Adam leads the Research for Athlete and Youth Sport Development Lab. With a background as Head of Academy Sports Science at Exeter City Football Club, Adam bridges the gap between academic research and applied coaching practice. His work spans collaborations with FIFA, the ECB, Olympic Lyonnais, and the South Asian Cricket Academy, focusing on talent identification and development processes in sport.

Three Key Messages

1. Understand the person before the player: One of the most important shifts coaches and pathway designers can make is to look beyond sporting attributes and first understand who the athlete is as a person. Factors like relative age, biological maturity, training age, family background, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity can all significantly shape how a player performs at any given moment. By understanding these individual characteristics first, coaches can better readjust their assessment of current performance and make more informed judgements about longer-term potential.

2. Widen the pool - different pathways for different players: Delaying selection matters, but so does broadening who gets considered. Adam shared two powerful examples: England Squash's birthday banding approach, which evaluates players as individuals rather than against age-group peers, and Denmark's Futures Team in football, a parallel pathway for younger or later-maturing players that has produced just as many senior international players as the traditional performance pathway. The message for clubs and pathway designers is clear - one route doesn't fit all, and widening the talent pool now pays dividends later.

3. Talent ID systems are designed for children: A simple but profound reframe: talent identification systems are built around children, yet they are rarely designed with children truly at the centre. Adam challenges coaches and organisations to ensure children's rights are actively lived and realised within their pathways, from child protection checks on scouts and recruiters, to consulting young athletes on the shape and experience of the pathway itself. The asset value placed on young players in some systems can all too easily overshadow the fact that they are children first.

Other Things Worth Knowing

The TIDE Society: Adam co-founded the Talent Identification and Development Environments for Sport Society (TIDE), a global network of over 150 researchers and practitioners across more than 20 countries. Their forthcoming position statement outlines 13 principles of talent identification, a practical and reflective framework for coaches, recruiters, and pathway designers. It will be published as an open-access paper in the Journal of Sport Sciences. Watch this space.

The South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA): A standout initiative born from research revealing that Asian cricketers were significantly underrepresented at professional level despite being overrepresented in the talent pathway, and despite showing no meaningful difference in bowling, batting, or physical metrics compared to white peers. SACA provides an intensive programme for 18–24 year olds, and in four years has seen 18 players sign professional contracts, nearly doubling Asian representation in first-class counties. Find out more here: https://www.saca-uk.com/

The coach's eye, valuable but not enough on its own: Experience genuinely matters in talent identification, but it also carries risk. Subjective judgement informed by personal experience can lead to unconscious bias. Even highly experienced scouts interpret players differently. Adam encourages coaches to pair their intuition with an evidence-informed, intersectional lens - one that considers who the athlete is, not just what they can currently do.

Adam’s Game Changing Advice: "Believe in every athlete — don't form a fixed mindset about potential too early."

Those selected gain confidence, opportunity, and development. Those not selected lose it. Keeping an open mind about who can develop, and over what timeframe might be the most important habit a talent identifier can build.

Get in touch:

Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/

Adam’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlkelly/

Skye’s mission is simple: inspire players by empowering parents.

Rather than falling into the usual “parents are the problem” narrative, Skye offers something far more useful - a way to see parents as an essential part of a child’s sporting experience. More importantly, she shares practical ways coaches can build trust, set clear boundaries, and create a stronger sense of community around their team.

Three key themes

1) Parents are part of the picture: Parents aren’t on the outside of youth sport, they’re in it. When they’re better informed, better connected, and clear on their role, it improves the experience for everyone. Players benefit. Coaches benefit. The environment becomes more purposeful and less stressful.

2) Boundaries build trust: One of the biggest takeaways. Skye talks about “door open” and “door closed” moments between coaches and parents. Not everything is up for discussion. But when expectations are clear, relationships improve - and coaching becomes easier, not harder.

3) Sidelines and car journeys matter: Some of the most influential moments happen away from the pitch. We explore sideline behaviour, car ride conversations, and how adult stress can impact children. Skye’s framework of supportive, distracting, and hostile behaviours is simple and powerful.

This episode will help you if:

• you’ve ever felt stressed by parents
• you want to build a stronger team culture
• you know the coach-parent relationship matters, but you’re not sure how to improve it
• you want practical ways to make youth sport better for children

Skye’s work is grounded in experience, backed by research, and focused on real-world application. You’ll come away with ideas you can use straight away and probably a slightly different perspective on parents too.

Links

• Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/
• Skye’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skye-eddy/
• Soccer Parenting: https://www.soccerparenting.com
• Feedback form: https://forms.gle/UwQad2r8xozcUKCW7

If this episode made you think differently about parents, sidelines, or the wider environment around young players, I’d love to hear from you. Use the feedback form to share your reflections or suggest future guests and topics.

This conversation will help you:

• think differently about how you design practices
• reflect on the questions you ask
• become more aware of how athletes experience your coaching

Links

• Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/
• Richard’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardsbarbour/
• Feedback form (share feedback, suggest guests, propose episode ideas): https://forms.gle/QJYropsa4grmFLCT9

Sally has worked across football for many years, including roles within The FA Skills Programme, academy football, and international environments such as Wales Women. Through her consultancy 4Growth, she now works with coaches and athletes to better understand the connection between brain, body, behaviour, and performance. She has also recently completed a Professional Doctorate focused on elite performance and neuroscience.

I’ve always found Sally’s perspective fascinating. She has a brilliant way of helping coaches see what sits beneath behaviour and performance, and how understanding the nervous system can change the way we coach.

Key Themes

Coaching the soil not just the grass

Sally explains how neuroscience helps coaches understand what sits beneath behaviour - the brain, nervous system, and emotions that shape learning and performance.

Regulation and safety in coaching

We explore why coaches need to regulate themselves first -  because “a disregulated adult cannot regulate a disregulated child.”

Small behaviours that shape learning

Simple coaching habits like how we greet players, the language we use, and how we structure sessions can have a powerful impact on development.

Links

• Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/
• Sally’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sally-needham-264918b5/
• Feedback form (share feedback, suggest guests, propose episode ideas): https://forms.gle/LNH76ce2ahwesSvj6

If this episode made you think differently about behaviour, learning, or performance in coaching, I’d love to hear your reflections. Use the feedback form to share your thoughts or suggest future guests for the podcast.

I love spending time with Alex, and this was a really fun conversation, but also one with plenty of depth. We explored what coaches can learn from thinking like gardeners, why the environment matters so much in practice, and how laughter, challenge, and co-design can all tell us something meaningful about learning.

In this episode we cover…

Coaches create conditions, they do not control learning

Alex opens with a brilliant analogy: the coach as a gardener. The point is simple, but powerful - coaches do not “make” learning happen on command. Instead, they shape environments where learning is more likely to emerge.

We explore:

• why practice design is really about the conditions we create
• how behaviour is always a response to something in the environment
• why coaches need to think beyond what players are doing and pay closer attention to what is shaping it

Better practice starts with better design

A huge part of the conversation centres on constraints, representative practice, and the relationship between the person, task, and environment.

We talk about:

• why space is one of the first constraints coaches should think about
• how training environments can accidentally teach the wrong things
• why starting with a game first can be a far better diagnostic tool than jumping straight into drills
• how co-designing challenge with players can help practices land more effectively

Laughter, challenge, and waiting longer

We also get into:

• why laughter and learning are not opposites
• what coaches can notice when they listen, not just watch
• why sometimes the best intervention is to wait 10 more seconds
• how not rushing in can leave space for players to solve problems for themselves

There’s a real thread here about trust: trust in players, trust in the process, and trust that learning does not always need rescuing.

A few standout ideas from the episode

• Start with the game and see what falls out
• Ask more questions instead of assuming you already know
• Design with players, not just for them

Links

• Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/
• Alex’s podcast — The Deep End: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-deep-end/id1686774407
• Feedback form (share feedback, suggest guests, propose episode ideas): https://forms.gle/SDCdYhS799nxgfrG9

If this episode gave you something to reflect on, whether that’s practice design, player voice, or simply the reminder to hold back for 10 more seconds I’d love to hear from you.

Use the feedback form to share your thoughts, suggest future guests, or tell me what topics you’d like us to explore next on the podcast.

Together we explore what it really looks like to coach with young players, not at them, and how great coaching doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful.

In this episode we cover

• Possibility Thinking: why children often see more options than adults do - and how coaching can unlock that.
• Voice, choice, and autonomy (without chaos): how to build responsibility in steps, so empowerment actually works.
• A hybrid approach to coaching: knowing when to lead, when to follow, and how to build a true partnership with players.
• Helping the “dribbler” thrive: instead of restricting players, supporting what motivates them and shaping it into smarter decisions.
• Scaling the game for young children: why getting formats right (like 2v2, 2v1, and 3v3) matters for learning, enjoyment, and long-term participation.
• Space as a coaching tool: different pitch sizes create different “returns” - and coaches can get more intentional with this.
• From session topics to session objectives: why “How can we score more goals?” can engage more players than “Tonight is dribbling”.
• Randomness & reactive agility: building practice that players must notice and adapt to - like the real game.
• Game-changing advice: the underrated value of volunteering, mentoring, and learning alongside others over time.

Links

• Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/ 
• Pete’s website — The Session Collective: https://www.thesessioncollective.co.uk/about-5 
• Feedback form (future guests & episode ideas): https://forms.gle/SDCdYhS799nxgfrG9 

Enjoyed this episode?

If it sparked an idea, challenged a habit, or made you think differently about coaching, I’d really appreciate you taking 60 seconds to:

• share feedback via the form above
• suggest a guest (or topic) you’d love to hear on the podcast
• and if you’re feeling generous - share the episode with a coach who you think might enjoy it

Thanks for listening - and welcome to the new series.

I’ve absolutely loved recording this first series. I’ve learnt so much from every guest and I’m really grateful for the generosity, honesty, and wisdom they’ve shared.

Here’s the headline advice from each guest on the podcast:

Martin Dighton: Stop Coaching

Richard Cheetham: Think About Who You Coach Before What You Coach

Fran Wally: Honesty and Trust Must Be a Two-Way Street

Tom Coyd: Build Connection and Clarity with Your Players

Liam Gilbert: People First, Results Follow

Nicky Harverson: Record Yourself Coaching and Listen Back

Daniel Lysett: Reach Out, Connect, and Start Culture Early

Joe Baker: Use Data to Design Better Environments, not to Predict Talent

Mark Blundell: Truly Believe in the People You Support, or Be Honest if It’s Not the Right Fit

Paul Bodin: Keep Challenging Yourself and Keep Learning

Bobby Scales: Coaches Need Coaching Too, Always Work on Yourself

Jean Côté: Focus on Short-Term Development of People, Not Just Long-Term Performance

Russ Smith: Involve Stakeholders and Change Your Perspective, Literally

Stuart Armstrong: Be Intentional, Design Practice Around Real Game Moments

John Hendry: Forgive, Be Kind to Yourself and the People You Coach

My LinkedIn Newsletter

I’ve also started a LinkedIn newsletter where I have started to unpack each podcast episode in more depth, adding my own reflections, coaching stories, and ideas you can take straight into your practice.

You can subscribe here: Subscribe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7404505494888882178

Help Shape Series 2

I’d love your feedback on the podcast so I can keep improving and developing it for Series 2.

What should stay? What should change? What do you want more (or less!) of?

It only takes two minutes to complete the survey here:

https://forms.gle/S3DBmdXAmzrWfJ4B9

Thank You

And finally, a huge thank you for listening, supporting, sharing, and being part of the Game Plan Coaching community. It genuinely means a lot. I hope the ideas in this episode, and the wider series, spark reflection, conversation, and maybe even a few small changes in your next coaching session.

If you’ve enjoyed the series, please follow the show and share it with a coach you think would find it useful.

Go well, and see you in Series 2.

We explore the balance between technical knowledge and human connection, the realities of being a parent-coach, and how we design environments that help people grow. Stuart also shares some fascinating ideas around “remembering” rather than “memory” and what that means for the way people learn.

Some key headlines:

1. It’s not all about the tech-tac: Technical and tactical knowledge matters but maybe it gets more of the limelight than it deserves. The ability to connect, support, listen and care is often what truly makes the difference.

2. Coaching is deeply human work: From parent-coaches to young volunteers, Stuart shares real-world stories that show the emotional complexity and the privilege of supporting others on their sporting journey.

3. From “memory” to “remembering”: A fascinating reframe: instead of trying to store techniques like files in a folder, great coaching helps people become familiar with real environments, so they can recognise and respond when it matters.

If you are interested in the ideas and discussion, you can listen to Stuart’s podcast, The Talent Equation, and explore his work here: https://www.thetalentequation.co.uk

And follow us here:

Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/

Stuart: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartarmstrong/

Thank you for listening to the show, and wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

We talk about what coaching really is (and isn’t), why empowerment beats control, and how long-term impact often shows up years after the session has finished.

In the conversation we explore:

1. Coaching is about people, not just performance: Rus is clear: coaching isn’t simply about results, winning or technical outcomes. It’s about relationships, confidence and helping someone feel better about themselves. The real impact of coaching often can’t be measured in weeks or seasons - it shows up years later in who people become. “Change a life, not just a bib.”

2. Empowerment comes from experience, not instructions: Young people learn to lead by being trusted to lead. Rus shares why experiential learning; having a go, making mistakes, figuring things out - matters far more than ticking boxes online. When coaches step back and share the voice, they create environments that build character, resilience and real understanding. “I trust you. Have a go.”

3. Coaching works best when it’s shared: Whether it’s players, parents, young leaders or other volunteers, coaching improves when the coach isn’t the only voice in the room. Rus challenges coaches to rethink their role - from problem-solver to problem-setter - and to involve stakeholders as allies rather than obstacles.

This conversation shows why great coaching is deeply human work. Rus shows what’s possible when coaches commit to their community, innovate around real needs, and become consistent people that others can lean on.

If you work in grassroots sport, youth development or coach education or if you simply care about creating better experiences for young people this episode will give you ideas, reassurance and practical prompts to take into your own coaching.

Follow us here:

Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/

Rus: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rus-smith-a85ab16b/

We explore relationships, environments, reflection, and the everyday experiences that shape how children and young people engage with sport. Jean challenges some of the assumptions we make about long-term development and reminds us that great coaching is often found in the smallest, most human moments.

During the conversation we explore:

1. The daily experience matters just as much as the long-term plan: We talk a lot about long-term athlete development, and rightly so, but Jean offers a powerful reminder: children live in the now. If today’s session isn’t engaging, enjoyable, or meaningful, there is no long-term journey. Coaches need to zoom in on the week, the session, even the moment, because that’s where motivation is built (or lost).

2. Relationships are decisive: Jean makes it clear that technical knowledge alone doesn’t define great coaching. What separates good coaches from excellent ones is their ability to build trust, show care, involve athletes, and see the person beyond the sport. Transformational coaching gives us a practical, observable way to talk about relationships.

3. Coaching is as much about developing people as it is developing players: Less than 1% of young people will earn a living from sport, but all of them are becoming future adults, citizens, teammates, and leaders. Sport offers one of the most powerful environments for building confidence, character, compassion, and integrity. Every interaction, every behaviour, every session contributes to that wider impact. Whether we intend it to or not.

If you enjoyed the episode, please share the show with a friend. You can follow us here:

Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/

Jean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-cote-b048b129/

Bobby Scales II is one of those people you just can’t help but learn from. Former Major Leaguer, senior leader with the Los Angeles Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates, and now a broadcaster with the Detroit Tigers. But more importantly, someone who thinks deeply about people, development and what truly helps athletes thrive.

In this episode, we get into the human stuff. The stuff coaches don’t always talk about but absolutely need to hear.

Three big themes stand out:

1. The player resides within the human.

Bobby unpacks why coaches can’t separate performance from the person. If you want access to the athlete, you have to earn trust first.

2. Why part of Plan A should be Plan B.

We explore identity, transition and the dangers of narrowing a young athlete’s world too early.

3. Meeting every person where they are.

Bobby shares how he learned to coach beyond his own wiring, why players respond differently to the same message, and what it takes to see individuals clearly rather than forcing everyone through one lens.

And yes, we also talk about “putting it where the goats can get it.”

If you love sport, you’ll love Bobby. I always walk away from our conversations with something new and meaningful to think about.

Enjoy the episode: Grit, Growth and Goats, and follow us here:

Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/

Bobby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-l-scales-ii-b72a4b43/

John has spent more than five decades working with young people, coaches, teachers and schools, and has shaped how organisations think about relationships, wellbeing and performance.

In this conversation, John shares his philosophy with real generosity. He shows why skills, tactics and performance only emerge when young athletes feel safe, trusted, hopeful and understood - and why relationships aren’t just part of coaching, they are coaching.

In the conversation we explore:

1. Relationships Come First, Always: Coaching doesn’t begin with strategy or feedback. It begins with trust, safety and genuine care. Without this foundation, young people can’t take risks, learn or grow. When athletes feel valued as people, they become better players.

2. Mistakes Should Be Forgiven: The way coaches respond to errors shapes confidence, creativity and resilience. Punishment shuts down learning; forgiveness opens it up. When coaches “give for” the athlete, they create a culture where mistakes become opportunities, not threats.

3. Never Take Hope Away: Hope fuels engagement, effort and the ability to bounce back. A coach’s belief can restore hope after setbacks or destroy it. Protecting hope helps young people think clearly, regulate emotions, learn faster and make better decisions under pressure.

This episode is for anyone who works with young people and wants to help them thrive; not just in sport, but in life. Whether you’re a youth or community coach, a teacher or educator, or a parent supporting a young athlete, John’s philosophy offers practical wisdom on how to build trust, resilience and genuine growth.

Please follow the show and share it with a coach who would benefit from John’s message. You can get in touch here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/ 

From scoring one of Wembley’s most high-pressure penalties to guiding future stars into international football, Paul brings a unique perspective on playing, coaching and developing people.

In the conversation we explore:

1. Simplicity Beats Complexity Paul shares how football is often overcomplicated and why even elite players learn best through simple, purposeful practices.

2. Coaching Environments that Help Players Thrive With Wales youth teams, Paul prioritised enjoyable, simple and motivating sessions, where players explore, express themselves and learn through doing.

3. Parents, Roles and Real Support Reflecting on raising a professional footballer, Paul shares why fairness, encouragement, and understanding your role are crucial for helping young players progress.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show and share it with a coach who’d find it useful. Thanks for listening!

Follow me here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/ 

Together we explore why talent is much more complex than most systems assume, how early selection and deselection can shape the arc of a young person’s life, and what coaches can do to create environments that keep athletes engaged and developing over the long term.

In this episode, we explore:

• Cringey clichés and myths in talent ID - Why phrases like “natural talent” and “10,000 hours” can be unhelpful.
• Can we really identify talent early? - Joe’s take on why early prediction is so unreliable, and why the “messy middle” of a squad is where the hardest.
• Challenge, safety and ethics - How to balance high challenge with high support, why “feeling unsafe” is not the same as “being unsafe”.
• Long-term commitment and the training environment - Joe’s simple framework: long-term success needs extended commitment from the athlete and a high-quality learning environment.
• Selection, deselection and “not yet” - How language like “not yet” can soften the landing, keep doors open, and better reflect the error built into selection decisions.
• Parents as part of the ecosystem - Reframing parents from “problem” or “taxi and bank” to a crucial part of the developmental ecosystem, with a clear role around safety, security and support.

And so much more!

Follow us:

Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/

Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-baker-320b9a32/

After nearly 20 years at the top of global motorsport, a BAFTA-winning stint as an F1 pundit, and now CEO of MBP, he brings a rare inside view of what real performance looks like, and what it costs.

Mark takes us into life at 200+ mph - from the iconic Corkscrew at Laguna Seca to threading an IndyCar around an oval at 253 miles an hour - and why the ultimate difference-maker isn’t horsepower, it’s processing power. He shares lessons learned alongside teammates like Martin Brundle and Ayrton Senna and explains why the most important tuning tool for any athlete sits right between their ears.

We talk about motorsport as a team sport disguised as an individual one, with his Le Mans win as the perfect example of elite preparation, clear roles and total accountability. And from 20+ years managing top drivers, Mark is honest about what keeps people at the sharp end: integrity, transparency, respect, humility and trust, plus the confidence to say “no” when the fit isn’t right.

Whether you coach racing drivers, footballers or any athlete trying to reach their best, this conversation is full of gold: handling pressure, placing risk wisely, embracing mistakes, and holding onto self-belief when the road gets bumpy.

Follow us:

Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/

Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-blundell-655a86b/

Dan has built a coaching environment grounded in curiosity and intentionality, always asking why behaviours show up and how to best meet the needs of the young people in front of him. We explore his work with neurodivergent athletes and why strategies designed for inclusion often end up helping everyone play, learn and belong.

He introduces practical tools like the right to disengage, pauses and replays. Simple ideas that give children agency, confidence and a sense of safety within the session. We dig into the myth of “coachability,” the bravery of coaching as your authentic self, and why winning is a pretty unhelpful metric if it’s the only one that matters.

We delve in to why long-term development beats short-term results every single time, and much more.

Connect with us: • Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/ 

• Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-lycett-647773179/

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow, share, and pass it on to a coach who would love it.

At Cheltenham Town Wheelers, play, curiosity and voice are at the centre of every session.

We talk about what it really means to coach the child, not the drill. How stepping back can help young people step forward. And how Nicky’s SOUL approach - Silently Observing, Understanding and Learning - can help coaches stay present to the person in front of them.

Whether you coach in a club, a school or a park on a Saturday morning, there’s something here you can use straight away.

You’ll Take Away:

• How to step back so children can take ownership of learning
• How to use voice, choice and small wins to build confidence
• How SOUL can help you see more and say less

Connect with us: • Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/

• Nicky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickyharverson/

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow, share, and pass it on to a coach who would love it.

Liam’s coached at every level - from grassroots to the Women’s Championship - with roles at Eastleigh, Oxford United, Reading, and Burnley as well as leading football at Oxford High School.

Across every environment, he’s built a reputation for creating strong team cultures, shared identity, and clear, purposeful coaching.

In this conversation, we explore:

• What Liam learned from coaching and managing in senior women’s football.
• The power of process, structure, and adaptability in practice design.
• Why accountability and humility drive stronger teams.
• And how to create a golden thread that runs through your sessions - connecting every activity with a shared purpose.

👉 Connect with us:

• Tom Hartley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/
• Liam Gilbert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-gilbert-8975486a/

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow the podcast, share it with a coach who might find it useful, and let me know what resonated most with you.

At just 27 years old, Tom led England to victory in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup (played in 2022) and in my opinion is one of the most thoughtful and grounded coaches in high-performance sport.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why every coach needs to ask, “Who’s coaching the coach?”

• The importance of connection and clarity in building high-performing teams.

• How humility and co-creation can be a superpower in coaching.

• And why success isn’t just about winning, it’s about people, perspective, and purpose.

In the conversation, Tom mentions the documentary "Made of Steel". You can watch it here on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001r9zl/storyville-made-of-steel-wheelchair-rugbys-fiercest-rivalry

I loved this open and thought-provoking chat about leadership, learning, and what it means to coach at the top level.

👉 Connect with us:

• Tom Hartley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/

• Tom Coyd MBE on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomcoyd/

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow the podcast, share it with a coach who might find it useful, and let me know what resonated most with you.

In this episode of the Game Plan Coaching Podcast, I’m joined by Fran Whalley. A brilliant fencing coach who brings energy, honesty, and heart to everything she does.

Fran’s coached athletes from their first steps in the sport right through to representing Great Britain and Wales at World, European, and Commonwealth Championships. She’s the Head Coach at Cardiff Academy of Fencing, a Coach Developer with British Fencing, and a regular coach on the Performance Pathway supporting both athletes and coaches to thrive.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why honesty and trust are the foundations of great coaching relationships.
• How to help athletes become better problem-solvers.
• Why feedback is a two-way street.
• And Fran’s simple but powerful check-in tool: Thrive, Manage, Survive.

It’s an open, insightful chat that reminds us what matters most in coaching: connection, trust, and showing up as your genuine self.

👉 Connect with us:

• Tom Hartley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/
• Fran Whalley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-russell-8942b120a/

Charlie’s just taking his first steps into organised sport, trying his hand at football, karate, gymnastics, CrossFit, swimming (which regrettably we didn’t talk about) and cricket. Together, we take ten minutes to see the world through the eyes of a child, a reminder that when we’re coaching children, we have to be willing to step into their world.

In this episode, Charlie shares:

• What makes a great session (“It’s not really a session… it’s a play session!”)
• What he loves most about his coaches
• His top tip for coaches (“Teach us new tricks!”)
• And why friends, fun, and games matter most

It is a warm ten minutes of smiling, honesty, and pure perspective - and a lovely reminder of why we coach in the first place.

👉 Connect with me:

• Tom Hartley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/

In this episode of the Game Plan Coaching Podcast, I’m joined by someone who’s been a huge influence on me and countless others in the coaching world – Richard Cheetham MBE.

Richard is a Senior Fellow in Sports Coaching at the University of Winchester and an award-winning coach educator with over 20 years’ experience developing coaches across a huge range of sports — from rugby and road cycling to fencing, canoeing, and wheelchair rugby.

He’s worked internationally with the UCI (the world governing body for cycling), supported coaches at world tour level, and continues to champion the role of play, joy, and human connection in every coaching environment.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why the best coaches think about who they coach before what they coach.

• How to create environments that are joyful, safe, and full of learning.

• The power of play, free exploration, and letting go of rigid structure.

• How noticing, empathy, and agility can transform coaching practice.

It’s an inspiring and thought-provoking chat that reminds us all what really matters in coaching: people first, performance second.

Connect with us:

• Tom Hartley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/

• Richard Cheetham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-cheetham-mbe-17051827/

If you enjoy the episode, please follow the podcast, share it with a coach who might find it useful, and let me know what resonated most with you.

Welcome to the very first episode of the Game Plan Coaching Podcast: where we share short, practical coaching conversations designed to spark ideas you can apply, adapt, or reflect on in your own coaching.

In this debut episode, I’m joined by Martin Dighton, a coach who’s spent the last 20 years helping players and coaches thrive.

Martin’s coaching journey started in a professional football club and later took him to 14 years at The FA in coaching and coach development roles. These days, he works at UK Coaching, supporting coaches in the performance pathway across a wide range of sports.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why helping young players feel they belong is at the heart of good coaching.
• How a simple voice note on your phone can transform your self-reflection.
• Martin’s game-changing advice for every coach: sometimes the best thing you can do… is stop coaching.

It’s an honest, down-to-earth chat with plenty of ideas you can take straight into your own sessions.

Connect with us:

• Tom Hartley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhartleycoaching/

• Martin Dighton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-dighton-62434666/

If you enjoy the episode, please follow the podcast, share it with a coach who might find it useful, and let me know what resonated most with you.

• Learn a little more about our guest, their background, and what has influenced the way they coach
• Ask our guest to add something to the 'Game Plan' - a shared playbook of idea, stories, memories and mindsets.
• Share some 'Game Changing Coaching Advice' that you could apply, adapt, or reflect on.

Episodes released weekly from October 2025.