"Providing handrails not handcuffs" - a conversation with Olly Logan

Olly Logan is 'Analysis Lead' at British Swimming. This is a rather misleading title as it doesn't really do justice to the role that Olly plays in supporting the development of elite British swimmers. As you will see from this conversation Olly's role is about using analysis, data, research and skill acquisition knowledge to devise interventions that will help the best get better.

In this fascinating conversation we explore a range of topics including:

• Why all road cyclists should do cyclo-cross

• Why we should keep the 'technical groove' as shallow as possible for as long as possible

• His very different take on 'the rule of 3'

• The ways he helped an existing Olympic Champion to become even better

This is one not to be missed...

"Coaching is a mystery rather than a puzzle" - a conversation with Alex Twitchen

Alex Twitchen has spent all his life in coaching.

It is something that he has been able to combine as a career and as a practitioner. He is passionate about learning and development and is as passionate about helping other coaches develop as he is about the development of the players he coaches.

His most recent career move has seen him working in the 'University in the Cloud' so that he can bring more opportunities to help more coaches learn and develop.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode but here are some of the nuggets you will take away by listening...

• Jelly Tot Football

• Trashcan Challenge

• The 'Open Box' curriculum for coaches

• His new project to help coaches to develop other coaches

• The flow between games based and constraints led approaches

Lots to take away!!

Hope you enjoy

"I don't think you can go wrong if you give the players the tools to do it for themselves&q

Anastacia Long has had an amazing coaching journey!

In this enthralling story (that is straight out of the Hollywood archives!) she tells us all about her journey from going from being an elite high board diver to the novice rugby coach of a group of under 15 boys with no previous rugby experience, and how they went all the way to the finals of one of England Rugby’s national schools’ competitions.

In this episode she shares the way in which her coaching approach has evolved and developed and describes the ways in which she had to create an environment which asked the players to lead the activity and self-organise. The story also has some powerful lessons about the power of sport as a way to help bring young people together and develop their resilience and connection.

It is a tale of triumph against adversity, of bucking the trend, beating the odds. there is heartbreak and there is joy. As I said in the podcast, if any movie producers are out there, I want Executive Producer credit!!

I hope you enjoy