In this episode Founding Director 'Red Star Education' Kristen Cunliffe joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss Financial Fitness and how we can help our young athletes thrive with their finances. The recent BBC documentary 'Footballs Financial Shame' has brought the importance of this topic back into the limelight. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Many athletes facing financial struggles due to poor advice, exploitation, and lack of early financial awareness....

In this episode British Gymnastics National Head Coach and sports parent Barry Collie joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss 'Developing confidence, self-esteem and self-worth in young athletes' along with how we can create the best environments possible for young people to thrive both in and out of their sport. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Applying lessons from his own sporting journey to his own parentingEncouraging young people to find joy and bring energy to thei...

In this episode sports psychologist Elliott Newell joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss how as sporting parents we can help support the development of mental skills for our young athletes to thrive. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Personality flaws or just skill deficits?The importance of modelling emotional regulation during those tougher momentsImagery, breath work, mindfulness and journallingHelping our children meet the demands of their sportThe importance of vuln...

In this episode sports parent and life coach Stephanie Burge joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss 'Deselection, Release and Transition' and how we can help support young people through this incredibly challenging time. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Intense parental emotions: shock, grief, helplessnessThe emotional fallout of deselection and the importance of parental supportThe importance of being present as a parent rather than trying to “fix” the situationHelping ...

In this episode British Sailing Squad member Molly Sacker joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss her own sporting journey, the lessons she has learned, how we can best support young high performers and life gearing up for Los Angeles 2028. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: The importance of consistent messaging to young athletes from parents and coachesSacrifices or individual choices?Motivation and commitment and the importance of disciplineThe dangers of early success i...

In this episode human development and performance consultant Beth Kerr joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss ‘Technology and Talent' and how we can support young people's performance and personal development. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: The emotional tug-of-war that parents face regarding technology useThe pros and cons of technology usage on performance and personal developmentCause and Effect - is linking this to their performance outcomes key in supporting posit...

In this episode High Performance Consultant Ivi Casagrande joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss creating the best environments and support for young female athletes to thrive. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: The importance of consistent messaging to young athletes from parents and coachesProviding autonomy, encouraging exploration and developing decision-making skillsThe differences in how girls and boys experience pubertyThe coach and parent role in shaping positive ...

In this episode Associate Dean at University Campus of Football Business(UCFB) and author Dr. Richard Elliott joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss 'Supporting Mental Health in Young Athletes' and what that potentially means for us as sporting parents. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Mental health operating on a continuum, much like physical healthEstablishing a distinction between everyday struggles ("bad days") and long-term mental health issuesThe importance of pare...

In this episode one of the UK's leading performance psychologists Katie Mobed joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss her reflections from a lifetime in sport as an elite performer, a performance psychologist and now a novice sporting parent. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Katie’s background in gymnastics & sports psychologySome of the challenges we face in gymnastics and youth sportThe role of psychology in High Performance – success being more than just the medals...

In the first episode of Season 6, former England rugby international and World Cup Winner Lewis Moody joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss high performance, sports parenting and some of the things he has learnt and reflected on through a lifetime in sport. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Enjoying the journey as a family from development centre to young professionalThe importance of wider family structure and support on the journeyDeveloping our own self-awareness and ...

In this episode, the parent of young Arsenal premier league footballer Myles Lewis-Skelly, Marcia Lewis, joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss sports parenting and how we can best navigate the journey from grassroots to professional football. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Enjoying the journey as a family from development centre to young professionalThe importance of wider family structure and support on the journeyDeveloping our own self-awareness and communication s...

In this episode mindset/performance coach and former professional cricketer Lewis Hatchett joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss the positives and perils of perfectionism and what we should be looking out for in helping to support our young performers. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Lewis' own personal battles with perfectionism throughout his careerWhy not all elements of perfectionism are bad when it comes to performanceSpotting the signs of perfectionist tendencies...

In this 'Olympic Special' sports psychology consultant, speaker and author Chris Shambrook joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss the Olympic Games, High Performance and Supporting Young Athletes. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Chris' reflections on his Olympic Journey supporting world class performersLife behind the scenes of high performing teamsBeing curious about the information we hear as sports parentsStrategies for helping to support young high performersRecogni...

In this episode Dr.Alison Maitland and Jenna Ashford join Gordon MacLelland to discuss their book 'Drop the Struggle' and how understanding their approach of using 'Acceptance and Commitment Therapy' may help us as sporting parents to help support our young people to fulfil their potential both in and out of their sport. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: The writing of 'Drop the Struggle' and the motivations behind writing the bookNot falling into the trap of a one si...

In this episode Sport and Performance Psychologist in Elite Sport Rebecca Levett joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss supporting a healthy identity in our sporting children. We all want our children to have the opportunity to explore various identities and learn that their sense of worth can come from different areas and that many skills and strengths are valued not just those associated with ‘achieving success’. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: Identity and how we def...

In this episode Australian Institute of Sport Athlete Development Senior Lead Graham Turner joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss his latest book 'The Young Athlete's Perspective.' This book features six stories told by young athletes about their talent development experiences in sport. Each young athlete tells a personal story. They describe their own individual set of circumstances and provide a personal perspective that has been shaped by living in contemporary times. These unique stories are...

In this episode Michelin starred chef and sports parent Tom Kitchin joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss high performance and sports parenting. Tom has lived experience as a parent going through the football academy journey and it was great to discuss how his own working life in high performance has influenced his ongoing approach with his four children. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: The realities and complexities of being a sport parentKeeping as balanced as possib...

In this episode author and sports parent Catherine Baker joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss being a sports parent and the complexities of the role based on her experiences of parenting three sporting children, one of whom is currently involved in professional rugby. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: The realities of being a sports parentLearning on the job and navigating the role of a sports parentThinking about our communication, our language and the messages we give...

In this episode author and founder of 'The Changing the Game Project' joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss being a champion teammate, what that actually means and how we as parents can support our children to fulfil this role. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: The importance of being a teammate in life, not just in sportHow we all need to learn to connect, compete and leadMaking the choice to be a 'Champion Teammate'Recognising the strengths and weaknesses of yourself a...

In this episode Motivational Interviewing expert and trainer and sports parent Orla Adams joins Gordon MacLelland to discuss 'Motivational Interviewing' and how it can help us as sports parents enhance the quality of conversations and navigate some of the difficult moments we face with our young people around their sporting experience. During the conversation they discuss amongst other things: 'Motivational Interviewing' and its place in sports parenting and the world of sportThe importance o...