In this ‘Dog Walk Diary’ episode, I dive deep into how narratives and slogans shape coaching approaches and talent development, particularly examining how research concepts like the "10,000-hour rule" and "talent needs trauma" get oversimplified and sometimes misapplied in practice. I explore the tension between evidence-informed practice and harmful performance narratives, advocating for a more nuanced "talent needs turbulence" approach that values challenge without crossing into potentially damaging territory.

Key takeaways:
- How Ericsson's deliberate practice research was popularised but oversimplified through Gladwell's "10,000-hour rule," shifting focus from quality to quantity

- Why catchy three-word slogans like "talent needs trauma" can be problematic when they justify harsh coaching practices in performance environments

- The importance of researchers taking responsibility for how their work is presented and the real-world consequences of their messaging

If you're interested in joining more conversations about ecological approaches to coaching, join my learning group 'The Guild of Ecological Explorers' by heading to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and clicking on the 'join a learning group' button.

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I had a fascinating conversation with Bren Veziroglu about ecological dynamics and how it's transforming coaching and movement practice. Bren's journey from a self-described "skinny, unathletic" teen to becoming an influential voice in movement education reveals powerful insights about skill development and learning.

Three key takeaways from our conversation:

1. Traditional drilling approaches develop technique but not true skill. By understanding that skill emerges from the dynamic interaction between the person and their environment, we can design more effective practice methods.
2. The ecological approach creates more joy and engagement in learning, making practice not only more effective but inherently rewarding. When activities are task-led rather than drill-led, both coaches and athletes experience more flow.
3. Developing physiological capabilities is important, but these should be built through functional movements aligned with the actual demands of the activity, rather than isolated exercises with questionable transfer.

To continue exploring these ideas with like-minded coaches and practitioners, join my learning group 'The Guild of Ecological Explorers' by heading to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and clicking the 'join a learning group' button.

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I recently had the absolute pleasure of recording a conversation with Dr. Julia Blau and Dr. Jeffrey Wagman, authors of "An Introduction to Ecological Psychology: A Lawful Approach to Perceiving, Acting, and Cognising." Our conversation explored how humans actually perceive and interact with the world around them and question the traditional assumptions about psychology which suggests that we need to create mental representations of the world before we can act.

Julia and Jeff shared insights on how the ecological approach transforms our understanding of human movement, and we contextualise this to enpack how we might better provide opportunities for young people to develop their abilities in sport and physical activity.  We discussed how creating rich, varied environments allows people to develop their own solutions to movement problems. This approach promotes agency, enjoyment, and ultimately better performance across many fields from sports coaching to education. 

Key Takeaways:

1. Ecological psychology views perception and action as directly connected - we don't need to build internal models of the world to interact with it effectively.
2. Variability in practice isn't something to eliminate; it's actually essential for developing adaptable skills that work in changing environments.
3. When teaching movement skills, focus on helping people recognise when something feels right rather than precisely dictating the movements they should make.

If you're interested in joining a community where we explore these concepts further, join our learning group 'The Guild of Ecological Explorers' by heading to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and clicking on the 'join a learning group' button.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

I recently had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Paddy McQueen from Swansea University to discuss a fascinating paper he had authored exploring the ethical dilemmas of supporting talented children. Our conversation explored the philosophical questions about childhood, talent development, and the responsibilities we have as parents, coaches and policy makers. 

Paddy introduced me to three different views of childhood - 'the sapling view' (seeing childhood merely as preparation for adulthood), 'the fruit view' (seeing childhood as superior to adulthood), and 'the caterpillar view' (seeing childhood and adulthood as distinctly valuable stages). These perspectives create different frameworks for thinking about how we should approach the sport experience for children.

We discussed the tension between prioritising intrinsic childhood goods like free play, fun and social connection, versus instrumental goods that prepare children for adult success. The conversation revealed how deeply our cultural mindset about childhood affects the decisions we make in youth sports—often leading to an industrialised approach that sacrifices childhood experiences for potential future achievements that statistically few will attain.

My three key takeaways from the conversation:

1. How we view childhood fundamentally shapes our approach to talent development—each perspective (sapling, fruit, or caterpillar) leads to different choices.
   
   
2. The sacrifices required for "talent maximisation" often undermine intrinsic childhood goods that cannot be recovered later in life.
   
   
3. Playful, enjoyable sporting experiences may actually be more effective for skill development than highly structured, adult-centric training methods.

If you found these ideas thought-provoking, I invite you to join my learning group called 'The Guild of Ecological Explorers' by heading to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and clicking on the 'join a learning group' button. There you'll connect with others who are exploring these connections between philosophy, psychology, and sports development

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Mark and I welcome Alan Keane to the show for an in depth discussion around the intersection of PDS and Ecological Dynamics, how Alan builds an unique open and trusting relationship between him and his assistant coach and also whether we have absolutes more objective moral rules guiding our practice.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

In this episode I speak with tennis coach Steve Whelan about his transformative journey from traditional technical coaching to an ecological, constraints-led approach. Coming from a football and multi sport coaching background, Steve describes how his unorthodox path led him to question conventional coaching wisdom. After 18 years of frustration trying to conform to rigid technical models, Steve discovered the power of game-based learning and player-led exploration. He shares candid insights about the disconnect between traditional coaching and actual match performance, why children thrive when given freedom to explore, and how embracing uncertainty has not only made him a better coach but a happier person.

Key Takeaways:

1. Tennis coaching has become overly focused on technical perfection at the expense of developing adaptable, creative players who love the game.
2. Creating meaningful learning environments where players solve problems themselves builds more resilient competitors than prescriptive technical instruction.
3. Traditional coaching approaches often cause unnecessary stress for both coaches and players, while ecological approaches empower both to find joy in the learning process.

Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers by heading to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and clicking on the 'join a learning group' button to connect with like-minded coaches across various sports who are exploring alternative approaches to skill development.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Out on my morning dog walk (yes, the one where I have to put the flashing collar on my black dog ‘Flo’ so we can be seen in the dark!), I found myself reflecting on what I call the "eighth waste" in organisations - the waste of human potential.

Drawing on Toyota's management principles, I explore why so many of us in workforce development struggle to make our case to leadership, despite knowing just how vital our work is.

If you're working in coaching, workforce development, or people development roles and sometimes feel your impact isn't fully understood by those above you, I think you'll find both practical insights here and, importantly, a reminder that you're not alone. I'll share my thoughts on how we can bridge the gap between development professionals and leadership, turning our frustrations into productive action.

I'll also tell you about two communities I've created where you can connect with others facing similar challenges: the Guild of Pedagogical Explorers and our new initiative, The Cobbler's Children. Because sometimes, the best solutions come from supporting each other.

Duration: 45 minutes
Tags: #WorkforceDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment #SportsDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

In today's episode, I'm thrilled to welcome back Richard Shorter, also known as 'Non-Perfect Dad', for a deep-dive conversation that every sports parent needs to hear. Rich brings his unique perspective as both a Baptist minister and a "conversation architect" who works with sports organisations, schools, and families to navigate the complex world of sports parenting.

We explore the challenging emotional landscape parents face when supporting young athletes - from managing our own reactions on the sidelines to making tough decisions about how much to push or protect. I share some personal stories about parenting my own kids in sport, and Rich offers brilliant insights about what he calls the "undisciplined squads of emotion" that we all face as sports parents.

Key Timestamps: 

🎯14:20 - "Parents are still allowed to choose how they parent within an ethical safeguarding framework" - Rich challenges some common assumptions about sports parenting

🏆 27:45 - "I made a parenting choice that I didn't want to mortgage my future relationship with my kids" - I share my personal philosophy on youth sport development and the choices we make as parents

⚡ 32:15 - We tackle the complex reality of balancing performance aspirations with maintaining healthy parent-child relationships Whether you're a parent, coach, or working in youth sport, this conversation offers practical insights and honest reflections on how we can better support young athletes while preserving what matters most - our relationships with them.

Connect with Richard: Email: [email protected] Website: nonperfectdad.co.uk

If you would like to have more conversations like these then you might want to join my leanring group - 'The Guild of Ecological Explorers' - https://www.patreon.com/join/thetalentequation

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

Mark shares the PDS Action Review process and we discuss how coaches and leaders an use it to review performance but also how it is used for athletes, employees, etc can use it to self review.

This then becomes a foundational aspect of the way that organisations communicate leading to a shared dialogue about performance that becomes part of the normal fabric of organisational life.

To enter our competition to win 1 to 1 coaching with Mark. Subscribe to Mark’s website - pdscoaching.com Subcribe to our youtube channel and type 'Count me in' in the comments before next episode on 22nd January.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

In this special New Year's Eve episode, I welcomed back Shawn Myszka and Tyler Yearby from Emergence to discuss a recent academic paper criticising ecological dynamics and many of researchers and practitioners working in the space. The article is called "Ecological Dynamics as an Accurate and Parsimonious Contributor to Applied Practice: A Critical Appraisal" by Dave Collins, Howie Carson, Par Rylander and Ray Bobrownicki. 

I invited Shawn and Tyler onto the show because I wanted them to be given an opportunity to address the callous misrepresentation in the direct driticism they made regarding Shawn and Tyler's work on Bruce Lee's alignment with ecological principles. The conversation evolved into a broader discussion about the future of ecological dynamics in coaching science and the emerging role of skill acquisition specialists in professional sports. 

Five Key Points

1. The ecological community continues to grow, with practitioners across different fields finding value in applying these principles. It is interesting to note that Collins is authoring this criticism while at the same time promoting a book that embraces ideas from ecological dynamics. 
   
   
2. The paper misrepresented Shawn and Tyler's research about Bruce Lee, claiming they altered quotes to fit their argument when in fact they had been explicitly transparent about their modifications and reasoning.
   
   
3. There's a fundamental misunderstanding about combining traditional and ecological approaches - you can't simply cherry-pick elements without considering the underlying theoretical foundations. Anyone who suggests that you can do this is either being dishonest or they don't understand the basic assumptions of the ecological theory. 
   
   
4. The role of skill acquisition specialists is becoming increasingly important in professional sports, with a growing recognition that these positions need to be fully integrated into organisational structures.
   
   
5. You can pick and choose methods but you can't pick and choose thoeries. If one theory is directly opposed the the ideas of another theory - trying to suggest that you can mix the two together is just academic populism. 

Three Key Quotes

"Don't throw stones at people that are not throwing stones back at you. I'm just trying to advance the field." - Tyler Yearby

"You can't be a vegan and have the odd bacon sandwich... you can't have your theoretical cake and eat it." - Stuart Armstrong

"It's just their cop-out way of not actually having these types of interactions and instead hiding behind the keyboard and maybe a research journal paywall... that shows the disingenuous nature of what they're doing." Shawn Myszka 

Note: This episode was recorded on New Year's Eve 2024 with Shawn Myszka and Dr. Tyler Yearby from Emergence

Emergence website

Shawn and Tyler's Article 

The Article

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