish and chips” [21:05]

“I feel the quality of football in non-league now is better than conference level in the 80s, because you have the knock-on effect of foreign players in the league meaning good footballers are playing at a lower level then they might in the past” [24:00]

Out of context quote

“Technically I’m better – because I cost more” [15:15]

Links Mentioned:

Juan Mata Foundation – Common Goal – https://www.common-goal.org/

FA Facilities Grants – http://www.thefa.com/get-involved/player/facilities/funding

In this episode, guest hosted by Steve McFadyen, we talk to his father Duncan about the highlights of his career as a semi-pro footballer in the 1980s, which featured an FA Vase win at Wembley in 1988.

We discuss how the sport has changed since his days competing, including how the game is played, development of stadia, and how the sport has become an enormous global business in recent decades – and debate whether these changes have improved football, or been to its detriment.

Show Notes:

* Playing and watching football in the 80s [2:03]

* How stadia have changed [6:26]

* Football as a business [13:11]

Significant quotes:

“Part of the joy of winning a trophy at Wembley was going up those famous steps, collecting the trophy from Geoff Hurst… whereas on the tour [in the new Wembley] the steps go around the back and back out, and take away that moment” [12:28]

“I got my energy through putting carbs in my body… just eating pie and chips. There was no nutrition whatsoever. We’d won the league by 25 points and our striker who scored 35 goals that season’s pre-match meal was fish and chips” [21:05]

“I feel the quality of football in non-league now is better than conference level in the 80s, because you have the knock-on effect of foreign players in the league meaning good footballers are playing at a lower level then they might in the past” [24:00]

Out of context quote

“Technically I’m better – because I cost more” [15:15]

Links Mentioned:

Juan Mata Foundation – Common Goal – https://www.common-goal.org/

FA Facilities Grants – http://www.thefa.com/get-involved/player/facilities/funding

We discuss playing and coaching Table Tennis professionally with Craig Bryant, who has competed in national and international tournaments and played professionally in Belgium. He’s also worked professionally in the sport in coaching and development. Craig has set up the very successful coaching business, Top Edge Table Tennis.

We find out the highlights and challenges of Craig’s career at the top of a sport, how he’s built a successful coaching brand, and where he thinks that the sport could develop in the future.

Show Notes:

* The highlights and challenges of being a professional coach [0:58]

* Playing as a professional in the UK and abroad [8:00]

* The future of table tennis and how it may develop [13:12]

Significant quotes:

“I don’t necessarily structure everything I do. When I have someone new on the table, we have a play around and understand where they can make improvements… an important skill for a coach is to make training specific to people you’re working with and having variety to your work” [5:20]

“When I was 18 I was selected to play at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia in 2004… I wasn’t quite the level to get into the team, but I had the opportunity to go, I took it with both hands and it was an incredible experience to play on a big stage and come away with a silver medal in the team championships” [8:55]

“The biggest change I’d like to see [in the sport] is how the sport is delivered on television… when you see a tournament with 4 or 8 matches on it’s fine to watch… on television it’s often one table in a large arena and you can’t see the crowd, and the atmosphere gets lost. I’d like to see a Crucible type atmosphere with the crowd close to the action” [18:13]

Links Mentioned:

 

Top Edge Table Tennis – https://www.topedgetabletennis.co.uk/

Table Tennis England – https://tabletennisengland.co.uk/

Ping Pong World Championships – http://www.worldchampionshipofpingpong.net/

Bounce Wonderball Tables – https://www.bouncepingpong.com/wonderball/

ITTF – https://www.ittf.com/

T2 Competition – https://t2apac.com/

We discuss playing and coaching Table Tennis professionally with Craig Bryant, who has competed in national and international tournaments and played professionally in Belgium. He’s also worked professionally in the sport in coaching and development. Craig has set up the very successful coaching business, Top Edge Table Tennis.

We find out the highlights and challenges of Craig’s career at the top of a sport, how he’s built a successful coaching brand, and where he thinks that the sport could develop in the future.

Show Notes:

* The highlights and challenges of being a professional coach [0:58]

* Playing as a professional in the UK and abroad [8:00]

* The future of table tennis and how it may develop [13:12]

Significant quotes:

“I don’t necessarily structure everything I do. When I have someone new on the table, we have a play around and understand where they can make improvements… an important skill for a coach is to make training specific to people you’re working with and having variety to your work” [5:20]

“When I was 18 I was selected to play at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia in 2004… I wasn’t quite the level to get into the team, but I had the opportunity to go, I took it with both hands and it was an incredible experience to play on a big stage and come away with a silver medal in the team championships” [8:55]

“The biggest change I’d like to see [in the sport] is how the sport is delivered on television… when you see a tournament with 4 or 8 matches on it’s fine to watch… on television it’s often one table in a large arena and you can’t see the crowd, and the atmosphere gets lost. I’d like to see a Crucible type atmosphere with the crowd close to the action” [18:13]

Links Mentioned:

 

Top Edge Table Tennis – https://www.topedgetabletennis.co.uk/

Table Tennis England – https://tabletennisengland.co.uk/

Ping Pong World Championships – http://www.worldchampionshipofpingpong.net/

Bounce Wonderball Tables – https://www.bouncepingpong.com/wonderball/

ITTF – https://www.ittf.com/

T2 Competition – https://t2apac.com/

We discuss playing and coaching Table Tennis professionally with Craig Bryant, who has competed in national and international tournaments and played professionally in Belgium. He’s also worked professionally in the sport in coaching and development. Craig has set up the very successful coaching business, Top Edge Table Tennis.

We find out the highlights and challenges of Craig’s career at the top of a sport, how he’s built a successful coaching brand, and where he thinks that the sport could develop in the future.

Show Notes:

* The highlights and challenges of being a professional coach [0:58]

* Playing as a professional in the UK and abroad [8:00]

* The future of table tennis and how it may develop [13:12]

Significant quotes:

“I don’t necessarily structure everything I do. When I have someone new on the table, we have a play around and understand where they can make improvements… an important skill for a coach is to make training specific to people you’re working with and having variety to your work” [5:20]

“When I was 18 I was selected to play at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia in 2004… I wasn’t quite the level to get into the team, but I had the opportunity to go, I took it with both hands and it was an incredible experience to play on a big stage and come away with a silver medal in the team championships” [8:55]

“The biggest change I’d like to see [in the sport] is how the sport is delivered on television… when you see a tournament with 4 or 8 matches on it’s fine to watch… on television it’s often one table in a large arena and you can’t see the crowd, and the atmosphere gets lost. I’d like to see a Crucible type atmosphere with the crowd close to the action” [18:13]

Links Mentioned:

 

Top Edge Table Tennis – https://www.topedgetabletennis.co.uk/

Table Tennis England – https://tabletennisengland.co.uk/

Ping Pong World Championships – http://www.worldchampionshipofpingpong.net/

Bounce Wonderball Tables – https://www.bouncepingpong.com/wonderball/

ITTF – https://www.ittf.com/

T2 Competition – https://t2apac.com/

In this episode, featuring guest host Steve McFadyen, we discuss the future of sport with Andy James, a former urban designer that works in the sports industry.

There are a number of changes taking place in sport that are radically changing how its future may look. These include –

* Shorter, more accessible sports formats

* The rapid growth of E-Sports and VR

* “Gamification” of sports

* New technology

We debate how these new developments might affect sport, what challenges they might face, and predict how the future could look for the industry.

Show Notes:

* Shorter formats in sport [0:48]

* The growth of E-Sports and VR [8:57]

* Gamification of sport [18:10]

* New technology [24:58]

Significant quotes:

“I think T20 cricket has grabbed something that worked, fits around people’s normal routines, and has been marketed as a spectacle with top players taking part in it… other sports are considering promoting short formats from the top-down, but they’re not necessarily bubbling up from the grass-roots” [1:10]

“Virtual reality is exciting – I can imagine in 20 years having the VR mask on in the garden, and you could be playing squash against someone on the other side of the world… you still do the movements and wouldn’t have to pay for a leisure facility” [11:09]

“How far back can you go back to review decisions? By digging into it further you look for an extra layer of perfection… a lot of the excitement in sport is that mistakes are made, creating drama and opportunities for other teams to take part in” [15:54]

“Where sport and technology are crashing together… there’s all sorts of possibilities. The crucial component to it is that you can play a game in isolation, whereas apps and platforms create added meaning and context such as comparing your cycling times with your mates or looking at Parkrun statistics” [18:57]

Best Out of context quote

“You can’t see him here on the podcast but he is crying at the moment” [24:35]

Links Mentioned:

Guardian Sport 2.0 – The Future of Sport – https://www.theguardian.com/sport/series/sport-2-0

Strava – www.strava.com

London Sport Tech Hub – http://www.sporttechhub.co.uk/

In this episode, featuring guest host Steve McFadyen, we discuss the future of sport with Andy James, a former urban designer that works in the sports industry.

There are a number of changes taking place in sport that are radically changing how its future may look. These include –

* Shorter, more accessible sports formats

* The rapid growth of E-Sports and VR

* “Gamification” of sports

* New technology

We debate how these new developments might affect sport, what challenges they might face, and predict how the future could look for the industry.

Show Notes:

* Shorter formats in sport [0:48]

* The growth of E-Sports and VR [8:57]

* Gamification of sport [18:10]

* New technology [24:58]

Significant quotes:

“I think T20 cricket has grabbed something that worked, fits around people’s normal routines, and has been marketed as a spectacle with top players taking part in it… other sports are considering promoting short formats from the top-down, but they’re not necessarily bubbling up from the grass-roots” [1:10]

“Virtual reality is exciting – I can imagine in 20 years having the VR mask on in the garden, and you could be playing squash against someone on the other side of the world… you still do the movements and wouldn’t have to pay for a leisure facility” [11:09]

“How far back can you go back to review decisions? By digging into it further you look for an extra layer of perfection… a lot of the excitement in sport is that mistakes are made, creating drama and opportunities for other teams to take part in” [15:54]

“Where sport and technology are crashing together… there’s all sorts of possibilities. The crucial component to it is that you can play a game in isolation, whereas apps and platforms create added meaning and context such as comparing your cycling times with your mates or looking at Parkrun statistics” [18:57]

Best Out of context quote

“You can’t see him here on the podcast but he is crying at the moment” [24:35]

Links Mentioned:

Guardian Sport 2.0 – The Future of Sport – https://www.theguardian.com/sport/series/sport-2-0

Strava – www.strava.com

London Sport Tech Hub – http://www.sporttechhub.co.uk/

In this episode, featuring guest host Steve McFadyen, we discuss the future of sport with Andy James, a former urban designer that works in the sports industry.

There are a number of changes taking place in sport that are radically changing how its future may look. These include –

* Shorter, more accessible sports formats

* The rapid growth of E-Sports and VR

* “Gamification” of sports

* New technology

We debate how these new developments might affect sport, what challenges they might face, and predict how the future could look for the industry.

Show Notes:

* Shorter formats in sport [0:48]

* The growth of E-Sports and VR [8:57]

* Gamification of sport [18:10]

* New technology [24:58]

Significant quotes:

“I think T20 cricket has grabbed something that worked, fits around people’s normal routines, and has been marketed as a spectacle with top players taking part in it… other sports are considering promoting short formats from the top-down, but they’re not necessarily bubbling up from the grass-roots” [1:10]

“Virtual reality is exciting – I can imagine in 20 years having the VR mask on in the garden, and you could be playing squash against someone on the other side of the world… you still do the movements and wouldn’t have to pay for a leisure facility” [11:09]

“How far back can you go back to review decisions? By digging into it further you look for an extra layer of perfection… a lot of the excitement in sport is that mistakes are made, creating drama and opportunities for other teams to take part in” [15:54]

“Where sport and technology are crashing together… there’s all sorts of possibilities. The crucial component to it is that you can play a game in isolation, whereas apps and platforms create added meaning and context such as comparing your cycling times with your mates or looking at Parkrun statistics” [18:57]

Best Out of context quote

“You can’t see him here on the podcast but he is crying at the moment” [24:35]

Links Mentioned:

Guardian Sport 2.0 – The Future of Sport – https://www.theguardian.com/sport/series/sport-2-0

Strava – www.strava.com

London Sport Tech Hub – http://www.sporttechhub.co.uk/