PDP Video Session Plans are adaptable sessions designed by academy coach, Dave Wright. All sessions show key focus points, set up, and progressions so you can use them in your next practice.
Psychology
The science of behaviour and mind. A collection of content focused on better understanding our players.
PE Teacher & blogger, Sporticus examines the subject of participation in youth sport, sharing a story about an inspiring young man who took his role of team reserve in the best possible way. But what damage can our own ego and a results driven focus do to young players? Whilst coaching my school football team today a reserve from the opposition side caught my eye. He was a tall lad, who clearly hadn’t grown accustomed to his new height. A bundle of raw energy, he…
What does it take to be a champion? Founder of Changing the Game Project, John O’Sullivan shares his article on the work ethic and mindset of arguably the NBA’s most effective player & relentless worker, Steph Curry. All-American. World-champion. Greatest shooter on the planet. Most Valuable Player…twice. Yes, I am talking about Steph Curry, the all-world guard for the Golden State Warriors. These are the things we all say about him – we all know about him – when the lights are shining brightly….
The question this week comes from Justin: “We are an U13 boys team, with half the team from last season, and half the team is new this season. How do I create an environment to continue the friendships from last season whilst integrating the newer players who may feel left behind socially, which could in turn, inhibit their development as a player?” Your Turn: Ask PDP Anything Do you have a coaching question that we might be able to help with? We would love to hear…
The question this week comes from John: “I have a couple of players who are particularly challenging to deal with in my U12 group and demonstrate poor behaviour regularly. How do I manage this to help them, and the other players in the group?” Your Turn: Ask PDP Anything Do you have a coaching question that we might be able to help with? We would love to hear from you! Here’s what you can do: 1. Tweet your questions to us @playerdp, or contact us on our Facebook…
Bert H. Hodges and Reuben M. Baron The Big Idea As any reader of PDP’s research summaries knows, the journal selections for these reviews favors fairly recent research. Also, the selections for the most part have an obvious relevance to sport in general and coaching/playing team sports in particular. So why would we give time and space to an oldish paper (1992) that appears by its title to have nothing to do with the subjects our readers are interested in? Because this paper has everything…
How important is self-awareness in athlete performance? John Haime cites examples from both golf & football, discussing the potentially hazardous ‘blind spots’ in an athletes development, how to look out for them and how coaches can support athletes in navigating around these challenging issues. I was inspired to write this article by a quote I come across from a friend of mine, Melinda Harrison, a former Olympic swimmer who specialises in helping athletes transition from the world of sport to their next great venture. “If…
How do we break down self-imposed barriers? How do our own limiting beliefs affect coaching performance? Founder of Fit Across Cultures & cultural intelligence expert, Susan Salzbrenner examines just how you can navigate around your own invisible rope. I recently read a short story about how elephants are trained that I would like to share: “As my friend was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front…
FA Lead National Goalkeeping Coach and England U21 Goalkeeping Coach, Tim Dittmer, brings a wealth of wisdom to his dual role as coach and coach developer. In this interview with the 32-year-old, Player Development Project finds a coach already wise well beyond his years. In normal lore, it is thought that we grow wiser as we grow older. But Dittmer has somehow figured out that wisdom isn’t necessarily a result of a long life. Wisdom is measured by what we are willing to learn,…
PDP Lead Researcher James Vaughan and Research Associate Hanna Eggestrand explore the basic human values that shape coaching sessions and discuss some practical implications for coaches and clubs. Behind everything we do in life, there is a why. Why do people hold certain attitudes and behave in certain ways? Research shows a consistent but often overlooked factor at play here: our values. Essentially, when you ask yourself “why do I coach?” or “why do I coach like that?”, the answer comes from what you value deep down….
The concept of play is not only an essential element of player development, but also a key ingredient of performance. Founder of New Edge Performance & regular PDP contributor, John Haime discusses some psychological strategies for decision-making. If you are a football player, you know that overthinking in matches causes problems. Too many thoughts lead to hesitation, confusion and a lack of uncertainly in your abilities on the pitch. So, I’d like to introduce you to a strategy that might help you get into…
Some Costs of American Corporate Capitalism: A Psychological Exploration of Value and Goal Conflicts
Tim Kasser, Steve Cohn, Allen Kanner, Richard Ryan The Big Idea It might seem from the title of this research discussion on American corporate capitalism that it might have little relevance for the interests of our loyal Player Development Project readers. Well, if you give this summary a go you will likely change your mind. If one thinks a bit about the values and goals of corporate capitalism, it is impossible to ignore what has mysteriously become something of “the elephant in the room” in…
John W. Mahoney, Daniel F. Gucciardi, Clifford Mallett, and Nikos Ntoumanis The Big Idea It would be difficult to find an adult athlete or coach who doesn’t have a favourite quote on the need for mental toughness in competitive sports. Who hasn’t heard the general adage that success in sports is 10% physical and 90% mental? Or who among us hasn’t read the mighty locker room posters from the past: from Babe Ruth, “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up;” from Bobby…
PDP Video Session Plans are adaptable sessions designed by academy coach, Dave Wright. All sessions show key focus points, set up, and progressions so you can use them in your next practice.
The question this week comes from Daren: “I have a group of players who are U11 and there is a real mix of ability in the group. How can I help build the confidence of some of the players who may be of lesser ability? We have had a tough start to the season and after 4 losses the boys are struggling” Your Turn: Ask PDP Anything Do you have a coaching question that we might be able to help with? We would love to hear…
PDP Video Session Plans are adaptable sessions designed by academy coach, Dave Wright. All sessions show key focus points, set up, and progressions so you can use them in your next practice.
Tristan J. Coulter, Clifford J. Mallett, Jefferson A. Singer, Daniel F. Gucciardi The Big Idea There is nothing easy about the study of personality. Over the years, psychologists who do so have generated an incredible number of ways to describe and depict who or what a person is. One of the oldest and maybe the clearest ways of looking at what personality psychologists do is this: they study how a person is like all other persons; like some other persons; and like no other persons. …
PDP Video Session Plans are adaptable sessions designed by academy coach, Dave Wright. All sessions show key focus points, set up, and progressions so you can use them in your next practice.